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EAA AirVenture veterans who pile up the family for the
ride/flight to Oshkosh may already be familiar with the marvel of
KidVenture for keeping their offspring happy, entertained, and
educated -- all at the same time (now where else can you do
that?!)
But for those who are unfamiliar with what KidVenture has to
offer young people, toddler-aged through high school - and their
parents, it's well worth your while to read 'what zup' over there
and include in your Oshkosh itinerary a bus ride to KidVenture,
located behind the EAA AirVenture Museum.
KidVenture is relatively new to the EAA program; it was
certainly not at the first EAA Fly-In Convention in 1953; in fact,
KidVenture is just in its eight year and was developed to meet the
need for activities for the family and next generation of
pilots.
"We wanted to expand along educational lines, offering different
educational opportunities that would tie into aviation," said
KidVenture co-chair Dan Majka. Dan shares chairmanship duties with
wife, Cate. Both are high school science chemistry and physics
teachers, respectively, in Illinois, and Dan is on the EAA board of
directors.
According to Nicole Raudabaugh, KidVenture staff administrator,
prior to KidVenture, aviation enthusiasts often packed up their
entire family for the week and found little in the way of special
activities for their little ones and not-so-little teenagers to
do.
Says Majka, who organized the first program eight years ago --
and hasn't let go since -- the mission of KidVenture is to prepare
the next generation of aviation enthusiasts and offer family
activities for kids during the convention. It's not a 'dumping
ground' for kids, he noted.
"Kids are participating in real projects and learning real
skills," he said.
According to Raudabaugh, KidVenture expects 3,000 kids to walk
through the 12,000-square foot tent daily, so by the end of the
week, some 21,000 kids (and thousands of parents) will have taken
advantage of the program's numerous offerings.
"Parents are part of the learning process, no matter what the
age of their children," said Raudabaugh. "And parents have lots of
fun, themselves!"
Most popular among its activities are shaping their own wooden
propeller (I want to do that!); the KidVenture Hero Stage, where
kids can meet and greet aviation superstars, collect autographs,
and have their photos taken with their heroes; kite making and
flying with KidVenture materials and supplies; and a control-line
model experience held outdoors, where some 3,000 kids are expected
to try their hands at control-line flying. Control-line flying also
includes daily air shows by adult (don't trust anyone over 30)
where control-line pilots perform competition-level stunts, a
must-see for many kids. Also, NAFI will be on hand to work in a
simulator with youngsters for "My First Log Book."
Other activities
include learning how to inspect airplanes, courtesy of the FAA, and
perennial favorite, building your own rocket. (For a detailed list
of KidVenture activities, visit the FMI link below.)
An activity new this year for youngster is absolutely riveting!
As KidVenture has always included an aviation-related building
project for kids, this year's offering -- courtesy of Van's
Aircraft -- will have youngsters riveting a miniature wing flap.
Before actually starting on the wing flap, which itself takes 90
minutes, kids will have the opportunity to complete two smaller
projects: they will learn how to rivet by connecting two pieces of
aluminum with 20 rivets; they'll move on to make a name-badge sized
piece of aluminum with KidVenture wings riveted onto it; and if
they want to go further, they will build a wing flap that naturally
has room for Hero autographs. All of the tools for the riveting
activity are courtesy of Avery Tools.
Some 250 KidVenture volunteers have spent some 6,000 hours in
the planning and administration of the program over the course of
the year. Sponsors for 2006 include Utah Valley State College,
Van's Aircraft, Hartzell Propellers, Avery Tools, and Aircraft
Spruce.
So what about KidVenture 2007? Planning for next year begins
following the conclusion of the current year's program (naturally).
Be sure to look for the KidVenture tent!
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