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Teacher Orientation Program (TOP) Flights for teachers are one of the benefits that set Civil Air Patrol apart from other organizations that support educators. In a TOP Flight, Aerospace Education Members (AEM) and any senior member who is an educator can take one flight a year with a pilot in a CAP aircraft. They even get the chance to take over the controls briefly during flight. Keep reading the newsletter to find out how to get into the air on your TOP Flight!
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
- ACE and ACE Plus registration is open.
- It's kick-off time for the AEX program for AEOs and AEMs.
- StellarXplorers competition deadline is approaching. Coach training for this program and CyberPatriot is available.
- October is CyberSecurity Awareness Month.
- Oregon Wing hosts a weekend stargazing event.
- CURRICULUM: Digital resources have been migrated from AE Downloads to Absorb.
- OUTREACH: Review the importance of external AE.
- SAFETY: Ensure proper ventilation for indoor activities.
If you have story ideas for any upcoming monthly newsletter, please reach out to us at ae@capnhq.gov. We would love to hear from you!
(Pictured: Arizona AEM Jeff Herrold and Capt. Darryl Gratz on a recent TOP Flight)
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THIS MONTH: Program updates - AE Safety Check -
News and Events - Curriculum - Outreach
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PROGRAM UPDATES
2026-2027 ACE registration continues
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The school year is off and running, but October is still a great time to register for CAP's Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) the interactive program designed to engage and inspire early-aged youth toward an interest in aviation, space, and other STEM-related careers.
If you are a K-6 educator (or you know one), be sure to check out this program..
ACE uses the aerospace theme to integrate academics, character education, and physical fitness while helping students connect content skills with real-life application. Each teacher in this grade-specific program gets a class set of educational materials.
Already an ACE teacher? Explore our ACE webpages makeover on the AE pages of GoCivilAirPatrol.com, the latest release in our AE webpages redesign plan.
Click the links to find out more and to register now!
| | ACE Plus program connects squadrons, classrooms; registration continues | | |
With our ACE Plus program, 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 into the classroom to teach ACE and other aerospace/STEM lessons!
Interested teachers can complete the top of the Request to Collaborate Form and send to their state’s 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.
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AEX 2026-2027 Program kick-off:
It's time for AEOs and 7-12 educators to apply
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With the start of the new fiscal year Oct. 1, the Aerospace Education Excellence (AEX) 2026-2027 Program is open for AEOs and AEMs.
For squadrons, AEX completion counts toward earning the Squadron AE Achievement Award and Quality Cadet Unit Award (QCUA).
For our grade 7-12 educators, AEX brings curriculum resources to your classrooms.
For all, it is recognition of the engaging and impactful STEM lessons you lead.
To apply for the program, visit the AEX module in eServices linked below and fill out the quick form. Throughout the year, complete six activities and one two-hour field experience (such as a STEM day, museum tour, or rocket launch). Two additional one-hour activities can replace the field experience if that better fits your schedule.
AEX program activities should take place from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 each year. Activities and resources are available in Absorb LMS, accessible in eServices. Or you may use your own activities or lessons from a like-minded STEM education organization. Participating in the CAP/NASA Missions, the CAP High-Altitude Balloon Challenge, CyberPatriot, StellarXplorers, and STEM Kit lessons also may be applied toward AEX completion.
To learn more about the AEX Program or apply, click the links below. If you have any questions about AEX, please contact aex@capnhq.gov. We are here to help.
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Air & Space Forces Association national
STEM competition deadline approaching
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MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STELLARXPLORERS
Registration for the StellarXplorers competition closes Oct. 14. The program is a space system design competition that challenges teams of students to solve orbit planning, satellite component, and launch operation scenarios in a series of online rounds.
NOTE: This year AFA has made adjustments to the registration fees and waiver structure and understands this change may affect some participating schools and programs. For more information on this, consult the StellarXplorers website.
- High School & Middle School team = $250 / team
- JROTC unit = $125 / team (all team members must be part of the unit to be eligible for this price).
