TRAVERSE CITY — The Grand Traverse Youth Aviation Camp is a day of all things aviation, plus a flight around the region.
Free camp sessions — scheduled for Aug. 4 and Aug. 11 — are open to youth ages 8-19. Up to 120 students can participate in either or both sessions.
The camp is designed to expose young people to aviation, and more than just flying. Aviation career possibilities outside of a plane's cockpit can include everything from engineering, airport management and air traffic control to flight attendant, design and aircraft maintenance.
"It's a pretty amazing field with a myriad of options," said Bill Donberg, assistant chief flight instructor at Northwestern Michigan College's aviation division.
The camp is hosted by NMC, the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 234, Aviation Exploring Post M22, the United States Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City and Youth Aviation Adventure.
Camp officials hope to fire up participants' imaginations about science and aviation, which by extension boosts interest in technology, engineering and math subjects and careers.
"Because of diminishing public perception of what's going on in aviation and space, kids are losing that excitement and interest," Donberg said. "There's the Mars landing and the privatization of space; stuff is going on but kids aren't aware of it."
Camp participants on Saturday will rotate among nine stations. Adult professionals at each station will describe different aspects of aviation and potential careers, including airport operations, helicopters, instruments, aerodynamics, power plants and instruments. Hands-on activities include building a small glider and a challenge to see whose covers the most ground.
Next Saturday, the camp offers a flight over the Grand Traverse Bay.
Last year, the aviation camp was limited to scouts, who could earn an Aviation merit badge. More than 80 youth participated, including both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Participating scouts in 2012 can also earn this merit badge.
"It was very well-received," said Mark Ewing, unit serving executive for the Bay Trails District of the President Ford Council. "Kids got to earn their merit badge, plus they were able to fly over northern Michigan."
The Grand Traverse Youth Aviation Camp is a natural extension of the Aviation Exploring Post M22. The post is sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 234, Northwestern Michigan College and the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City. Launched in February and geared to youth ages 14-20, Aviation Exploring members delve into a variety of aviation and space topics.
Region
Related Photos
-
The Grand Traverse Youth Aviation Camp invites interested young people ages 8-19 to enjoy learning about aviation, space and related careers. Special to the Record-Eagle/Carol South
Campers get taste of flight
-
-
Grand Traverse officials to discuss Twin Lakes safety
![tcr DrowningMeeting01-20130619kk05.jpg [Duplicate]](http://d6673sr63mbv7.cloudfront.net/archive/x2113332759/g06c06400000000000063f22c34b4443be3ded2790225c63f450c110c3a.jpg "tcr DrowningMeeting01-20130619kk05.jpg [Duplicate]")
Grand Traverse County Parks and Recreation commissioners will meet at 6 p.m. at the Governmental Center to talk about safety in the wake of Owen Williamson's recent drowning.
Continued ... -
Felon wants a firearm
Convicted felon. Bellaire resident Kent McNeil carries that brand, a label he earned after pleading guilty to kidnapping and extortion in 1988. Now he wants to legally possess firearms, though federal law prohibits felons from possessing guns.
Continued ... -
Cass Road crossing will develop with dam removals
It's time to stop talking and start replacing Cass Road Bridge, county officials said.
Continued ... -
Controversial anthropologist calls area home
Since 1999, one of America’s most famous and controversial anthropologists has lived quietly in a home set far off a wooded road with his wife and a hunting dog named Darwin.
Continued ... -
Tension boils over Benzie undersheriff position
Benzie County remains undersheriff-less as county commissioners and sheriff’s department leaders continue a six-month-long battle over pay and benefits that spurred talk of inter-government lawsuits.
Continued ... -
Kalkaska man gets 100 years for sex crimes
A Kalkaska man convicted of sex crimes against his stepdaughters likely will spend his remaining years behind bars.
Continued ... -
Old Mission named among top coastal drives
Old Mission Peninsula claimed a spot on USA Today’s recent list of 10 coastal drives.
Continued ... - Tuesday, June 18, 2013
-
Man could face 7th domestic violence conviction
A Traverse City man with six prior domestic violence convictions is due back in court on the same charge.
Continued ... -
DDA chief nurtured downtown TC growth
Bryan Crough loved to listen to people talk about downtown Traverse City and how it has become a hot spot for the arts, dining and commerce.
Continued ... -
Officials to meet on Cass, Hartman-Hammond river crossings
The Cass Road Bridge will be replaced after all.
Continued ... -
Clearing the Record: 06/18/2013
Because of a reporter’s error, the creator of the six dogmen costumes for the “Dogman 2: Wrath of the Litter” movie was misidentified in Saturday’s Record-Eagle.
Continued ... - Monday, June 17, 2013
-
BATA plan: Load more bikes on buses
Cyclists who pedal the Leelanau Trail between Traverse City and Suttons Bay now have more back-and-forth options.
Continued ... -
Goodwill to develop food truck
An area nonprofit will rely on more than $20,000 in taxpayer-funded grants to begin operating a food truck that accepts Bridge Cards.
Continued ... -
Downtown leader passes away
TRAVERSE CITY — A community pillar who literally helped shape downtown Traverse City died unexpectedly Sunday night of an apparent heart attack. For more than three decades, Bryan Crough, 59, left his mark on local politics and culture, serving as a
Continued ... -
Light & Power board balks at price of proposal
Traverse City Light & Power board members balked at a $60,000-plus, no-bid proposal to plot the city-owned utility’s future.
Continued ... -
Empire event to celebrate beloved soundman
The northern Michigan musical community will pay homage to one of its own during the Summer Solstice Celebration of Music and Community on June 23 from noon to 9 p.m. at Johnson Park in Empire.
Continued ... -
'Thunder' to roll to honor vets
Members of Rolling Thunder Michigan Chapter 1 invite the public to polish their chrome and join them as they hit the highway for their fourth annual Pure Thunder-escorted veterans memorial ride.
Continued ... -
Northern Notes: Just Mulch gets thank-you
Debra Norman, principal at Lake Ann Elementary School, wrote to thank Scott and Deb Talquist from Just Mulch for providing the school with the equipment and manpower to keep its pond and waterfall operating.
Continued ... - Sunday, June 16, 2013
-
TBAISD to hold budget hearing
Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District Board of Education will hold a hearing on their fiscal year 2013-14 budget on Tuesday as board members consider whether to spend some of their nearly 58 percent fund balance.
Continued ... -
'Family is our whole life': Raising quadruplets plus two
Since her quadruplets grew out of diapers, life smoothed out for Tonya Lewandowski.
Continued ... -
Program aims to keep tenants in their homes
Charles Alexander sat in 86th District Court and uttered that he'd rather be dead than homeless.
Continued ... -
Acme beach buildings demo set
Acme Township purchased the last of three buildings on its growing project to create a mile-long shoreline park, and demolition crews are ready to dive into work.
Continued ... -
Free fishing day hooks young anglers
Screeches, squeals and screams of excitement could be heard from Northwestern Michigan College's Great Lakes Campus as kids reeled in rainbow trout.
Continued ... -
Fire damages Garfield Township home
Firefighters were called to 4327 Stoneridge Dr. Saturday at 2:12 a.m. and arrived to flames through the roof.
Continued ... - Saturday, June 15, 2013
-
Michigan still reeling out cash incentives
The heyday of Michigan’s movie incentives has faded, but director Rich Brauer lauded the state’s restructured movie incentive program as “very, very intelligent.”
Continued ...
-
