BOYCEVILLE, Wisconsin — STEM Flights, a non-profit organization that pairs volunteer general aviation pilots with students for customized flight experiences, is expanding to Wisconsin.
Volunteer Pilot Mentor Jim Harvey will donate flight experiences to students enrolled in the Boyceville High School Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) High School Aviation STEM Curriculum. The new aviation program will launch during the Fall 2021 semester.
Through STEM Flights, pilot mentors donate aircraft and time and are matched with students who apply online. Students are provided follow up resources for pursuing careers in STEM and aviation. The flight experiences donated by local pilots will compliment the classroom instruction delivered by instructors.
Harvey is the first pilot in the area to volunteer his time flying students, according to STEM Flight officials.
“Introducing students to flying is a passion of mine,” Harvey said. “When you can get up in the air anything seems possible. These two programs working together will help our students identify STEM and aviation careers.”
Harvey also initiated a fundraiser in collaboration with the Boyceville Airport Booster Club to fund an FAA Certified Red Bird Flight Simulator to support the new high school program.
“We originally set a goal of $7,500 for a model that would meet our needs to support BHS students and local pilots. With the help of BABC pilots and local community support, they were able to secure a more expensive simulator that will be installed and ready for use for incoming students enrolled in the BHS AOPA High School Aviation STEM curriculum,” he noted.
Interested students should apply online with their parent or guardian. Flights will begin this summer and continue through the fall.