District VII
Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Hello again, District VII members. Flying season is well underway, and the clubs in the district are again actively promoting our wonderful hobby with youth throughout the district. Without delay, I will share club reports. The first is from Les Smith.
The Cadillac Area Modelers Society (CAMS), in partnership with Cadillac Area Public Schools, presented a six-week RC flight school to six Mackinaw Trail Middle School students. Five boys and one girl took part in the flight school, learning the basics of RC flight. Sessions included an overview of the hobby, as well as a pilot show-and-tell, safety, principles of flight, identification of airplane parts, flight simulation, hands-on glider projects, drones, actual flight time in the gym, and an outdoor air show provided by CAMS members.
CAMS members who took part in the flight school were Les Smith, Lee Goodrich, Jay Stargel, Jeff Schroeder, Bob Bednarick, John Fields, and Ken Gorlewski. The AMA provided hand-out materials, including membership, safety, and STEM brochures. Students learned about the benefits of joining AMA and were encouraged to join both the CAMS and the AMA.
Students were awarded AMA first-flight pins after their first flight in the gym.
At the end of the program, students were invited to the CAMS airfield to continue their training this summer. The flight school was so successful that CAMS will be invited back next year to offer the program again.
Great job, CAMS members, and thank you, Les, for sharing.
Another club, the Signal Seekers R/C Club, sent in a report on its most recent youth group activities. The Signal Seekers is an AMA Gold Leader club that has been flying at its 20-acre, FAA-Recognized Identification Area-approved field in Westland, Michigan, since 1964.
As a community-based organization, the club has supported local schools and charities throughout the years with donations of time and money, as well as flying demonstrations at school events. For 2025, the club is making a renewed effort to reach out to an even wider audience and seek out the next generation of fliers.
Scheduled training nights are one great way to spark interest in aviation and introduce kids to a fun and educational hobby that gets them outdoors while learning new skills. The club recently kicked off the 2025 training season with 20 kids, as well as siblings, parents, and troop leaders from the Trail Life group in Canton, Michigan.
With four trainer airplanes in the air, as well as two large-screen flight simulators and dozens of wind-up balsa models donated by Nankin Hobby in Farmington Hills, there was ample opportunity for every kid to try their hand at piloting model (and virtual) aircraft, with instruction and guidance from experienced club members.
The drone racing team also put on demonstrations, including live views on a big screen and spare headsets for the kids to try on and experience the thrill of racing first-hand. With so many kids (and airplanes) in every direction, it was the kind of beautiful, organized chaos that can often breathe new life into our hobby. Many concluded the evening with the words every active club likes to hear: “We’ll be back!”
Great job all, and to the other clubs in the district with youth programs, thank you for helping bring youth into not only modeling, but offering an introduction to the sciences.
Until next month, keep the stories coming in, enjoy the hobby, and above all, keep sharing the passion!
