The Aviation Camp at La Porte Municipal Airport (KPPO) in Indiana kicked off the week of June 20, 2022, with flights for every camper.
Local pilots volunteered their time and fuel to take participants on a quick flight to share the joy of flying.
“It was a favorite activity,” said Rachel Boulahnis, KPPO Airport Manager. “It always is.”
Activities for student campers also included:
- Learning to taxi, takeoff and land an airplane using the airports flight simulator
- Touring the airport
- Learning how to read navigational charts
- Learning aerodynamics in the La Porte County Public Library’s mobile classroom
- Field trips to the Kalamazoo Air Zoo, Notre Dame, and Andrews University
- Learning the hands-on skills necessary to build a Vans RV-12
The goal of Aviation Camp is to give students in grades 6 to 12 hands-on experience and help them decide which aspect of aviation could be a great fit for them, according to organizers. Many of the students attending have never been in an airplane and most don’t realize the countless jobs available in the industry outside of becoming airline pilots, they noted.
If you know a student interested in attending next year’s Aviation Camp e-mail [email protected] for more information.