Three Weeks of Aviation Summer Camp at Franklin County State Airport
Despite the challenges posed by the airport shutdown for construction, EAA Chapter 613 and Habitat for Aviation had a remarkably productive and inspiring summer. Our dedication and ingenuity enables us to continue our tradition of fostering a love for aviation among the youth through our expanded summer camp and airplane builds.
This year, our summer camp grew from a single week of programming with MVU to three weeks, including participation from youth in the Richford and Enosburg Falls districts. One of the most touching moments was seeing Miranda Gallagher, a camper from five years ago, return as a volunteer. Watching her drive herself to camp, ready to lead activities, was a full-circle moment that offered a glimpse into the pride parents must feel when their children reach significant milestones.
The first week of camp was a success, thanks in large part to the generosity of Sam Longstreet and his family. Sam, along with his grandmother Linda and father Michael, played instrumental roles in making our camp a memorable experience for all. The other weeks were successful due to our dedicated volunteers—Hardy, Ian, Abby, Miranda, Aubrianna, Carmella, Cliff, Cassie and George. Each was invaluable, though the intense three-week stretch left us all utterly exhausted.
We faced numerous challenges, including the constant beeping of the new gate and the rattle of bulldozer tracks, yet we kept the youth engaged and enthusiastic. Highlights included:
Learning about airplane painting from Jane.
A tour of the Border Air and a lesson on the properties of flight by Cliff Coy.
An inspiring tour of the Women Build Planes project and a curated tour of aviation history through Beth's paintings.
Drawing compass roses with sidewalk chalk and learning about runway orientation and airport traffic patterns.
Building and flying various balsam gliders, a simple yet joyful activity.
Safety wire and soldering station activities where the youth made keychain ornaments.
A new metalworking activity involving bending, cutting, deburring, jigging, clecoing, and riveting to make cookie cutters, aided by Ian Bradette’s handcrafted wooden jigs.
Making cookies with our newly fabricated cutters using Carmela’s five-generation-old recipe.
Simulator sessions at the Taylor Aviation Center, guided by our Youth Aviators.
Learning about BETA’s electric airplane, ALIA, from Tyler Seeholzer.
Exploring electricity through Spintronics and Snap Circuits kits.
Aviation-themed LEGO activities and sectional chart identification.
Each afternoon ended with a much-needed Klondike bar snack, a refreshing treat in the 80-90+ degree weather. The feedback from the campers was overwhelmingly positive, with one camper declaring,
"This has been the best camp I've been to in a while!"
Many expressed interest in returning. The dedication and hard work of our volunteers and supporters have made this summer a success despite the challenges. We look forward to continuing our mission of inspiring the next generation of aviators and making progress on our airplane builds. Thank you to everyone who contributed to these achievements.
