Youth Pathways for Chapters — Young Eagles Workshops and Young Eagles Build & Fly

May 2023 – We are finishing up spring, the weather is warming, and school is almost out for the summer break. What better time is there to get your local youths involved with your chapter or squadron by hosting a Young Eagles Workshop or starting a Young Eagles Build and Fly project? These are excellent pathways to bring more youths into your chapter and to grow and sustain their interests in aviation.

EAA Young Eagles Workshops allow EAA chapters to offer youths an opportunity to learn about aviation in a social setting at a local airport. This turnkey program is designed as a one-day camp or multiple-day camp for kids. Hosted by an EAA chapter or squadron, these workshops introduce kids to the basic elements of airplanes and aviation through various classroom-style learning and hands-on activities. Each chapter may order a kit of materials for $35 for a group of 10 kids. Since the Young Eagles Workshops program was rolled out in September 2020, over 118 chapters have participated in the program to date.

The EAA Young Eagles Build and Fly program allows chapters to let youths participate in the building and flying of a remote-controlled model aircraft. Participants will build and fly a SIG eKadet LT-40 RC airplane in partnership with a local Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) club in the chapter’s area. Each chapter or squadron may order a Young Eagles Build and Fly kit for $550. The kit includes all the parts, tooling, and controls for the model airplane. To date, over 93 EAA chapters have participated in this program, with several purchasing a second kit after completing their first one.

EAA chapters can now use the popular Young Eagles Day event registration tool to pre-register youths for Young Eagles Workshops and Young Eagles Build and Fly events. This tool also enables participants to join EAA’s new AeroEducate program and earn the age-appropriate badges for taking part in one of these activities.

Chapters can use Young Eagles Credits to purchase a Young Eagles Workshop kit or a Young Eagles Build and Fly kit. With double credits in effect for the 30th anniversary of the Young Eagles program until July 31, 2023, consider using the credits your chapter earned, or will earn, to engage in one of these pathways programs for youths.

Participating in the Young Eagles Workshops program or the Young Eagles Build and Fly program will also earn your chapter a point for Chapter Recognition.

Thanks to these programs, you can keep youths engaged, keep their passion of aviation going for years to come, and create your own chapter or squadron success story.