District I-2011/07
Outreach: Boy Scouts Troop #711 — South Shore RC Club collaboration
Outreach and collaborative programs come in many varieties to satisfy AMA clubs' specific needs. The following event was reported by Associate Vice President Carl Vogel. He describes his club's collaboration with a Boy Scout troop to introduce younger members to the sport of aeromodeling.
Longtime member of the South Shore RC Club (SSRCC) in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, Jeff Mammano is also a recognized Boy Scout troop leader and has been working with Troop #711 from Albion, Rhode Island, to help them earn their Aviation Merit Badges. In pursuit of this endeavor, Jeff involved his troop in many full-scale aviation activities and introduced them to RC model airplanes.
Jeff approached the club and, after discussion with SSRCC members about the merits of providing this type of community service, it was decided to host a Boy Scouts Day at the flying field.
On Saturday, October 30, nearly 100 members and guests joined SSRCC, along with Jeff and his troop of 20 excited and enthusiastic boys ages 11–16, many accompanied by their parents. The program included simulator flying and buddy-box sessions, plus aerobatic and 3-D demonstrations.
Highlights and logistics
- Demonstrations: aerobatic and 3-D demos were performed by Elie Houayes, Peter Glezellis, and Don Brown.
- Food: Nick and Jackie Roselli provided grilled hot dogs, cookies, cupcakes, and sodas for all in attendance.
- Simulator and training: Club event coordinator Ken Crane supplied a simulator computer with a 42-inch monitor and organized training aircraft and instructors. Three pilot stations were manned to ensure each Scout received several buddy-box sessions. Several parents also tried the buddy boxes and asked many questions about the airplanes.
- Opening briefing: The program started with a briefing by Don Brown outlining the day's activities, followed by a comprehensive simulator session. The troop was then divided into three groups.
Instructor teams and training activities
Each group was assigned to an instructor team from the clubs. Instructors from SSRCC included Nick Roselli, Ed Hobart, Stu Murray, Ray Schmidt, and Jeff Mammano. John Bailey and Bill Lopes joined from the Otis Model Aero Club in Falmouth, Massachusetts. The instructors guided the Scouts through preflight procedures such as fueling, radio checks, and starting, then provided each Scout with multiple concentrated flight sessions.
Outcome
The event was an enjoyable and significant experience for the Scouts and for club members. SSRCC members assured Jeff that they definitely wanted to do the event again next year.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
