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EAA AirVenture 2007
By: Emily Bultman
The 2007 Young Eagle Leader’s Workshop was held at the PHP Conference Center Tent on Wednesday, July 25, 2007. Tom Poberezny kicked off this year’s workshop by welcoming the volunteers and thanking them for 15 years of dedication. Steve Buss, Young Eagles Executive Director, followed by introducing this year’s award recipients. Five breakout sessions, stressing different ideas and strategies for more effective Young Eagles rallies, followed.
Brad Doppelt, EAA Chapter 35, San Antonio, TX
This session focused on managing large Young Eagles events. Brad distributed information on establishing event goals, community considerations, key volunteer positions needed, and ways of finding pilots and volunteers and lessons learned from past events. Most of the large Young Eagles events that Chapter 35 has experience with have been group oriented with the Boy Scouts earning their Aviation Merit Badger, Boys and Girls Clubs and schools.
To make things run more smoothly, Brad said it necessary to develop a plan by starting six months in advance and divide participants up into groups to keep them interested and involved. He suggested meeting several times prior to the event to evaluate progress. It is also important to begin community involvement early and ensure the local EAA chapter is dedicated to the event.
EAA Chapter 35 utilizes airports with approval from city managers for hangar space, car parking, aircraft parking, fuel, campsites, emergency services and bathrooms. As well as other community considerations including local businesses, local media, FAA, military and aviation groups and companies.
Other advice Brad was presented was during the event, follow the plan and stick to it but be prepared for the unexpected. Safety is the primary concern. It is important to execute alternate plans if weather conditions deteriorate.
Click here to download Brad’s presentation.
Jeff Elmer, Oshkosh North High School, Physics Teacher, Oshkosh, Wis.
After searching various aviation museums and aviation related websites and gathering input from EAA Young Eagles Coordinators, Jeff Elmer presented the new EAA/ Buehler Trust Aviation Activity Cookbook. This is a collection of the best activities and demonstrations from teachers and the EAA Museum Education staff. A first draft of the cookbook can be previewed on CD, which was handed out at the workshop. Request a Copy of the CD. Jeff mentioned that any feedback on the format and information would be helpful before each chapter receives a final copy of Aviation Activities Cookbook in a binder and on CD.
Another resource being developed is the EAA/UVSC Wiki Site in which the Young Eagle chapter coordinators will have the ability to upload activities including photos, diagrams and video clips for all to access. Continuous editing will be done to the activities posted on the site.
Some other phases of the EAA/ Buehler Family Trust Youth Education Project are still in the early planning stages. One of these is the development of standard lessons including issues to be aware of when approaching schools, single and multi-day presentations and various grade level presentations. Future ideas might include an aviation education “Trick of the Trade” in Sport Aviation Magazine as well as providing various project kits for Chapters. Contact Jeff for more information.
Duane Huff, EAA 690, Lawrenceville, Ga.
After recently flying his 447th Young Eagle, Duane gave tips on how to run the most effective Young Eagles event possible based on the experiences of EAA Chapter 690. The chapter participates in regional rallies that have flown upwards of 600 Young Eagles. Duane stressed organization when flying large groups of Young Eagles. Chapter 690 uses a “Boarding Pass” for each child that includes their name, date, check-in, preflight, flight completed and post flight de-briefing. After each station is finished, a volunteer checks the pass for the child.
One of the questions in this session was if he allows children to fly who have already flown. Duane responded that he is happy to do so and pilots still get credit for that flight. However, they allow first-time fliers to go before repeat fliers. He mentioned this is an opportunity for kids to bring their friends and family with them to future rallies and develop a stronger interest in aviation.
Duane works for a local airport where schools and organizations visit and tour the facility. He shows them projects the chapter is working on and recruits for the Young Eagles program. With a large chapter membership, word of mouth has worked best for advertising.
Ron Rader, EAA 1114, Raleigh, N.C.
Several times a year Chapter 1114 holds rallies in the small towns surrounding the city of Raleigh. Ron’s presentation described the general area of these rallies and the small county airports where they occur. He stressed the importance of the organization of the different functions of ground support and crowd control. One idea was to set up a traffic flow pattern with registration, ground school leading up to the flight. He mentioned that advertising was always crucial in making the rallies successful in small towns. One way to get the word out is hanging and handing out posters. Group members shared thoughts and ideas on advertising strategies that work in their chapters.
There was discussion about legibility on registration forms and Ron told one group that in his chapter a card is filled out and a number is assigned to each child during registration. If the name cannot easily be read, it is corrected at that time. The card becomes their "Ticket to Fly". The number is then used for boarding sequence and dispatch. Ron suggested explaining to the kids what to expect to ensure that there are no surprises.
John Teipen, EAA 64, St. Louis, Mo.
Kid Venture changed locations this year to Pioneer Airport but the Young Eagles Education Program as developed by John Teipen of the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) continued to be offered to children of all ages.
The program introduces children to nine subjects that a pilot needs to know about before making a flight including Regulations, Weather, Navigation and Air Traffic Control and among others.
John explained that at the beginning of the program each child receives a workbook and each lesson is completed with an instructor using models and simulations. Additional information on these topics can be found at www.AVTrain.net/FlightEd. Once the each lesson is completed, the instructor will sign and date the workbook. Upon completion of all lessons, the child will is awarded the Certificate of Completion.
The program is being formatted for presentation either before or after Young Eagles flights, which would give kids further understanding of aviation. Even adults commented to him that this was the first time they understood concepts of aviation.
When the breakout sessions were completed, two additional speakers addressed the group.
Michele Robbins provided information about EAA AeroScholars, a program that provides online aviation courses for high school students. There are two courses. The first is Fundamentals of Aviation Science, which is recommended for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The second course, which can be taken after successful completion of the first course, is Advanced Aviation Science. High school and college credit can be received for these courses. This program also motivates students to participate in the Young Eagles program and to attend EAA Chapter meetings.
Bob Campbell, Director of Museum and Resident Education spoke about the EAA Air Academy, a fun aviation camp for children between the ages of 12 and 18. He explained that experienced instructors and dedicated staff share their knowledge of aviation through in hands-on workshops, classrooms, and outdoor experiences. The group was invited to take a tour of the Air Academy Lodge as well.
The workshop concluded with a group photo, lunch and an opportunity to socialize and meet other program volunteers.
If you are interested in ordering Young Eagles nametags for you or your volunteers, please contact Oshkosh Personalizing at 920-235-4261 for details.
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Phillips Leadership Award winner Brad Doppelt from EAA Chapter 35.
Jeff Elmer discusses his aviation “cookbook” project made possible through support from the Emil C. Buehler Charitable Trust.
Duane Huff, EAA Chapter 690, was the recipient of the 2007 Chapter Coordinator award.
EAA Chapter 1114 member Ron Rader talks about his Young Eagles experiences. Ron was the recipient of this year’s Ground Volunteer award.
NAFI member John Teipen discusses his project which introduces children to the principles of flight, navigation and weather among other topics.
The Young Eagles Group photo for 2007. You can download a copy by clicking here.
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