A fast-paced day of aviation activity and fun was delivered to more than 100 youth on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, at Sporty’s Clermont County Airport. While the event was open to all youth, Boy Scouts attending the event were able to meet the qualifications for their Aviation Merit Badge.
More than 20 volunteers, composed of Sporty’s employees, students from the University of Cincinnati’s Aviation Technology program, and local pilots, guided the kids through activity stations set up on and around the airport.
Topics included aerodynamics, airport operations, aviation careers, aircraft instruments, and more. The activity stations are taught using STEM-based curriculum developed by Youth Aviation Adventure.
“It’s great to have young people at the airport learning about aviation subjects from local pilots, mechanics and aviation enthusiasts. Our hope is this introduction will plant a seed so the attendees may someday enjoy, appreciate and perhaps participate in the aviation lifestyle,” said Sporty’s Vice President Mark Wiesenhahn.
Since Sporty’s first Youth Aviation Adventure Day in 2007, more than 1,200 young people have attended this event with approximately 1,000 Scouts earning their aviation merit badges.
Youth Aviation Adventure (YAA) is a single-day event, held at airports around the country, for youth ages 12-18. At a YAA program, participants visit up to 10 different stations to learn about many facets of aviation.
YAA began in Columbus, Ohio, in 1997, Sporty’s is YAA Squadron #2, and delivered the first YAA outside of Columbus.