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EDUCATION Students learn to fly at ScienceWorks summer camp Students learn flying at ScienceWorks camp Comment By Caitlin Fowlkes for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Caitlin Fowlkes for the Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 27, 2016 at 5:08 PM By Caitlin Fowlkes for the Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 27, 2016 at 5:08 PM » Social News A summer camp hosted by ScienceWorks Hands-on Museum in Ashland taught a group of kids the mechanics of aviation last week, and they were able to put their knowledge to use Friday by flying planes out of the Ashland Municipal Airport with the aid of experienced pilots. Six high school and nine middle school students, ranging in age from 11 to 18, took part, according to Summer Brandon, director of education at ScienceWorks. Participants came from the Rogue Valley, Washington and California. “We want kids to understand that they are capable of being pilots, and we want them to love what they do,” said Brandon. “It’s fun to watch them be the cool and stoic teenagers while still being super excited that they just flew a plane.” Campers studied from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at Ashland Municipal Airport. They spent half the day using flight simulators and half the day in a hangar doing ground work, according to Lew Nash, instructor. Fiona Clark, 14, from Ashland, is considering working with the Red Cross when she’s older. Friday was the first time she’d ever flown. “It seems so different from everyday jobs, there’s a lot of options in aviation,” said Clark. “I know I want to fly helicopters.” Nash, the main instructor of the academy, has been flying for more than 50 years. He experienced a similar experience teaching youth about aviation with the United Flying Octogenarians, an organization of people older than 80 who continue to fly. Nash proposed the idea to ScienceWorks in 2013, and the first aviation academy was born. Nash also allows the camp to use his hangar as a study area during the week. Pilots Sherm Lucas, Tim Stewart and David Wolske, all with Ashland Municipal Airport, aided campers in flying. The students were able to handle the controls once airborne, and some were allowed to hold controls for landing and takeoff. Mostly the kids flew around Emigrant Lake, although some flew toward the Medford area. All the instructors in the academy are pilots. Ethan Kastenberg, 14, from Ventura, Calif., has taken flying lessons at Camarillo Airport on and off for the past two years. “It’s like being a little boy again,” said Kastenberg. “Flying is probably one of the coolest feelings.” During the week, the kids learned to read aeronautical maps, file a flight plan, fly a pattern, perform a preflight check on aircraft, use important instruments on the aircraft and how to repair certain parts of the aircraft, according to Dale Smith, instructor. “This is a really unique opportunity in our region, there are just a few programs like this in our entire country,” said Brandon. Aviation Academy is one of three day-camp academies offered by ScienceWorks. It was the first of its kind and the most popular, according to Brandon. The other camps available are astronomy and "maker" academies. This is the third consecutive year for aviation academy. Registration begins online in March, around spring break, for aviation academy. A maximum of 16 positions are available each year. “We really believe that hands-on learning and authentic experiences can be life-changing, said Brandon. “Real experiences build real skills and real passions, and that’s what we want to build in our community.” Contact news intern Caitlin Fowlkes at [email protected]. By Caitlin Fowlkes for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Caitlin Fowlkes for the Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 27, 2016 at 5:08 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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