|
We have some exciting news. The Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) program has set a new record with more than 106,000 students participating! And there is still time to register for the 2024-2025 school year. Registration closes March 31.
There is also still time to join the 2024-2025 ACE Plus program, which connects squadrons and classrooms using ACE curriculum. Registration for ACE Plus also closes March 31.
Read more about both of these programs in this newsletter.
Registration will open April 1 for the 2025 National AE High-Altitude Balloon Challenge for Cadets. Find the details below.
AE leaders, another date to note is March 7, the deadline to submit a form to be a presenter at the 2025 National Aerospace Education Officers School in Dayton, Ohio.
Also this month, learn about an important STEM Kit Program update and more.
As always, if you have any information you'd like to see highlighted in upcoming newsletters, contact us at ae@capnhq.gov.
| |
THIS MONTH: Program updates - News and Events - AE Safety Check - Curriculum - Important things to know | |
|
PROGRAM UPDATES
ACE program tops 106,000 students!
| |
|
Congratulations to all schools, teachers, and students that are participating in CAP's Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) Program this year.
Once again,
ACE set its sights
To break the records
And reach new heights!
Thanks, Teachers and Leaders
So glad your FACE
Is participating this year
As a part of ACE!
Over 106,000 students
Over 580 teachers
Over 550 schools
And the numbers are still rising!
K-6 teachers and students across the nation are enjoying the interactive program designed to engage and inspire early-aged youth toward an interest in aviation, space, and other STEM-related careers. The ACE Program uses the aerospace theme to integrate academics, character education, and physical fitness while helping students connect content skills with real-life application.
If you haven’t registered for the ACE Program this year, there’s still time! Registration closes March 31. Click HERE to go directly to the online registration form.
If you have registered, your job is not done! You have two more tasks to complete:
1) Nominations are being accepted for the following (click each box to go to the nomination form):
| |
|
Send your nominations to ace@capnhq.gov by April 25. Attach any pictures, work samples or other material to support the nominations.
2) Submit your Completion Form.
Completion forms should be submitted by May 31.
| |
ACE Plus: CAP Cadets mentor in classrooms | |
|
CAP cadets mentor ACE students in classrooms with airplanes, rockets, and career exploration! Teachers in grades 5-8 who register for the ACE program can have their classroom adopted by a local CAP squadron with adults and cadets coming to the school to teach ACE and other aerospace/STEM lessons!
To find out how amazing this collaborative program can be for both teachers and CAP squadrons, read about the two nationally recognized ACE Plus collaborative squadron and school teams from Michigan and Florida. (YOUR squadron and classroom could be one of the next national ACE Plus winning teams!)
Interested teachers can complete the top of the Request to Collaborate Form and send to their state’s CAP volunteer Director of Aerospace Education (DAE) as found on the list HERE. The state’s DAE will connect the teacher to a squadron, which will complete the bottom portion of the form and submit to adopt@capnhq.gov for processing. THEN, the magic will start! ACE Plus registration ends March 31, so register your classroom/squadron team now.
| |
STEM Kit program update: AEM STEM Kit requests to be paused beginning April 1 | |
AE Leaders:
We will be pausing the fulfillment of STEM kit requests for AEMs beginning April 1, with plans to resume August 1, 2025.
What is the rationale behind this pause?
The challenge we face every year is limited funding, and we anticipate another record year for requests which we will be unable to fully fulfill. By pausing on April 1, we aim to conserve inventory during a period of generally lower demand.
How will this affect you?
This pause will only impact AEMs. All AEOs and Commanders will continue to have the ability to request STEM kits for their squadrons during this timeframe.
How can you help?
AEOs, please help facilitate communication by discussing this with your AEMs and being prepared to address any questions they may have.
If you have any further inquiries regarding this announcement, please do not hesitate to contact us. We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding during this period and look forward to working with you to inspire the next generation of aerospace enthusiasts.
Very Respectfully,
The Stem Kit Committee
| |
National CAP High-Altitude Balloon Challenge for Cadets registration opens April 1 | |
|
Congratulations, again, to the GLR-OH-131 Cuyahoga County Cadet Squadron, the 2024 winner of the Col Joe Kittinger Cup and $5,000 prize from Mrs. Kittinger in the national CAP AE High-Altitude Balloon Challenge for Cadets.
It is time now to prepare to register for the 2025 HABC! The registration link will open on April 1 and will close on May 11. HABC team boxes will be shipped to the teams by May 16. Any squadron who is planning to have a team this year can begin researching the best science experiment for their test tube.
The HABC webpage and guidance will be updated with 2025 information by the April 1 registration date opening. One significant change this year is a longer time period to analyze the experiment data after the August balloon launch.
SAVE the DATES: April 1 – May 11 HABC Registration.
| |
Teachers: It's time to take flight with Civil Air Patrol | |
|
CAP members who are educators are eligible for one TOP flight per fiscal year. Our new fiscal year has begun; so NOW is a great time for teachers to fly over their schools and communities!
Teachers, to request a flight, contact your state’s volunteer Director of Aerospace Education (DAE) as found on the list HERE. Provide your CAP ID#, the city where you live, and your cell number to help them coordinate with their Operations team to get you a plane and pilot at an airport near you -- to get you into the air!
After a pre-flight briefing, teachers can try out the controls and fly the plane. The pilot can then come visit the classroom to carry on the experience.
- Teachers, get your certificate signed by your pilot and do not forget to complete the easy online evaluation afterward.
-
Share some good photos with your pilot to ae@capnhq.gov and you may be featured on our @CAPaerospace Facebook page!
