October CAP AE Newsletter: Don't miss these updates

October 2025

The new fiscal year on Oct. 1 brought news of a government shutdown. The situation affects some of our Aerospace Education programs. Please read below for more details and reach out to ae@capnhq.gov if you have questions.

The new fiscal year is also a good time to assess how we can better serve you with our programs. We currently have two active surveys -- one on AE curriculum and one on the Aerospace Education Excellence (AEX) program. Find the links and details in this newsletter. We appreciate all who have already responded to these survey requests.

In addition, October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Scroll below for a reminder of how a new Civil Air Patrol partnership with CYBER.ORG makes user-friendly cyber security training available to CAP members.

As always, if you have stories you'd like to see featured in the newsletter, reach out to ae@capnhq.gov.

THIS MONTH: Program updates - AE Safety Check -

News and Events - Curriculum

PROGRAM UPDATES

Government shutdown creates

pauses in some AE programs

As of publishing this newsletter Oct. 9, due to the government shutdown, shipping of Aerospace Education material orders, STEM Kits, and ACE Program materials has paused. Members may still place orders, apply for STEM Kits, and register for the ACE Program at this time. Also note, Teacher Orientation Program (TOP) Flights have also been paused. For more information, please see the communication linked below from National Commander Maj. Gen. Regena Aye.

COMMANDER'S COMMUNICATION

Your survey input will help us shape

the future of our AE programs

We are reaching out to you, our valued AEOs and AEMs, because your expertise and perspective are crucial to the future of our Aerospace Education curriculum and resources.

To ensure our offerings meet your needs, we have launched two brief, focused surveys. Your participation will give us the direct insights we need and value from you to guide our strategy. You should have received a copy of these surveys via previous emails, but if you have not received the links or have not had a chance to respond, then please click the links below.

Survey 1: Overall AE Curriculum This survey focuses on the quality, usability, and relevance of our current materials and helps us plan for future development.

Survey 2: The AEX Program This survey is specific to the AEX program, allowing us to better understand what you are looking for in this specific resource and how we can improve it.

Each survey is designed to take less than 5 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for your time!

CURRICULUM SURVEY

AEX PROGRAM SURVEY

CURRICULUM SPOTLIGHT

Absorb Lesson Feedback Opportunity

You may know that since last spring, we have made exciting updates to the Aerospace Education Excellence (AEX) program materials, now conveniently located in Absorb.

Building on feedback from National AEO School, we've just added a lesson feedback survey to all AEX lessons in Absorb. Members can now use the lessons and directly share their feedback and ideas for differentiation and expansion, helping us continuously improve the curriculum.

To access the modernized lessons (like the Aircraft Design Lab, pictured), visit eServices > Online Learning.

Find out more details on how to access the new lessons here. We look forward to receiving your ideas!

MORE ON ABSORB

AE Safety Check

(These safety briefs 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, who works in safety and risk management on the AE National Headquarters Staff and is also the Northeast Region DCS/Aerospace Education.)

PROTECT YOUR HEARING

Did you know that October is National Protect Your Hearing Month? Before you think that this doesn’t apply to AE – sometimes it does. While true that most of our AE lessons do not include prolonged or excessive exposure to loud noises, have you considered that some of our AE lessons include power tools? And how about our outside activities like airshows? Hearing protection reduces noise levels, preserves hearing, and enhances safety. Always include the potential for hearing protection when you are planning your AE activities and safety planning. Even if you ultimately decide that hearing protection is not needed for your particular class – you should still evaluate all activities for the use of all Personally Protective Equipment (PPE).

MORE AE SAFETY INFORMATION

If you have a safety topic you would like to be included in this space, please email kcooper@ner.cap.gov.

News and Events

Cybersecurity awareness month is a great time

to use CYBER.ORG cyber education training

Since it is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we want to remind AEOs and AEMs that you can provide your cadets and students with excellent, user-friendly cyber education training through our new partnership with CYBER.ORG, an initiative of the Cyber Innovation Center funded by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Here is more:

What This Partnership Offers

Through this partnership, CAP volunteers now have access to comprehensive K-12 cyber curricula spanning multiple subject areas including Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Engineering, Science, Mathematics, Robotics & Coding, and Humanities. * Please note access will only be granted to senior members and educators in the U.S. only. Cadets cannot have access.

Getting Your Free Access:

Your login instructions can be found by clicking here.

Items to note to ensure smooth processing of your application:

Use your CAP email address when registering at https://cyber.org/find-curricula for faster verification
If you don't have a CAP email address, you may use your personal or school email, but please clearly identify yourself as a CAP member during registration
Applications using non-CAP email addresses will be forwarded to our CAP liaison for verification, which may extend processing time
Allow 2-3 business days for application review and approval
Click here for recommended curriculum to use with cadets

Schedule a time for your cadets to use the Cyber Range!

We have secured access to CYBER.ORG's educational cyber range platform, which accommodates up to 50 students simultaneously. The range can be utilized for single large sessions or multiple parallel smaller sessions, as long as we don't exceed 50 concurrent users. To schedule your squadron for the range, please email ae@capnhq.gov and express interest in signing up for a session.

Training and Support

The curriculum materials are designed to be user-friendly with ready-to-use lesson plans, presentations, and activities. However, you can find helpful training webinars on the CYBER.org website to help you maximize these valuable resources.

For questions about this partnership or assistance with your application, please email ae@capnhq.gov.

New CAP Gift Catalog includes ways

to directly support Aerospace Education

Looking for a meaningful way to support Aerospace Education? Civil Air Patrol’s new Gift Catalog offers opportunities to support AE programs that spark curiosity and build STEM skills in youth nationwide. From classroom STEM kits to flight-focused experiences, every gift helps educators and students soar. Explore the catalog and help us launch futures filled with innovation and discovery. Visit the link below to see the catalog.

AE GIFT CATALOG

National AEO School course available online

If you missed it last month, for AEOs, the 2025 National AEO School is now available online in Absorb. The school, held on site in Dayton, Ohio, in June, had a theme of “Empowering Excellence: Mastering Skills and Resources for Success.” The online version is a self-paced, virtual course designed for Civil Air Patrol's Aerospace Education Officers (AEOs) who were unable to attend the in-person National AEO School 2025. Through a series of video presentations, interactive activities, and leader insights, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the AEO role and develop the skills needed to lead a successful and sustainable AE program. This course will cover topics from mindset and communication to program administration, awards, and leveraging national resources. Upon successful completion, participants will receive credit for attending a National AEO School. The school aims to empower AE leaders by equipping them with essential skills and guiding them through available resources.

To access the course, go to eServices > Online Learning > Absorb LMS. Or click the link below.

ACCESS ABSORB LMS

Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Education

Contact: Aerospace Education

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/ae