Page 17 - TransTodayWIWinter2023

Winter 2023–2024 Transportation Today Wisconsin™ | 17

Take Flight with EAA Youth Aviation Education

Paul Maloy, EAA Director of Education Our newest youth aviation education ini-
Living in Wisconsin, there’s a pretty tiative is the web-based AeroEducate program.
good chance you’ve heard about AirVen- Officially launched at AirVenture 2022, Aero-
ture, the world’s largest airshow and aviation Educate is a robust, online resource hub with
expo always held the last full week of July in nearly 200 activities for youth as young as
Oshkosh, hosted by the Experimental Aircraft 5 years old through high school graduation.
Association (EAA). Founded in 1953, you Additionally, we offer 24 real-world, avia-
may not know that EAA has been committed tion-based, STEM enrichment activities for
to youth aviation education for decades. classroom use. Grade-banded for comprehen-
This year EAA celebrated the 40th anni- sion each activity was developed by teachers
versary of our Air Academy youth summer for teachers and is aligned with national STEM
camps and concluded the 30th anniversary of standards. Access to student and teacher activ-
our Young Eagles program, having flown 2.3 ities is completely free and without advertising
million youth ages 8 through 17 since 1992. or worry of spam mail.
EAA also just celebrated the 25th anniversary unlike many other youth aviation ini-
of KidVenture and the 20th anniversary of tiatives, AeroEducate does not just focus on
GirlVenture this year, both of which take place piloting. Rather, five main career areas can be ate activities, high school juniors and seniors dashboard to explore the enrichment activities,
during EAA’s annual AirVenture Expo. explored including: Aeronautical Engineering, will see multiple benefits also unique to Aero- each with detailed printable teacher instruc-
Additionally, the EAA Aviation Museum Air Traffic Control, Aviation Maintenance, Educate, culminating in seven take-aways or tions, videos, student guides, and printable
has offered hands-on activities for students Aviation Business Management, and of deliverables: industry knowledge and skills, posters for your classroom. Then watch how
since opening in Oshkosh in 1983. Cur- course, the many Professional Pilot options a printable AeroEducate “transcript” of your students light up as they enjoy the experi-
rently, with the newly added, state-of-the-art too. As K–12 students explore and com- completed activities, an aviation/aerospace mentation process of learning about aviation.
Youth Education Center, we host hundreds of plete the activities, either on their own or in focused resume’, a written & professionally If you want more, contact us at AeroEducate@
school and other youth groups from Septem- the classroom, they earn digital achievement vetted plan of action, a qualified industry eaa.org, come visit, or attend Teacher Day
ber through June. Nineteen unique hands-on badges (with beautiful printable certificates) in mentor, access to scholarships & schools, and during AirVenture.
activities currently available provide a menu four different focus areas: Flight, Technology, a clear path to their dream job in aerospace! Let us help you elevate your aviation
of choices for different age groups and differ- Community, and Career, and then ultimately, Where do YOu start? How can you learning!
ent interests. To learn more, go to www.EAA. their grade-level badge. get your students involved? Start by visiting
org/education or call 920-426-4800 and ask Although AeroEducate definitely www.AeroEducator.org/teachers, create a
for Museum Education. encourages youth as young as five years old free teacher account, then go to your teacher
to explore aviation through age appropri-

AeroEducate

A FREE Teacher’s Toolbox for

Aviation and STEM Activities

Opening Doors to Careers in Aviation

FREE, fun, and standards-compliant grab-and-go
aviation-themed activities to get students excited
about flight and STEM
Our sponsors:
Help your students discover how they can take their love
for STEM and turn that into a future career by exploring
aviation career pathways
Innovative AeroEducate badging system with additional
projects, experiments, and aviation experiences students
can work towards outside of the classroom

AeroEducate.org/Teachers