Smithsonian Family Day Reception & Fly-In Viewing
AFCEA NOVA (The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association of Northern Virginia) has provided $350,000 in funding to the Fairfax County Public Schools and the Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Center to develop a four part series of “Electronic Field Trips” about the science and technology of aviation. The four episodes will provide a lasting resource to encourage the interest of children in math, science & engineering across the nation.
The first three episodes of Flight School: Inspired to Fly; Higher, Faster Farther; and Blast Off, illustrate the principles and practices of aviation, starting with early flight and trace its development all the way to space exploration, as it highlights the careers of men and women who are motivated to make things soar. Through interactive technology and the ability to connect directly with teachers and students across the country, the Fairfax County Public Schools’ production reached over 16 thousand schools making the term “electronic field trip” come alive to 15 million plus students in grades four through eight. All editions of Flight School and related material are available for teachers, parents, and students at http://www.fcps.edu/fairfaxnetwork/flightschool/index.htm.
With content & location support from the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, Flight School was produced by the Fairfax Network, a distance learning vehicle of Fairfax County Public Schools. The series is underwritten with a generous grant from AFCEA NOVA, as part of its goals to support math, science & technology education in Northern Virginia. “AFCEA NOVA has a strong record of giving back to the Greater Washington community through college scholarships, grants to GMU & NVCC, teaching grants to local schools, and our Fairfax County Science Fair Awards” said Sue Hoffman, AFCEA NOVA Board Member & Regional VP. “But this project lets us leverage local resources to reach literally millions of kids. With that impact we couldn’t pass up the chance to partner with Fairfax County and the Smithsonian.”
“With those kinds of leaders in the field involved, the project was an exciting one to support on behalf of our members,” said Chuck Corjay, AFCEA NOVA Board Member and Chairman of many of the events that raised funds for the project. “We have the Armed Forces IT Days, the Valentine’s Ball, the Golf Tournament and other annual events precisely so that we can make a difference in keeping America strong in technology, engineering, math & science.” AFCEA NOVA President Kevin Hoey added, “the military & government executives, our member companies, and all of the volunteers that work so hard to support AFCEA are there with us because they know we re-invest their energy in the next generation.”
To celebrate this grant and the success of Flight School, AFCEA NOVA is sponsoring a “Family Day & Aviation Fly-in” at the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, on Saturday, June 14, 10am - 3pm. The event is free for families and all members of the public are invited. Information is available at www.afceanova.org/familyday.
