Welcome Back to School!

August 2024

IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL WEEK!

We wish you and your family a successful 24-25 school year!

ACE continues to be a resource for bringing aviation to the classroom. Check out our education programs

and events for all ages.

FIELD TRIPS

At ACE, we teach students through immersive educational programs. Our programs engage students with real-world experiments, challenges, and activities through aerospace-infused STEM concepts. Currently, there are 45 available days to schedule a field trip. Reservations are going quickly. Book a field trip today!

Free tickets and buses for 5th-8th grade public school students.

Field trip hours: 10:00am – 1:00pm

Click here to view a calendar of available dates.

Includes:

Science on a Sphere Lab
Flight Simulation Lab
Drone Lab OR Engineering Lab

APPLY HERE

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Outreach is available for classrooms, scout groups, community organizations, and more. The Aerospace Center for Excellence offers a wide range of outreach programs and engagement opportunities such as:

Guest speakers for STEM events
Science and engineering fair judging
STEM educational programs for schools
Sonex teaching airplane
Portable Planetarium
Sphero or Indi Robots
Portable Flight Simulators
Drones

NEW! STEM SPROUTS

PRE-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

The Aerospace Center for Excellence is excited to announce a new pre-school enrichment program coming in September called STEM Sprouts! This parent participation class is designed for children between 3-5 years old. Each week, students and parents will explore a letter of the alphabet and a corresponding aviation concept using engaging, hands-on, skill-based learning centered around play.

Classes are held on Monday mornings from 9:00-10:15am. Each week has a unique theme, and enrollment is limited to 15 students using our online registration system. The class fee is $10 per student, with a 50% discount given to Florida Air Museum members. Parents can also purchase the full 26 weeks of the course at a deeply discounted bundle price. Admission to the Florida Air Museum and Destination: Aviation Playground are included in the class fee.

The STEM Sprouts calendar runs from September through May. Each week will highlight a letter of the alphabet, an aviation word, and a STEM concept of the day. The full schedule is displayed below.

SCHOLARSHIPS

ACE provides several scholarships to high school students in Polk County interested in pursuing a career in aviation, such as pilot, aircraft mechanic, or aviation administrator. Every year, numerous students benefit from the financial support that may be applied toward flight training or continuing education. Interested students should review the Scholarships webpage on the ACE website.

MORE INFO

UPCOMING YOUTH EVENTS

Thanks to our generous donors, we are able to provide

many events to the community for FREE!

STORYTIME - TUESDAYS 10 AM - FREE

Come join us as we bring stories to life and create amazing, interactive learning experiences for our Junior ACEs – exploring the universe, one adventure at a time! All are welcome. Content is targeted for our young ones, ages 2-5.

SEPTEMBER 21

Girls in Aviation Day

10 am to 2 pm

The Aerospace Center for Excellence is proud to partner with our local Women In Aviation - Lakeland Chapter to host this event for the 2024 Girls in Aviation Day!

This is a FREE event, and participants will be able to explore the Florida Air Museum, participate in hands-on STEM activities in our Skylab Innovation Center, and network with our local aviation business community. Geared for girls, ages 10-17, but all are welcome!

OCTOBER 5

Lifting Literacy

9 am to 11 am

Explore the world of reading and fairy tales through the magical lens of STEM. FREE Entry.

NOVEMBER 9

Wings 'n Things

10 am to 2 pm

All day hands-on STEM activities like building wing ribs, testing your skills on a flight sim and more! FREE Entry.

MORE INFO HERE

DECEMBER 6-7 AND 13-14

Polar Express Airmail Edition

5 to 9 pm

Celebrate the holidays by listening to a reading of The Polar Express, writing a letter to Santa, sipping hot chocolate, enjoying cookies and more! Tickets on-sale soon.

MORE EVENTS HERE!

DON'T FORGET WE HAVE A PLAYGROUND!

JERRY HOLLAND

DESTINATION:AVIATION

PLAYGROUND

As the weather finally cools down, take the kids to a UNIQUE AVIATION PLAYGROUND equipped with slides, swings, hands-on stem and aviation activities and more! FREE entry with Florida Air Museum Membership!

GET A FAMILY MEMBERSHIP!

ACEedu.org

About Aerospace Center for Excellence, Inc.:

The Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE), a 501(c)(3) non-profit, has emerged as a nationally recognized leader in STEM-related and aerospace education through its various learning centers, outreach programs, summer camps and scholarships aimed at preparing students for tomorrow’s aerospace challenges. Located on the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus in Lakeland, Florida, the organization is known for its annual SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo fundraising event as well as the Florida Air Museum, which is Florida’s Official Aviation Museum and Education Center. ACE is the world’s leader in producing licensed teenage private pilots and delivers youth programs that engage over 50,000 students a year. For more information, ACEedu.org.