Aviation Discovery Day with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South

What an incredible Aviation Discovery Day at Cape Cod Community College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology Program at Plymouth Airport! Teens from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South got an inside look at the world of aviation
From learning how to weigh and balance an aircraft, to shaping real sheet metal parts, to exploring drone photography (and even flying drones themselves!)—these future aviation pros dove into hands-on learning and left inspired by the many career paths the skies have to offer.
Huge thanks to our amazing partners at Cape Cod Community College, Women in Aviation’s Nor’Easters of Cape Cod Bay Chapter, drone instructor David Price, and of course our friends at Boy &Girls Clubs of Metro South for making this Aviation Discovery Day one to remember!

 

 

Teddy’s Dream Flight: Rising Above, Reaching Higher

Some kids face obstacles you can’t always see. For Teddy, school was never a simple path — filled with changes, challenges, and plenty of hard work just to get where he is today. But through it all, Teddy has remained smart, determined, and full of humor — always finding ways to make people smile.

Recently, Teddy got a well-deserved break from life’s struggles — trading classrooms for clouds — when he took his Dream Flight with Above the Clouds. Teddy flew with Chris Steward, one of our dedicated volunteer pilots who helps make these special experiences possible for kids like him. From takeoff to landing, Teddy soared high above the challenges below, experiencing the freedom and confidence that only flight can bring.

At Above the Clouds, we create unforgettable aviation experiences for kids and teens facing adversity — reminding them that no matter how tough the journey has been, the sky is still wide open.

Huge thanks to Chris and to all of our amazing volunteer pilots, donors, and supporters who make Dream Flights like Teddy’s possible. You are helping kids rise above — one flight at a time.

Learn more, nominate a Dream Flyer, volunteer or support: abovethecloudskids.org

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Weather Grounds This Weekend’s Dream Flight, But We’re Already Looking Ahead

After a week of watching the forecast closely, we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel this Saturday’s Dream Flight Day due to poor weather conditions. Low ceilings, heavy cloud cover, and rain have made it clear that flying safely—and giving our Dream Flyers the full experience they deserve—just isn’t possible this weekend.

We explored the possibility of shifting to Sunday, and we’re incredibly grateful to the pilots and volunteers who offered to adjust their schedules to make that work. Your flexibility and willingness to step up are what keep this program going strong.

Unfortunately, Sunday’s weather isn’t looking much better. The most recent forecasts show conditions improving only later in the afternoon, which would mean a significantly delayed start. That creates challenges not only for our pilots and volunteers but also for several families who simply wouldn’t be able to participate at a later time. Between the limited availability and the forecast uncertainty, we’ve decided that trying to squeeze in a partial day just isn’t the right call.

Instead, we’re turning our attention to the next full Dream Flight Day on Saturday, July 19—and we’re excited to make it one of our biggest yet.

We’re also in the process of adding additional Dream Flight Days in July and August, along with weekday flights to help serve more children on our waiting list. If you’re a pilot or volunteer who has weekday availability, we’d love to hear from you!

✅ Sign up now for the July 19 Dream Flight Day:
Click here to register

We’re grateful for your continued support, your patience, and your passion for helping children experience the joy and wonder of flight. The skies will clear soon—and when they do, we’ll be ready.

Miranda’s Day in the Air. A Dream Flight to Remember!

At just 9 years old, Miranda has big dreams — and plenty of talent to match. As an autistic child, she’s highly gifted, deeply sensitive, and always attentive to the people around her. She’s also a huge fan of Pikachu, Pokémon, anime, manga, LEGO, Minecraft, and recently traded piano lessons for the drums — because this future rock star marches to her own beat.

But on this special day, Miranda took to the skies instead of the stage, flying with our longtime supporter and first-time Dream Flight pilot Charles Evan in his Beechcraft BE-36 Bonanza. As always, Miranda’s bright personality, endless curiosity, and gift for connecting with others made the day even more special for everyone involved.

