EAA 932 Youth Camp Scholarship Contest  
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EAA Chapter 932 annual
Air Academy Scholarship contest!

This fast-paced program provides opportunities in hands-on aviation workshops and computer laboratories.  Participants explore nearly every facet of flight from balsa gliders to high performance sport aircraft.  Located at EAA's Pioneer Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  

Camp activities include:

• Construct and test fly a rubber-powered model aircraft.

• Experiment with the 4 forces of flight.

• Design, build and fly a model hot-air balloon.

• Build, launch and record data from your own design of model rocket.

• Construct wing ribs and learn how to cover them with fabric.

• Fly in an EAA aircraft. (weather permitting)

• Test your flying skills on the EAA flight simulators.

• Participate as a team on the challenge course and enjoy other group extracurricular activities.

This contest is open to all area students, ages 12-15. 

An interview with a couple of our 2002 winners:

Ryan Flack, our 2002 advanced camp winner and Michelle Marsh, our 2002 intermediate camp winner, shared some of their camp experiences with us.  Below is some information about our winners and what they had to say:

  
How did you hear about the EAA932 scholarship contest?

RYAN:  From my sister who was told by her guidance teacher at Prairie Ridge H.S.
MICHELLE: I read an article about it in the Woodstock Independent newspaper. 

Prior to the Air Academy, what was your exposure to aviation?

RYAN:  I was born into an aviation family; my father is a pilot and my mother is a flight attendant.  My sister and I both soloed on my birthday, June 20th., 2002 at Galt Airport.  Ever since I was a little boy, the concept of flight has always and will always fascinate me.
MICHELLE:  I had a ride in a light aircraft and a few in airliners.  My dad also flys remote controlled airplanes.

Please describe what the camp facilities were like.

RYAN:  The Air Academy reminds me of a mountain lodge, when you walk in the gathering room is open with an airplane suspended from the ceiling.  I don't know much about decorating, but they did a good job of blending an airplane theme with comfort.  Every intellectual whim could be indulged, as a library and computer labs were at our disposal.  We were able to relax in the basement with pool and ping-pong tables.  The food was delicious and the instructors knowledgeable. 
MICHELLE:  The lodge is a beautiful log building.  The rooms can sleep four people comfortably and have a locking cabinet for each camper.  In the basement is a pool table, a table top soccer game, and 2 ping-pong tables.  Across the airstrip from the lodge is the Airventure museum where the work shops and class rooms were located.  Both are extremely nice facilities.

Tell us about the daily routine during your camp session.

7:15 - 8:00   Clean room / breakfast
8:00    Room check / inspection
8:15    Raise colors, announcements
8:30 - 9:45   Challenge course / team building
10:00 - 11:45 Instructional time (workshop)
12:00 - 1:00   Lunch
1:15 - 4:45   Instructional time (workshop)
4:45 - 5:00   Clean shop
5:15 - 6:15   Dinner
6:15   Retire colors
6:30 - 8:00   Evening program
8:00 - 9:45   Free time
10:00   Lights out.

What was your favorite activity during camp and why?

RYAN:  My favorite activity, while at the Air Academy camp, was the class they offered on welding.  I've always enjoyed working with my hands, so this gave me the opportunity to experience a specialized field.  It was challenging to master this trade, yet rewarding.
MICHELLE:  I can't pick a favorite from all the fun things I did at camp.

What was the coolest thing you saw at Oshkosh?

RYAN:  Since I was at the camp during the air-show, I saw a B-2 stealth bomber for the first time.  I was so amazed that it was quiet, and that it was a flying wing.  Also being a member of the Air Academy afforded me special privileges: such as being allowed in the V.I.P. area and meeting the actual pilots that flew in the air show.
MICHELLE:  The coolest thing I saw at Oshkosh was the M.A.S.H. helicopter because my favorite show is M.A.S.H.

Did you meet any Air Academy attendees or camp officials with a particularly interesting background or story?

RYAN:  I met Matt Roesner, who was very interesting because his father is a billionaire.  He had over three hundred hours in many airplanes, one was an AF-104 Starfighter.  Also, he soloed in an AT-6.  Another interesting person was Neil Muzzy.  He built fighting robots that competed in a show on Comedy Central called "Battle Bots."
MICHELLE:  A fellow camper, Moses Sunbeam, knew all the dialog to every Star Wars movie.

Any other interesting stories from camp you'd like to share with us?

RYAN:  I got to perform aerobatic maneuvers in a RV-6A.  We also did some dog fighting with each other.  Although fun, it gave me a new perspective of what WWII pilots had to experience.  Rob Foster (pictured in above photo) was an inspiration.  He is an F-15 pilot.  He told me I reminded him of himself at that age.  Other people who came to talk to us were Reno air racers, stunt pilots, Scott Crossfield, and Eugene Cernan, who was the last man to walk on the moon.  All of them, along with their stories, made my stay special.
MICHELLE:  On the last day of camp there is a bonfire and everyone gets an award.  The awards were for goofy things.  Some of the awards were; the Rubik's cube fascination award, the Jar Jar Moses award, the all time worst rocket launch, and the bodacious belayer award.  I received the last award along with my best friend at camp Merrisa M.

How has attending the Air Academy influenced your future plans in aviation?

RYAN:  I know now that there are many other fields in aviation.  I used to think of flying in terms of commercial aviation, but now I see it as a diversified community.  Everyone enjoys aviation in their own way, even if that means only watching it from afar.  The time I spent here has only reaffirmed my commitment to aviation.  Specifically, I would like to build a home-built airplane, due to a class I took about building a 2ft. wing section.
MICHELLE:  The Air Academy has made me realize that aviation is something I want to pursue.  Also, I would like to get my pilots license.

Any suggestions how we could get the word about our scholarship contest out to more kids?

RYAN:  In my opinion the scholarship was not publicized much at my school.  Only the kids interested in aviation were told about it.  I believe you have to target a larger audience by announcing it over the loudspeaker during the afternoon announcements.  Passing out more flyers to not only schools but other establishments as well.
MICHELLE:  Articles in school newspapers would get the word out about the contest.

Shop facilities at the Air Academy	Michelle in a helicopter mock-up

Thank you Ryan and Michelle for sharing your stories and suggestions!  On behalf of Eaa932 we're all happy that you had a great time.  Below is a description of the various Eaa Air- Academy camp sessions.  Stay tuned for our second annual contest to be held Spring 2003.

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