THIS MONTH: Program updates - News and Events - AE Safety Check - Curriculum - Important things to know

If any CAP cadet or composite squadron is interested in forming a 2025 High-Altitude Balloon Challenge (HABC) team, registration is extended and will close at midnight (local squadron time) on May 18. 

Reminders:

• Only one HABC team per squadron.
• There is no cost to be involved.
• Eligible for QCUA credit.
• Cadet names do not have to be confirmed at registration; cadet team names can be submitted in early June. 
• Teams work to create and analyze science experiments, which will be sent to the edge of the Stratosphere in early August. 

Find out all information on the HABC webpage. To register, click the link below.

ACE Plus classroom adoption appreciation given

ACE teachers and squadrons having worked together this academic year should complete the end-of-year evaluation form to be able to earn the gratitude gift for collaborating this year! 

• Any past teams who have not received their gratitude gift should also complete and submit their form.
• Please include any photos of (media approved) students with the CAP members.

Program update: AEM STEM Kit requests paused

AE Leaders:

As a reminder, we began pausing the fulfillment of STEM kit requests for AEMs as of April 1, with plans to resume Aug. 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, 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 (stem@capnhq.gov). 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

Teachers: Take your Civil Air Patrol flight soon!

Any CAP member who is an AE member or a squadron member who is an educator is eligible for one Teacher Orientation Program (TOP) Flight per year.

To request a flight at your closest general airport, contact your state’s volunteer Director of AE and provide your name, CAP ID#, city/state, and possible dates to fly.  

Don't miss participating in 2024-2025 AEX Program

There is still time to apply for the 2024-2025 Aerospace Education Excellence Award program in eServices. Make sure your squadron or classroom is recognized for the engaging AE experiences you are planning and leading. AEX program activities should take place from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 each year. Activities and resources are available in eServices, but these are just a starting point. You may also use your own activities or lessons from a like-minded STEM education organization. AEX completion counts toward earning the Quality Cadet Unit Award as well as the Squadron AE Achievement Award. For participating squadrons, activities during the 2025 Aviation Weather Mission can qualify toward your AEX completion. (Pictured: Braden Composite Squadron 807 from Pennsylvania Wing works on the weather mission). STEM Kit activities and High-Altitude Balloon Challenge activities may also count toward the award.

Teachers and AEOs, we want to share how impactful the AEX experiences are to the participants; send any photos you'd like to share of your AEX program to aex@capnhq.gov.

To learn more about the AEX Program and see steps to apply, click the link below.

News and Events

Complete the FREE CAP Cisco Networking

Academy Cyber Challenge by May 23

Civil Air Patrol is participating in the 2024 Cisco Networking Academy Cyber Challenge, which ends on May 23. This amazing FREE opportunity includes 6 courses, and the Career Path Exam to be completed by May 23. Members completing the CAP Cisco Networking Academy Cyber Challenge would have the skillset that could lead to an entry-level job opportunity in the cybersecurity industry, and all materials for the courses are FREE to ALL CAP members – both cadet and adult. This would be the opportunity you are looking for if you are:

• a cadet or adult member that loves learning
• wanting to learn more about cyber or thinking about a career in cyber
• someone who would like to earn a certification

But you need to take this opportunity NOW!

Participating in the Learn-a-Thon helps students prepare for the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Cybersecurity certification that focuses on topics covered in six courses: 

Introduction to Cybersecurity, Networking Basics, Networking Devices and Initial Configuration, Endpoint Security, Network Defense, Cyber Threat Management.

These courses form the core curriculum of the Cybersecurity Career Path.

For our cadets, any cadet completing this challenge will be qualified to attend the Cyberspace Networking Course (CNC) at the 2025 National Cadet Special Activities.

Earn Cisco approved Badges and skill awards!

Each course completed earns you a Cisco approved badge managed through Credly that you can post to social media sites including LinkedIn, Degreed, Indeed, and Facebook, to name a few. These badges demonstrate your hard work and dedication to your education and your commitment to make our digital world more secure. For our senior members, these badges show your employer you take their cyber security seriously. For cadets, these badges show your family, friends, school, and future employers you have learned the skills to help keep them secure, and that you have a skillset that can be trusted. For those that complete all 6 courses and the final exam, Cisco will be entering you into a drawing for a chance to win a voucher to take the Cisco Cyber Security Technician certification exam.

The CAP Cisco Networking Academy Cyber Challenge is open to ALL members regardless of age or occupation. This is an opportunity to increase your knowledge and earn valuable certificates and digital badges that will enhance your career regardless of occupation.

Col. Brett Dolnick, the National Cyber Mission Team’s Leader, commented, “The education that CAP members receive for free from the course, whether for a future career, or for their own personal knowledge, is well worth their time, as we continue to innovate throughout CAP using cutting edge technology as well as in our daily lives.”

Don’t miss this opportunity!

And as always, you can find out about all things CAP Cyber at the CAP Cyber website: https://cyber.cap.gov and https://www.facebook.com/civilairpatrolcyber

(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.)

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

If you missed the news last month, be sure to explore exciting updates to the Aerospace Education Excellence (AEX) program materials, now conveniently located in Absorb! You'll find a thoughtfully revised and expanded selection of lessons -- such as Recycled Rockets (pictured) -- all designed to spark curiosity and empower learners. These updated resources build upon the engaging core activities from our AEX books, offering even greater opportunities for active STEM learning, creative exploration, problem-solving, and engineering design. Absorb is accessible via eServices > Online Learning. Navigating Absorb to find lessons is simple – try searching with tags such as “30 minutes,” “leadership development,” “data analysis development,” “grades 5-8," or “aviation”! If you're new to Absorb, the resource linked here will guide you through accessing the lesson catalog, understanding AE searchable tags, and utilizing the new interactive presentations that enhance the lessons. In the Recycled Rockets activity, cadets and students will learn about space junk and then design, build, and test a rocket considering factors like propulsion (the accelerating force), stability, and the potential for creating more space junk.

And if you're just starting with the AEX program itself, be sure to check out the AEX Launch Guide, a resource created to help Aerospace Education Members (AEMs) and Aerospace Education Officers (AEOs) understand the program's framework and build strong aerospace foundations for students and cadets. (Note: The new lessons are available online only and not in printed copies.)

How to keep your eServices membership profile updated and use membership renewal tools.

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.

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 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. 

Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Education

Contact: Aerospace Education

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/ae