Introducing Youth to Aviation and STEM Programs: Expedition Mars!

Cadet Flyers STEM Programs at Above the Clouds:

Above the Clouds, through our partner social service agencies, is introducing youth from traditionally underrepresented communities in aviation and STEM fields to unique, educational experiences.  Our vision is to see students from Children from the Lynn Girls and Boys Club got to hear directly from Christa McAuliffe Center staff including an astrophysicist and students from Framingham State University.  The McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning provided a FREE program customized to the out-of-school time population and focused the experience and Mission Simulation by age group for twenty students.  This program, Expedition Mars, was sponsored by the Center for Above the Clouds and the MetroWest STEM Network.

 

Unlike their more affluent counterparts, students who live in underserved communities typically lack access to what are now considered STEM basics: up-to-date laboratories, laptop or tablet computers and access to the Internet.  The Lynn Boys and Girls Club has built a STEAM lab in their Club for all participants to access and provides creative STEAM program for Club programs.    “A surefire way for students in the U.S. to compete in the global technological economy is to provide them with real-life applications of STEM — and children in underserved areas are being left behind” 2021 USNews Report.

Thank you to Suzanne Wright and her team at the McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University!  And, for the generous support from the MetroWest STEM Network.

MSEN (metroweststem.com)

On July 20, Above the Clouds will bring a bus to Norwood Memorial Airport including staff, families and six Dream Flyers from the Lynn Boys and Girls Clubs to provide Dream Flights for selected participants.  On August 13th, as part of our Girls in Aviation programs, Above the Clouds will provide Dream Flights for girls from the Big Sister Boston program.

Dream Flight Day August 13

Dream Flights Take Off on July 11th!

After a brief hiatus, Above the Clouds’ signature Dream Flyers Program took flight on July 11th at Norwood Memorial Airport.  For the last year, Above the Clouds has only been able to provide Dream Flyovers to hospitals, shelters and children’s residences.  Now, the children have taken the “yoke”, determined their flight paths and experienced joy and hope from the Pilots’ seat.  We have provided two Dream Flight Days and on July 11th, welcomed new Dream Pilot Tom Nery.  Founders Gary and Martha Oberstein, Board Members, Ground Crew volunteers, “joy makers” and Dream Pilots were all smiles as Above the Clouds provided flights for youth referred to us from Lucy’s Love Bus, Wildflower, Afrimerica Academy, Boys and Girls Clubs, Lifeworks and the Jimmy Fund.  Please see the July 11th Dream Flight Day video and amazing photos taken by ATC’s volunteer photographers and videographers.  More to come!

The Power of Awe

      “A dramatic feeling with the power to inspire, heal, change our thinking and bring people together.” This is how “awe” was described in a recent article I read titled “Feeling Awe May Be the Secret to Health and Happiness.” The article discusses how recent studies are showing that “awe” is now thought to be a “basic part of being human that we all need.” It states that there are many ways in which awe affects us, including binding us together, helping us see things in new ways, making us nicer and happier, and altering our bodies.

      This article reminded me of the important impact Above the Clouds is having in the world by changing the lives of children facing all kinds of serious adversity, including for example, those who are ill, underprivileged, at-risk or abused. Most of the kids we get to know have never even been in an airplane let alone been given the opportunity to fly one. This seems like it might be something so insignificant but flying in the co-pilot seat with Above the Clouds makes them realize that we are all a part of something larger. Many of us get caught up in our busy lives and forget to see the forest and not just the trees. When these kids soar high up in the sky they get a new lease on life and a refreshed outlook on their world.

      Awe is “a positive emotion that has been proven to reduce levels of stress, and is a necessary part of being a healthy human being.” Above the Clouds makes awe accessible to kids who feel like they have been forgotten or need to be reminded that they are special. The power of awe doesn’t necessarily have to be something like seeing The Grand Canyon for the first time or meeting Nelson Mandela. Awe can be experienced when you witness a random act of kindness or by giving kids a chance to fly in an airplane. That is the true power of awe.

 

For the full article click here:

http://parade.com/513786/paulaspencer/feeling-awe-may-be-the-secret-to-health-and-happiness/

 

 

Discovery Pilot Michael Kolowich Teaches about Drones

A Drone. An Experienced Pilot. Cameras. Students learning. Amazing aerial footage.
Simply Awesome!

TV Production teacher Mr. McDonough and the CHS student team coordinating the upcoming CHS LipDub worked side-by-side with Pilot Michael Kolowich and his son Robert — and their drone — to capture aerial footage of the CHS campus during the December vacation.

Mr. Kolowich donated his time to teach the Canton HS students how to navigate the drone and record a variety of shots. The results (which will be featured in the CHS LipDub) are breathtaking and the learning experience was priceless.

A big thank you to Mr. Kolowich and his son Robert! A big shout out to Nick Buser for setting this up! Kudos to Mike Noone, Mia Tess, Jason Kaplan, Nick Buser, Steve Gorham and Mr. McDonough for working so hard to make the CHS LipDub 2.0 great. The LipDub is scheduled to be filmed in early February.

Photo Album of Drone Adventure

Jerry and Julian’s First Discovery Flight!

“On a clear but blustery day Julian and I enjoyed our first Discovery flight together. The challenge of the day was to avoid the TFR on Foxboro so we used the Terminal Area Chart to plan a flight west to Hopeland, then south to North Central, east to Taunton, and finally landed in Plymouth where we had lunch at Plane Jane’s. Julian enjoyed using the chart for navigation, and seeing Providence, the cranberry bogs, Buzzards Bay and the Atlantic. Our flight home to Norwood was facilitated by an ATC clearance into the Bravo area.” Jerry Heller

Another Discovery Flyer Adventure!

Last weekend Derek & Estuardo visited Hanscom Field in Bedford Massachusetts. The visit included a complete guided tour of the airport grounds and a local flight school. To conclude their visit Estuardo got to fly the Redbird FMX full motion flight simulator at Executive Flyers Aviation. Derek set up the simulator for a short flight around the traffic pattern of La Aurora (MGGT) in Guatemala where Estuardo flew with his dad in a Beechcraft Bonanza. A good time was had by all and Estuardo is looking forward to flying again with Derek soon!

Halloween Flying!

In Discovery Flight action, Dave Roberts took Liam to do loops over Ipswich and Salem.  They saw the football field and the water tank with the witch logo on it.  Happy Halloween!  They also took a look at some interesting aircraft in Beverly.  Great day of flying!

IMG_0490IMG_0487 (1)

Esmael and Bill’s First Discovery Flight!

IMG_7332
On this very cool morning , Esmael and I departed runway 35 just after 10am. The visibility seemed endless as we turned towards Boston then eventually south to Cape Cod. A good wind to our back made the trip down pretty quick. I asked him to look for traffic as an additional pair of eyes. Once straight and level, Esmael took the controls and steered us towards the canal. Cranberry bogs were abundant along our route of flight. I pointed out the entire length of Cape Cod, visible all the way to Provincetown. We flew along the coastline on our way back, flying past Plymouth Harbor and Marshfield. We called the control tower about 10 miles out and they eventually cleared us to land back on runway 35. It was a little breezy and bumpy on this flight but the visibility more than made up for that. The colors of fall are starting to look awesome from the sky!

Walter and Gary’s Discovery Flight!

Today was Walter’s first Discovery Flight with Gary. They flew over Provincetown and over the Cape. Walter was ecstatic. He took the controls and flew a great deal of the time. He told Gary he wants to be a pilot! Walter told us his favorite part was the take-offs and landings. Gary told us that his favorite part was Walter’s smile and continuous expression, “This is amazing!”