The “Cleared for Takeoff” aviation day camp is taking place for the 13th season at Alexandria Field in Pittstown, NJ. July 13-17.
This year the camp welcomes Todd Copper, a CFI at the airport, as an instructor at the camp. There are also many past campers returning to assist with the camp. Most assistants are pilots or are working toward their license, according to Camp Director Linda Castner.
Assistant Tucker Gott said, “After several years of teaching at camp I have seen the value of using aviation to make STEM come alive. What we do in camp truly sparks interest in our students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math through the lens of aviation.”
The camp curriculum is interactive and follows the basic course material needed to receive a Private Pilot’s License. Aviation History (timeline of important events), Aeronautical Knowledge (what makes an airplane fly), Aircraft Design (the building of models), Power Sources (engines and rockets), Meteorology (weather experiments), Navigation Systems (Pilotage, Dead Reckoning, VOR and GPS), and Communications (airspace).
The campers are treated to a tour of Alexandria Field while learning about control towered airports and those without towers, runway layouts, wind socks, hangars and tie downs, runway markings, etc. Introductory flight lessons take place in the afternoon each day.