On Saturday, May 7, 29 fourth and fifth grade Girl Scouts earned their Aerospace Badges at the Greenville Downtown Airport (GMU) in South Carolina.
“In partnership with Mad Science of the Upstate, a local 
science enrichment provider, a badge workshop was offered at the Greenville Downtown Airport’s Runway Cafe,” stated Lynn Arve, Director of Program Services, Girl Scouts of South Carolina–Mountains to Midlands. “Greenville Jet Center transported the Girl Scouts over to tour the air traffic control tower. Special Services Corporation let them see their aircraft maintenance facility and provided a plane for them to look inside the cockpit. Then our Girl Scouts completed a variety of hands-on projects that are required to earn the badge.”
“The Girl Scouts learned about aviation while making a paper airplane, which they modified, so they can see how adding flaps changes the flight of the plane,” stated Mike Gisman A.K.A. “Molecular Mike”, with Mad Science of the Upstate. “We launched a couple of model rockets with different engines. They also made a kite and flew it.”
The scouts ended the morning with lunch at the Runway Cafe
watching planes take off and land, Arve added.
“Many pilots discovered their interest in aviation in their youth,” stated Joe Frasher, Airport Director of Greenville Downtown Airport. “Our industry is facing a future pilot shortage and we are always looking for ways to inspire youth with the awe of aviation.”Maybe one of these girl will grow up and fly for Southwest Airlines.”