- Civil Air Patrol squadron = $125 / team (all team members must be part of the squadron to be eligible for this price)
*Fees waived for teams at Title I Schools.*
| | Coaching a CyberPatriot or StellarXplorers team? Training is available for you | |
For members coaching a CyberPatriot or StellarXplorers team, or doing so for the first time, CAP Cyber has an opportunity to help you kick start your program! Although this is intended for new coaches, any coach or prospective coach is welcome – this is a great way to learn about the programs, both national STEM competitions of the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA).
Maj. Bill Blatchley, Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters Cyber Mission Team Deputy for Education and Awareness, is hosting bi-weekly coaches meetings to help get you started.
StellarXplorers meetings will be on the first and third Thursday of each month; CyberPatriot will be on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. During these sessions, you will learn about creating a team, how to obtain the Systems Toolkit software, how to create STK scenarios, and the overall structure of these AFA competitions. The meetings will be at 9 p.m. Eastern, 6 p.m. Pacific via Microsoft Teams and will usually last approximately one hour. All training sessions will be recorded so that they can be viewed at a later time if you miss a training session or want to review it.
Pre-registration is required using Registration Zone. To register, click the links below.
Questions?
Email cyber-programs@cap.gov for additional information.
| | TOP Flights put educators into the sky | | |
Educators, autumn is a great time of year to take a flight in a CAP plane!
Any CAP member who is a formal or informal educator, whether in a squadron or not, is eligible for one Teacher Orientation Program (TOP) flight per year.
Teachers, to request a flight, contact your state’s volunteer Director of Aerospace Education (DAE) 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.
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Share some good photos with your pilot to ae@capnhq.gov and you may be featured here and in our other publications.
(Pictured: Arizona Wing AEM Jeff Herrold of Phoenix on a recent TOP Flight.)
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OUTREACH SPOTLIGHT
Is anybody there? The answer is 'yes.'
Lt. Col. Michael Castania, New Jersey Wing Director of Aerospace Education, serves on CAP's AE National Volunteer Staff in the area of educational outreach. He will provide articles for the National AE Monthly Newsletter on like-minded STEM organizations and other ways to collaborate in your community.
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Effective aerospace education outreach relies on hands-on STEM engagement, teacher professional development, industry, and community partnerships. It is incumbent upon CAP members to become aware of the importance of the external AE programs in order to build a sustainable pipeline for the future aerospace workforce while conducting outreach initiatives that will perpetuate CAP’s aerospace education missions. For Civil Air Patrol members, understanding and promoting this external AE program is vital to fulfilling CAP's congressional mission of inspiring the next generation of aerospace leaders.
Aerospace Education Members (AEMs), know that CAP is here to help you. Here is what collaboration brings:
Hands-On STEM Engagement
- Sparks Early Interest
- Fosters Critical Thinking
- Increases Retention
- Builds "STEM Identity"
Teacher Professional Development
- Exponential Impact
- Teacher Confidence
- Sustains the Curriculum
- Integration into Core Curriculum
Industry and Community Partnerships
- Real-World Relevance
- Broadens Reach and Inclusivity
- Access to Resources
- Creates a Culture of Support
- Aligns Workforce Needs
Imperative for CAP Members
- Sustaining the Aerospace Pipeline
- Maximizing Free Resources
- Fulfilling CAP's Core Mission
Our external aerospace education program is what influences the broader American public. CAP members serve as the vital link between the organization's massive library of free educational resources (such as AEX, ACE, and STEM Kits) and local communities.
By actively conducting outreach initiatives, such as visiting schools, hosting airport days, and recruiting AEMs, CAP members directly perpetuate our aerospace education mission and inspire the workforce of tomorrow. The line from the Broadway show "1776" comes to mind. "Is anybody there? Does anybody care? Does anybody see what I see?"
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The answer is 'yes,' but collaboration is necessary to get the word out.
Learn more: National Aviation Youth Resources (NAYR) Foundation is a nonprofit organization.
