AEROSPACE EDUCATION COUNCIL

The Aerospace Education Council (AEC) is a standing committee of the Iowa Aviation Promotion Group. It’s purpose is to bring together those IAPG members who have a special interest in the educational mission of IAPG and to conceive and implement projects which help accomplish that mission. Any IAPG can participate
in AEC meetings and activities and is welcome to do so.

The AEC meets periodically upon call of the Chairperson, who holds a seat as a Director of IAPG. The AEC brings together the educational resources of IAPG members which include the Iowa Space Grant Consortium, Iowa State University Extension Services, the Office of Aviation of the Iowa Department of Transportation, the Civil Air Patrol, the Experimental Aircraft Association, and Central Iowa Business Aviation Association among others.

Current projects of the AEC are Aerospace Education Teachers Workshops and a new program of Mini-Camps for youngsters hosted by various airport locations in the state.  These camps will be either half or one-day events which give kids exposure to airports and aircraft.

Locations and schedules for the 2006 Summer months will be announced soon.

AEROSPACE EDUCATION TEACHERS WORKSHOPS

On June 10 and 11, 2008, a workshop,  Aviation Education for the 21st Century, will be offered under sponsorship of Heartland EAA 11's Professional Development Program for Teachers. The workshop will be presented by Des Moines Public Schools Aviation Lab and Iowa Aviation Promotion Group at the Des Moines International Airport facility of the Aviation Lab at 2610 McKinley Ave, Des Moines.

This workshop will include an academic day on June 10 covering aviation topics that teachers can use in classroom instruction, especially dealing with mathematics, science, and technology. The second day will be a field trip at the airport viewing such facilities as the FAA Control Tower, the Air National Guard, UPS freight operations, and general aviation facilities.

Enrollment is targeted at 25 educators and will award one credit of  LR as well as one graduate credit through Drake University. More details are available at www.aea11.k12.ia.us   Click on "Professional Development Programs" and scroll down the alphabetical listings.

IOWA AVIATION YOUTH CAMPS:  HALF DAY YOUTH AVIATION CAMPS

Iowa Aviation Promotion Group in partnership with Iowa Space Grant Consortium,  Iowa DOT Office of Aviation, sponsoring airports, and aviation groups such as the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), has held half day Iowa Youth Aviation Camps at various locations in Iowa.  In ten camps held in 2006 and 2007, nearly 250 youngsters have attended.

  Camp content includes instruction on airplanes, aeronautical principles, airports, weather, flight planning, aviation careers, and more.  Where available,  each youngster has the opportunity to take a Young Eagle flight.  Camps typically conclude with a pizza luncheon and award of a certificate and T-shirt.

These camps are absolutely FREE!   The target age groups are usually 9 through 12 or 11 through 14.

Camps scheduled for 2008 as of May 1, 2008 are as follows;

Mason City Municipal Airport    June 14, 2008

Tipton Municipal Airport  June 14, 2008

Ankeny Regional Airport  June 28, 2008

Ames Municipal Airport  July 19, 2008

Storm Lake Municipal Airport   August 8, 2008

For more information about a camp near you, contact  chuckdsmcc@aol.com 

AEROSPACE EDUCATION TEACHING RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR LOAN TO IOWA AVIATION PROMOTION GROUP MEMBERS

Members of IAPG who are active in teaching aerospace education subjects may request teaching materials which are available for loan at NO COST from the IAPG offices at Ankeny Regional Airport. This is just one of the benefits of membership! It is anticipated that items could be loaned to any one requester for up to five months, the length of a school semester.

We have two 1/8th scale airplanes, including a SuperCub mock-up which shows control surface rigging, a number of flight and navigation plotters, some video tapes on space and other topics, several “Classroom Activities” binders, and a number of books on various aviation and space subjects. A complete list of available items may be requested by calling Chuck McDonald at the IAPG Offices, (515) 964-1398 or e-mailing him at chuckdsmcc@aol.com. There may a fee for shipping the items, depending on cost.