Kids Take Flight at Co-Pilot Academy

Young aviation enthusiasts ages 5 to 12 celebrated the completion of the Stanzel Co-Pilot Academy on Friday, July 31, during a Pilot Party at the Stanzel Model Aircraft Museum.

Held each Friday throughout July, the five-week STEAM program introduced children to the world of aviation through hands-on activities that combined science, engineering, history, art, and imagination. Participants explored the history of flight, learned about the four forces of flight, discovered how weather affects aviation, and experienced the excitement of piloting through the museum’s Flight Simulator.

Along the way, students designed rockets, built cockpit control panels and catapults, tested paper airplanes and balsa wood gliders, created cloud viewers and travel passports, and ended each Friday with stomp rocket launches on the Stanzel Fun Field. The museum’s Flight Simulator was a favorite each week, giving every child the chance to try their hand at flying an airplane. They also took home educational materials to continue exploring aviation long after the program ended.

The academy concluded with a Pilot Party where each participant received a Stanzel Co-Pilot Certificate in recognition of completing the program.

The museum extends its sincere appreciation to the volunteers who helped make this year’s academy a success: Kristin Holub, Mercy Silcox, Garette Olive, Jimmy Jacobs, Regan Moreau, Kerr McBride, and Zuriel Robles. Their time, enthusiasm, and encouragement created a fun and welcoming environment that inspired curiosity, creativity, and confidence in every young aviator.

For more information about the Stanzel Model Aircraft Museum, visit www. stanzelmuseum.org, call (979) 743-6559 or email cynthia@stanzelmuseum.org.