Wing DAEs, please note that the FY25 funds are loaded and ready for TOP flight coordination.
| |
Aerospace Education Excellence (AEX) Program | |
|
AEX Award registration for squadrons and AEMs:
There is still time to make sure your squadron or classroom applies for the 2024-2025 AEX Award program in eServices. AEX program activities should take place from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 each year. Activities and resources are available in eServices, Or you may use your own activities or lessons from a like-minded STEM education organization.
To learn more about the AEX Program, click the link below.
| |
Call for presenters for 2025 National AEO School | |
|
The 22nd annual National AEO School will be held June 24-27, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base located in Dayton, Ohio. We are now opening application submissions from experienced AEOs and subject matter experts to facilitate a variety of interactive sessions.
Selected applicants will have the opportunity to share their knowledge and expertise with their peers on a variety of engaging topics, with a strong emphasis on motivating participants to strengthen their local AE programs. Ample guidance and time will be provided for preparation.
Please complete the application form linked below no later than March 7. Email questions to ae@capnhq.gov.
We thank you and look forward to another great AEO school. More information on AEO School will be provided in the March National AE Newsletter.
| |
|
National AE teachers of the year to attend Air Camp;
applications open for other teachers and students
| |
CAP’s 2023 and 2024 national CAP AE teachers of the year, Julie Sicks-Panus (2023 - left) and Nancy Parra-Quinlan (2024 - right) are available to attend as special guests of the summer 2025 Air Camp held in Dayton, Ohio. CAP appreciates the alliance with Air Camp to offer this professional development opportunity which will enhance both educators’ teaching within the classroom and within their squadrons, as both educators are also AE officers within CAP. | |
|
Did you know that any K-12 classroom teacher can apply for the Educator Air Camp? There are two weeks for educators: June 8-11 and July 21-24. Application information is found below.
There is also a camp for young people who are 4th-12th grade students or CAP cadets. Several weeks are available according to grade level bands. All information is found below for Student Air Camp.
| |
|
STEMtoSky classroom and squadron
integration program applications open
| |
Registration is now open for the Air and Space STEM Outreach office’s STEMtoSky classroom integration program. Teachers and squadron AEOs can register to have an Airman STEM career volunteer (military or civilian) visit the classroom/cadet meeting either virtually or in person, as is feasible, for a 1:1 Classroom Connection. Other options are STEM videos and STEM activities, all provided by the Department of the Air Force’s Air and Space STEM Outreach office. See STEMtoSky information and registration link below for May 5-23 engagement dates.
Additional STEM events are also listed below.
| |
(Welcome to AE Safety Check! These safety nuggets are things to think about as you lead or participate in an Aerospace Education activity. The writer of this monthly feature is Lt. Col. Karen Cooper, National AE Manager, who works in safety and risk management on the AE National Headquarters Staff and is also the Northeast Region DCS/Aerospace Education.) | |
|
AVOID PINCH POINT INJURIES
During AE Activities, there is a potential for pinch point injuries. These are common hazards that can lead to injury, such as when using hand tools, parts that snap together, etc. For AE Activities, a pinch point injury can happen when:
- Not paying attention to the location of hands or feet
- Equipment or safety guards are in poor condition
- Clothing, jewelry, or hair gets caught or tangled
Tips to avoid pinch point hazards
- Include any known pinch points in your pre-activity safety brief.
- Never place your hands where you can’t see them
- Pay close attention around moving parts
- Wear proper PPE, such as safety gloves or goggles. You’ll also want to avoid loose clothing, remove jewelry, and secure long hair back to avoid getting caught or tangled in a pinch point.
- Create pinch point labels: Always create, check, and maintain warning labels to place near known pinch points.
- Never walk away from equipment that is turned on or in motion
- Avoid shortcuts
| |
If you have a safety topic you would like to be included in this space, please email kcooper@ner.cap.gov. | |
|
CURRICULUM SPOTLIGHT
The SR-71 As a Simple, Fun, Foam Flying Machine
| |
In this lesson, from Civil Air Patrol's Aerospace Education Excellence (AEX) II booklet, cadets and students can build a foam model of an SR-71 Blackbird that uses a rubber band launch. This lesson, Activity Ten in the AEX II book, makes an excellent activity for CAP's AEX Award Program. In AEX, squadrons and middle and high school classrooms complete six engaging activities and a two-hour field experience such as a field trip. Or find it here. And if you are not a part of the AEX program, there is still time to complete the program for 2024-25. Find out more about AEX here.
| |
Each month, this space features important highlights or answers to frequently asked questions. Here are four things you need to know as an AEM or AEO. | |
New AEOs can find tips on how to get started | |
Are you a newly appointed Aerospace Education Officer? Congratulations! Check out this list of tips on how to get started and how to find help. Click the button to learn more. | |
You can update your eServices profile information. Here's how: | |
Sign into eServices and click on your name in the top right-hand corner. Update your email address, mailing address, contact numbers, etc. This ensures you receive timely and pertinent information from CAP. If you are a teacher, ensure your primary email address is your home and your secondary email address is your school so that your annual renewal email and any other important information will not end up as spam in your school email account. | |
AEMs: Is it time to renew your membership? | |
All Aerospace Education Members (AEMs) are offered an annual FREE “in-kind renewal." The online renewal email is sent 60 days prior to the membership expiration date. A renewal banner appears at the top of the eServices sign-in page 90 days prior to expiring. (You can’t renew earlier than 90 days.) Find additional information at the link below. | |
AEOs: Reach out to AEMs whose memberships expire soon | |
|
AEOs, reach out to your AEMs whose memberships expire within 60 days or whose memberships have expired. For more guidance, see Recruiting and Retention of AEMs on the AEO Resources page link below.
Please note: CAP has several categories of membership, but each member can only be assigned one category of membership. Any adult uniformed member, who is an educator, may access all the resources available to an AEM.
| | | | |
