AEROSPACE EDUCATION
The Aerospace Education (AE) mission is to educate, inspire, and instill an understanding of aerospace in today's world. AE efforts support STEM programs in local schools and provide curriculum support to teachers.
Civil Air Patrol’s aerospace education efforts focus on two different audiences: volunteer CAP members and the general public. The programs ensure that all CAP members (seniors and cadets) have an appreciation for and knowledge of aerospace issues. To advance within the organization, members are required to participate in the educational program.
Aerospace educators at CAP’s National Headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama provide current materials that reflect the highest standards of educational excellence.
For CAP cadets the AE curriculum is presented and is a requirement to progress through the achievement levels of the cadet program. Senior members also have a responsibility to become knowledgeable of aerospace issues and the AE program that CAP provides.
They are further encouraged to share the information obtained with their local communities and school systems. CAP’s programs for the general public are conducted through our nation’s educational system. Each year, CAP sponsors many workshops in states across the nation, reaching hundreds of educators and thereby thousands of young people. These workshops highlight basic aerospace knowledge and focus on advances in aerospace technology. CAP’s aerospace education members receive more than 20 free aerospace education classroom materials.
To learn more about CAP’s aerospace education programs, products, and other resources available to our members, go to CAP AE Programs. For information about joining as an Aerospace Education Member (AEM) and to join online, go to CAP Educators.
CYBER SECURITY
As part of its overall AE initiatives CAP offers a Cyber Security Module to introduce members to current threats in cyberspace and to provide activities for improving our collective awareness and defense.
The module also serves as a primer for CAP members seeking to compete in the CyberPatriot competition.
CAP offers a special activity called Cyber Defense Training Academy at Lackland AFB in Texas.
FLIGHT SIMULATION
CAP offers a Flight Simulator STEM kit that is designed to spark an interest in flying for cadets, who are also given the opportunity to take orientation flights in CAP aircraft and other flight training programs.
REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT
CAP offers a RC Aircraft STEM Kit designed to promote a beginning interest in aviation and/or remotely piloted aircraft vocations (careers) and avocations (hobbies).
Sky Streak and Cub balsa airplanes will be included in this kit for the beginning building and flying of model aircraft. This simple model building and experimentation with flying will lead to learning to fly remote-control aircraft via a Real Flight Simulator computer program, a hand-held controller, curriculum, and a pair of videos.
This module presents the added bonus of the opportunity for youth to receive a free membership in the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and work with area AMA clubs for mentorship.
CAP offers a special activity called Model Aircraft & Remote Control Flight Academy in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
ROBOTICS
Getting started with robotics will intrigue and engage cadets, students, and adults in an exciting manner with endless possibilities for extension. This kit will have a robotic arm kit, USB programmable software, curriculum, and instructional video.
This beginning project can lead to national competitions in FIRST, Botball, VEX, National Underwater Robotics, and BEST Robotics. See The Robotics Alliance Project for more information on these competitions.
The program will complement CAP’s Robotics curriculum and will help youth explore careers in robotics to include manufacturing, unmanned space exploration, and prosthetic engineering and other medical applications. Tapping the expertise of CAP’s robotics experts, or volunteers you know, will help guide youth toward exciting career possibilities — AND — provide some assistance and guidance in building and using this robotic arm.
SATELLITE TRACKING
The goal of this program is to help develop an interest in satellites and satellite imagery. CAP AE offers the Satellite Tool Kit (STK), which has online scenarios and activities that have been developed with CAP members in mind – compliments of developer and CAP partner Analytical Graphics Inc.
Through its association with the Air Force Association, CAP has teams that compete in the yearly StellarXplorers competition. The competition is a challenging, space system design competition involving all aspects of system development and operation with a spacecraft and payload focus.
In 2019 CAP had a team reach the national finals and two other teams which were regional winners. This was the third year in a row CAP had a team in the national finals.
CAP offers a special activity called Space Command Familiarization Course at Peterson AFB, Colorado.
UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES
CAP has begun to use UAV’s in its search and rescue efforts across the country. To help train members in the use of UAV’s CAP offers an Aerospace Education Excellence module, a UAV STEM kit, and hosts Aeronautical Education events.
The module covers the terminology of UAV systems, the components, the difference between military and civilian UAV’s, and explains how to become a licensed UAV pilot.
Outside this module, CAP offers additional training on becoming licensed to be a UAV pilot and offers a special activity called Engineering Technology Academy.
This page is for informational purposes only. For official information and statements see the Civil Air Patrol website.