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CURRICULUM SPOTLIGHT
Digital curriculum products have been migrated from AE Resources and Downloads
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If you missed this last month, our curriculum products are no longer available at eServices > AE Resources and Downloads. So that all resources are together in one spot, all digital products have been migrated to Absorb LMS. Click the link below to get to Absorb LMS.
Also, if you have not checked it out, the former "Curriculum" page is now the "STEM Learning Resources" page on the AE section of GoCivilAirPatrol.com. The new design better reflects the upgrades and changes we have made to our learning products and how you access them.
Our revised lesson framework.
- Built-in facilitator support
- Expanded educational standards
- Digital extensions
- Safety guides
- Lesson debrief surveys
All lessons (newly reimagined activities as well as legacy favorites) are now available in Absorb LMS (eServices > Online learning > Absorb). Click below to check it out and see what's new!
| | (These safety tips 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.) | | |
CHECK INDOOR WORK SPACES FOR PROPER VENTILATION
More of our AE activities will be moving indoors this time of year, and in addition to briefing emergency exits, first aid, and other precautions – please take a few moments to ensure that you have proper ventilation in your classroom area. Some of our activities include adhesives and other items that, if used in a closed or poorly ventilated space, could result in eye irritation, respiratory discomfort, coughing, wheezing, and/or headaches. In addition, if any of your cadets or seniors or students have asthma, it could be a trigger for an asthma attack.
If you detect strong fumes or breathing discomfort, move to fresh air immediately and open windows and/or doors to clear the room. Encourage everyone in the room to speak up if they detect anything.
| | If you have a safety topic you would like to be included in this space, please email kcooper@ner.cap.gov. | | October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month | | |
The month of October is recognized as Cybersecurity Awareness Month (CSAM), a dedicated month for the public and private sectors to work together to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared the month of October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month. It has grown into a collaborative effort between government and industry to enhance cybersecurity awareness, encourage actions by the public to reduce online risk and generate discussion on cyber threats on a national and global scale.
This year’s theme is Securing the Next 250, which recognizes the nation's 250th anniversary and focuses on building a secure digital future for America’s next era. All units in CAP are encouraged to conduct regular cybersecurity training, which could also be presented as a safety briefing. Resources from the cisa.gov Toolkit can be found on the cybersecurity page here and directly here, and include a tipsheet, guide and two easy-to-use Power Point Presentations.
CAP’s partnership with Cisco Networking Academy (NetAcad) provides Civil Air Patrol members with a great FREE opportunity to jump start or continue their Cybersecurity learning. Cybersecurity support, training and curriculum resources are all available for members to work through in a self-paced environment. Learn vital skills like threat intelligence, network security, and risk management to protect yourself and organizations from cyberattacks.Completing these courses prepares students for the CCST Cybersecurity Certification Exam, an entry-level cyber security qualification.
CAP continues to advance training and education for all members, including the cyber badge program for cadets, the national cyber academy for cadet and adult members, and encourages units to participate in the annual CyberPatriot Competition.
For more information on CAP’s cyber programs, check out cyber.cap.gov or Facebook.
| | Oregon Wing hosts stargazing weekend | | |
Recently, Oregon Wing cadets were given the opportunity to experience an overnight trip to learn about aerospace technology, astronomy, and astrophotography. Fifty people attended this inaugural, two-night event - 21 Cadets, 15 Senior members, four astronomers, and 10 guests. The site was the Oregon Outback, a large Dark Sky Sanctuary. Cadets in all Oregon squadrons were invited to attend. Participants in the August event had the opportunity to use multiple telescopes assisted by a local observatory and four astronomers.
"Before this Dark Sky event, 60 percent of the participants had never seen the Milky Way," noted Capt. John Price, Oregon Wing Director of Aerospace Education.
Read the full story, written by Capt. Price, by clicking below.
(If you have events you would like to promote in the National AE Newsletter, send your article submissions to us at ae@capnhq.gov.)
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