Students Complete Unique Aviation Summer Academy Hosted by Aviation Museum

CAPE MAY – Naval Air Station Wildwood (NASW) Aviation Museum graduated its 2011 Aviation Career Education “ACE” Academy class last week at the Lower Cape May Regional Performing Arts Center. The week-long summer day camp (sold out in 2010 and 2011) recruits students ages 12-17 with an interest in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (“STEM”). Throughout the week students gain a glimpse into possible careers utilizing the “STEM” skills within the aviation industry. During the week full of interactive lessons, students learned their future success will be based on a strong background in the STEM areas of study.
This year, 33 students participated and experienced plenty of hands-on activities, live demonstrations, a presentation by NASA astronaut Dr. Terry Hart, and tours of the FAA Technical Center, U.S. Coast Guard Base, Air National Guard and Air Station Atlantic City. Other highlights included the Cape May County Sheriff’s department K-9 demonstration, a visit to the Atlantic City International Airport’s Air Traffic Control Tower and fly-ins by Atlanticare Medivac, N.J. State Police, Army and Navy aircraft and watery rocketry. Students are able to talk to pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, college interns and other professionals to learn about the many career opportunities available in the aviation field. The waiting list is already being filled for the 2012 Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academy. Contact the Aviation Museum for details.
Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum is located in Historic Hangar #1 at the Cape May Airport, New Jersey. Cape May Airport was formerly Naval Air Station Wildwood, which served as a World War II dive-bomber training center. The museum is dedicated to the 42 airmen who perished while training at Naval Air Station Wildwood between 1943 and 1945.