At Above the Clouds, we create unforgettable flight experiences for kids of all abilities who are facing adversity — helping them see just how high their dreams can soar.

Huge thanks to Charles and to all our volunteer pilots, supporters, and families who make Dream Flights possible!

Jeymill’s Dream Flight

Jeymill dreams of becoming a pilot one day. He knows his airplanes — he’s especially a fan of Airbus — but today he got to experience something even better: taking the controls himself.

Thanks to our volunteer pilot Adam, Jeymill and his uncle Hector soared above the clouds in Adam’s sporty Cirrus SR22. And while Adam handled the takeoff and landing, Jeymill flew most of the way — getting one step closer to his aviation dreams.
At Above the Clouds, we give kids facing adversities the chance to experience the freedom and confidence that flight can bring. For kids like Jeymill, it’s not just a ride — it’s inspiration for the future.
Huge thanks to Adam and all of our amazing volunteers and supporters who help make Dream Flights possible.

Blue Skies at Last: A Joy-Filled Dream Flight Day

After a long stretch of rainy weekends and postponed plans, Above the Clouds finally took to the skies again on Sunday, June 1—and it was nothing short of magical.

We were thrilled to fly nine incredible kids, ages 9 to 16, many of whom had been patiently waiting through multiple reschedules due to weather. These resilient Dream Flyers came from across Massachusetts—and one even made the two-hour journey from Connecticut!

This special day was made possible thanks to the dedication and generosity of 33 amazing volunteers, including:

  • 8 volunteer pilots who donated their time, talent, and aircraft

  • 5 flight coordinators who ensured everything ran smoothly on the ground

  • And a full team of photographers, joy makers, greeters, and support volunteers who made every moment fun, welcoming, and memorable

We are deeply grateful to everyone who made this day a success. Each smile, high-five, and joyful takeoff reminded us why we do this work—and how powerful it can be for children facing adversity.

Join Us for the Next Dream Flight Day – June 28!

We’re already looking ahead to our next Dream Flight Day on Saturday, June 28, and we’re actively recruiting:

  • Pilots

  • Flight Coordinators

  • Photographers

  • Joy Makers and General Event Volunteers

If you’re interested in being part of the magic, we’d love to have you join us.
Click here to confirm your availability for June 28

Know a Child Who Could Be a Dream Flyer?

Above the Clouds serves children and teens (ages 6–18) who are facing serious adversity—whether it’s illness, disability, the loss of a loved one, foster care, or financial hardship. A Dream Flight is a joyful, one-of-a-kind experience meant to uplift and inspire.

If you know a child who could benefit, we invite you to learn more and apply:
Apply for a Dream Flight

Thank you again to our volunteers, partners, and supporters who continue to help us bring hope and joy to kids who need it most. We couldn’t do this without you!

Dream Flight Day Rescheduled to Sunday, June 1 – Important Details

Dear Dream Flight Families, Pilots, Flight Coordinators, and Volunteers,
Thank you to everyone who joined us for last night’s briefing. As expected, we have made the decision to reschedule this weekend’s Dream Flight Day to Sunday, June 1 due to the weather forecast.
Dream Flight Day Details:
Date: Sunday, June 1, 2025
Time: First flight scheduled for 9:00 AM – volunteers should arrive by 8:30 AM
Location: Above the Clouds, Norwood Memorial Airport, 125 Access Road, Building #7, Norwood, MA 02062
If this is your first time visiting, we are located in Building #7, the same building as Flight Level Aviation and Avis Rental Car. Above the Clouds is on the second floor.
Parents and Guardians
If you or another adult plan to accompany your child on their Dream Flight, please complete the Passenger Release and Waiver prior to Sunday. The form is required for any passengers boarding the aircraft.
We appreciate those who have already informed us if they’re unable to pivot to Sunday—thank you for your timely communication.
Pilots
Please plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled flight time.
If this will be your first time volunteering with Above the Clouds, we recommend arriving earlier to meet fellow pilots and volunteers and sit in on flight briefings.
Additionally, all pilots must complete the Pilot Affirmation of Currency prior to their flight:
Pilot Affirmation of Currency
Flight Coordinators
If you haven’t already done so, please reach out to your assigned Dream Flyer’s parent or guardian as soon as possible. Confirm whether any special accommodation is needed and ensure that the Passenger Release and Waiver has been completed.
Volunteers
Please plan to arrive by 8:30 AM (30 minutes before the first Dream Flight of the day) so we can go over safety procedures and volunteer roles.
If you are a new volunteer and have not yet submitted your application, please do so using the link below:
Volunteer Application
  • Under 18: You must complete the application prior to Sunday.
  • 18 or older: Please complete it as soon as possible so we can finalize your background check.

