Hello Junior ACES Friends!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year from the ACE family! You made 2025 an unforgettable year for us. In fact, we reached over 30,000 students through our aviation and STEM-focused programs and we can’t thank you enough for your participation and support. We are gearing up for another jampacked year in 2026. We will bring back all your favorite programs and events plus introduce a few more. More information will come soon, but in the meantime, enjoy a stroll through memory lane with this snapshot of last year. 

JAMES C. RAY FLIGHT TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP

The James C. Ray Flight Training Scholarship application window is open through January 31^st.

STORYTIME AT THE FLORIDA AIR MUSEUM

We are visiting space and looking at the stars this month at Storytime. We meet every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at the Florida Air Museum. Share this fun event with your friends, so they can join us!

An important date to note this month:

January 20^th - Special Edition StoryTime. We will look at the stars in our Planetarium!  

HAINES CITY WINGS 'N THINGS - FEBRUARY 7TH

Get ready to nerd out at Propelling Forward Expo: The Aviation Experience, a special road-show edition of the Aerospace Center for Excellence’s Wings & Things program — proudly hosted by the City of Haines City. The Expo also provides a sneak peek into the world-famous SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo, offering resources and information for families interested in aviation education and careers.



This FREE, family-friendly aviation and STEM festival will take place on Saturday, February 7, from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Lake Eva Community Center. Guests of all ages are invited to explore hands-on science activities, experience aviation technology up close, and discover the excitement of flight.

WINGS 'n WAFFLES: ACADEMIC DRONE SOCCER LEAGUE -

FEBRUARY 14TH

Join us the second Saturday of each month at 9 a.m. to enjoy breakfast (chicken and waffles, thus the event name) and hear from aviation professionals, veterans, pilots and more. FAM MEMBERS ARE FREE! General public, $10/person.

February’s speaker is a representative from the Academic Drone Soccer League (ADSL). See a live demonstration of drone soccer and learn more about the educational benefits of this program for students of all ages. Gamification of learning and team-based problem solving are just a couple of the many benefits of this engaging initiative. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Drone Soccer League World Cup 2026 taking place at SUN ‘n FUN in April!

STORYTIME UNDER THE STARS – FEBRUARY 20th

It’s winter in Florida and that means it’s the perfect time for a campfire! Join us for fun under the stars, as we bring our weekly StoryTime event outside, sitting around our fire ring for stories, songs, star gazing, and s'mores! This will be the last one until December, so don’t miss it!

STEM SPROUTS REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

STEM Sprouts is an engaging, hands-on learning experience for children 3-11 years of age. Pre-registration is required, as class sizes are limited. 

The STEM Sprouts calendar runs from September through May. Each week will highlight a new STEM concept and feature engaging learning opportunities with our amazing team of educators. 

SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Our summer camp registration is open, and spots are filling up fast! These camps are designed for kids aged 6-17 years old. Click below to get more information and to register. 

Year-round programing at the Aerospace Center for Excellence is made possible by the generous and ongoing support of our partners.

THANK YOU for helping us fuel the future!

ACEedu.org