Camp AMA
A POPULAR EVENT SOARS TO NEW HEIGHTS
by Rachelle Haughn
Since its inception in 2011, Camp AMA has grown from a little-known program in the aeromodeling community to a group of 36 eager and talented young men and women who scrimped and saved, mowed lawns, and even gave up their first cars so they could attend.
The model aviation community has embraced the camp. Clubs across the country found ways to raise funds to send their young members to this year's Camp AMA, and two AMA districts pooled money to help their youth attend. Camp AMA appears to be the perfect springboard for future AMA competitors and leaders.
To attend Camp AMA, one must be age 13–19 and be a beginner, intermediate, or advanced helicopter or airplane pilot. This year's camp, held June 15–21 at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana, saw attendees making first solo flights and others flying at a level that looked ready to compete with the country's best 3-D pilots.
There were crashes. Several bottles of glue were emptied. Airplanes were rebuilt, crashed, and rebuilt or taped back together again. There was music, good food, laughter, and plenty of fun. At the end of the week, some campers were so sad about leaving that they cried.
"The flying, I can do at home," camper Michael Belanger, 18, said. "The friends that you make here and spend a week with, that's priceless."
"This is my third year. I want to come back as many years as I possibly can," he added.
Shortly before and after they left the International Aeromodeling Center and traveled home, campers began posting their photos and videos online so they could relive those moments. Michael and his friend Rob Thomas maintain a Facebook page and YouTube channel dedicated to Camp AMA called AMAture RCSpinsider.
"I got us to start the YouTube channel to create more exposure for camp," Rob, 17, said. He hopes to see the number of campers grow to 88 next year.
Camp attendance has steadily increased: three attended the first year, 11 the second, 17 the third, and 36 this year. "It's growing into a really good program," said AMA Education Assistant Jessy Symmes. She attributed the camp's continuous growth to AMAture RCSpinsider, AMA's social media postings, advertising in Model Aviation and Park Pilot, and word of mouth from past attendees.
AMA Education Department Director Bill Pritchett noted that 17 of this year's campers had attended in previous years. "I think anytime someone goes back to a camp, that tells you a lot about the experience they had."
This year also brought other firsts. Savannah Slayton and Alex Strehlow, both 14, were the first females to ever attend Camp AMA. "It's been pretty fun," Savannah said. Her home club, the SkyBlazers RC of Oklahoma, helped pay her expenses.
"We're tickled to death," SkyBlazers member Dan Wescott said. "Everybody pitched in."
Alex made her first solo flight at camp. Both girls agreed they want to return in 2015. "They've all been helpful," Alex said of the other campers. "Everyone has been really kind and polite to [Savannah and Alex]," Rob added. "They're not much different than the guys."
"It was exciting to have girls," Jessy said. "Boys don't get to fly with girls much. There are girls out there who put in the time and effort—they build their own aircraft and they can fly just as well as the boys can."
AMA District V sponsored two campers this year, and AMA District VII held an essay contest whose prize was a paid week at Camp AMA. The winner was Ethan Aldrich, 13, of Michigan.
Ethan learned about the camp and wanted to attend, so he began doing landscaping jobs with his father to earn the money he needed. "I really wanted to come and had two months to save. The most I ever made was $120," he said.
To win the trip, Ethan wrote in 250 words or less about why and how he got started in the hobby. He found out at the Toledo R/C Expo that his essay had been selected. "I really didn't know until I went to the Toledo Show and they surprised me there. They kind of announced it in front of everybody. It was kind of weird." He added that his family knew before he did because they would change the subject whenever he mentioned camp.
Ethan wasn't the only camper who struggled to come up with the money. Jessy noted that some teens collected aluminum cans, mowed lawns, sold candles at their flying sites, and saved gift money. One 16-year-old used money he had been saving for his first car to pay his camp tuition.
Many campers said the opportunity to learn from top 3-D pilots Nick Maxwell and Andrew Jesky was a major draw. Both are proficient in airplanes and helicopters, have won Extreme Flight championships, and have competed on U.S. world teams and in the AMA Nats. RJ Gritter has also served as a camp instructor in previous years but was unable to attend this year.
"It's about their character and we couldn't ask for better role models," Jessy said of Nick, Andrew, and RJ. "I've never met guys who could do so much and be so humble about it," Michael said about the instructors.
Andrew said small accomplishments—like helping someone who could not take off and land become able to fly on their own within two days—made instructing rewarding. He also tried to teach life lessons. "I learned things the hard way and want to pass [my lessons] on as well," he said, speaking about the importance of doing well in school and being respectful.
"The campers are all well-behaved kids," Nick said. "Regarding the flying, while the instructors do help with some technical aspects, a lot of times the campers group together and help each other as well."
When there was a crash, several campers rushed to the flightline to help. For those whose aircraft were damaged beyond repair, other attendees willingly shared theirs. "The best thing about camp is that everybody works together to make others better," Rob stated. "Here, everybody's the same, so you can't even predict how good it feels to have that connection with basically everybody here."
"The best part about camp is not only being able to have fun with your own models, but having fun with everyone else and their models as well," Michael said. "The whole thing is just an amazing time."
Learning at camp was all hands-on rather than sitting in a classroom. Some sponsors donated aircraft for campers to fly, which helped teens who could not fix their own planes or helis. At the end of camp, some took their models home in pieces, but several also walked away with door prizes, plaques, and aircraft autographed by their peers.
Jessy recognized all of the companies, organizations, clubs, and districts that supported the camp this year. She believes many attendees are talented and could pursue careers in aviation; some even expressed interest in working for the AMA. "They'll fly the rest of their lives. They're in it to better the hobby," she added.
"Camp AMA has been a game changer in my life," Rob said. "The youth is what will keep this hobby going," Jessy added.
To learn more about Camp AMA, visit www.amaflightschool.org/campama.
Rachelle Haughn [email protected]
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