May 17 Dream Flights – Weather Cancellation & Next Steps

Unfortunately, while there will be a window on Saturday without rain, the forecast is predicting low clouds between 200–700 feet, which is well below the minimums Above the Clouds sets to fly and provide a positive experience for the children we serve. As a result, we will need to cancel the Dream Flights planned for May 17.

We know this is disappointing—especially after other recent weather-related cancellations—and we are truly grateful for your dedication and flexibility.

We will work with families to reschedule these Dream Flyers to one of the following options:

  • Our next Dream Flight Day on May 31
  • A future scheduled Dream Flight Day
  • An individual Dream Flight during the workweek

To those who have already committed to May 31—thank you! We’re looking forward to a great day with about 10 Dream Flyers and 10 pilots, including three first-time pilot volunteers.

If you haven’t yet let us know your availability for May 31, you can do so using the link below:

Click Here to Confirm Your Availability for May 31st Dream Flight Day

Let’s all keep our fingers crossed for better weather at the end of this month and throughout the summer. Thank you again for being part of the Above the Clouds family—your time and commitment mean the world to us.

Above the Clouds Featured on WCVB-TV Chronicle

Above the Clouds was featured on Chronicle, WCVB-TV Channel 5’s beloved and long-running news magazine, in a special episode celebrating aviation in New England.

This powerful segment follows 13-year-old Jake, one of our Dream Flyers, and his flight with volunteer pilot Chris Steward, capturing the joy, confidence, and healing that take flight through our mission. You’ll also hear from Board President Greg Bongiorno and see behind the scenes of a Dream Flight Day in action.

For our team, this moment is especially meaningful. One of our founder Gary Oberstein’s early dreams was to see Above the Clouds featured on Chronicle. We’re proud to have fulfilled that vision—and grateful to share this story with the wider community.

Thank you for being part of the Above the Clouds family.

Above the Clouds Featured on Chronicle

We’re thrilled to announce that Above the Clouds will be featured tonight, May 6 at 7:30 PM on Chronicle, WCVB-TV Channel 5’s award-winning news magazine!

This special episode is all about Taking Flight in New England—from nostalgic balsa wood airplanes made in Wakefield, to space suits built in Worcester (including one worn by astronaut Sunita Williams on her recent mission), to a behind-the-scenes ride aboard the Sky 5 news chopper. The episode also highlights the legacy of a visionary scientist whose early experiments helped shape modern rocketry.

We’re honored to be one of the featured stories.

Our segment follows volunteer pilot Chris Steward, Dream Flyer Jake, and his dad as they take to the skies with Above the Clouds, showing the powerful impact flight can have on children facing serious adversity.

Watch the Promo

Don’t Miss It

Tune in tonight, Monday, May 6 at 7:30 PM
WCVB Channel 5 – Chronicle

www.wcvb.com/chronicle

This is a big moment for us—and for the children and families we serve. We’d love for you to watch and share the episode with others who may want to support our mission.

Whether it’s by volunteering, making a referral, or making a donation, you can help bring the joy of flight to even more kids across the region.

Thank you for helping us lift children’s spirits and dreams—one flight at a time.