Aviation Camp For Kids in the Capital Region

As fast as summer goes, there is still time to sign your kids up for summer camp for a week in August.

The Empire State Aerosciences Museum in Glenville will host STEM Summer Aviation Camp for kids ages 10-17 from August 23-August 26. STEM has partnered up with the Schenectady County Community College for this week-long event, "Becoming a Young Aviator."

The camp, which will be at the Schenectady County Airport in Glenville, will teach kids about aviation and what pilots do in the air and on the ground. Your kids will learn about the history of aviation and aircraft design, how airplanes fly, different parts of the plane, and how helicopters fly. One segment on how planes fly will include thrust, lift, drag, and flight control.

Guest speakers will interact with the kids and give guided tours of the museum exhibits and airpark. If you have never been to the museum, there are more than 20 historic military aircraft that the students will be able to get into the cockpits. Some of the planes are actual fighters and attack aircraft.

Besides exploring the planes, students will have the opportunity to work with the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 602 to become Junior EAA members, which includes a half-hour flight in an airplane.

SUNY/SCCC offers a variety of camps for August if aviation isn't your child's thing. For example, there is Acting for Kids, Advanced LEGO Robotics with SPIKE, Emergency Vet, Video Games, Red Hot Robotics, 3-2-1 Blast off, and this one might be the most popular Minecraft Modders.

The SUNY Schenectady Community College webpage will include more information on when the camps are available, their descriptions, and how to get your child involved.