District IV - 2012/12
Jim Fisher, a member of the District of Columbia Radio Control Club (DCRC) Board of Directors, provided this report on the DCRC and AMA Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Night held April 17, 2012.
Event overview
DCRC, with generous support from the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and Hobby Hangar, was a primary participant in the inaugural STEM Night at Orchard Grove Elementary in Frederick, Maryland. DCRC participated under the premise: “Aeromodeling at a young age promotes a lifelong interest in STEM activities, often results in STEM careers, and you can start today!”
The school promoted the aeromodeling event in the days and weeks prior, and approximately 500 people attended. DCRC offerings such as “fly a model airplane” and “use a flight simulator” drew large crowds. DCRC volunteer members made the event a success.
Workshops and activities
Gus Crosetto ran a “you can build it” workshop for the kids, featuring inexpensive electric models, airfoils in various stages of construction to demonstrate aircraft building, and a power-system test apparatus — all promoting STEM activities children could begin that day.
Indoor flying was a hit thanks to Nir Schweizer, Andy Kane, Frank Neher, and Helen Fisher. Nir and Andy flew buddy-box with most of the junior pilots and performed a couple of aerobatic demonstrations. Frank flew and kept the kids excited behind the flight line. Helen greeted guests and kept the pilots well supplied with pizza and brownies.
Other activity highlights:
- Nir and Bob Johnson (Hobby Hangar) arranged for Hobby Hangar to donate an mCX2 helicopter for the kids to fly, and 3-D puzzle games for the first 100 junior pilots.
- Allan Hoffman manned the flight simulator, drawing a steady crowd all night.
- David Drazin supervised the building of gliders made from Styrofoam egg containers.
- Jim McDaniel donated more than 100 egg cartons for the glider activity.
Displays and exhibits
Nir brought his 42% CARF Yak 55 and a King Cat jet for display. DCRC members exhibited a new 8-foot wingspan, 20cc gasoline-powered Senior Telemaster and other fixed-wing aircraft. Archie Stafford, representing the AMA, displayed a couple of helicopters, including a T-Rex 600.
A DCRC and AMA booth, staffed by Doug Harper and Archie Stafford, provided information about the hobby and showed a 26-minute looping STEM-approved video provided by the AMA.
Paul Gunter was the official event photographer, and Dave Harris served as event videographer.
Raffle and donations
As children completed activities, they received raffle tickets: one ticket for building an egg-crate glider, one for using the flight simulator, and so on. At the end of the night a raffle was held and prizes distributed. Prizes included:
- Two full-range RC transmitters
- A RealFlight flight simulator (donated by the AMA)
- An RTF Champ (donated by Hobby Hangar)
AMA’s STEM program DVD, AeroLab, was presented to Orchard Grove Elementary as a gift from DCRC and the AMA. AeroLab features activities developed by science teachers for teachers, using simple foam and balsa aircraft to teach concepts such as force and motion, potential and kinetic energy, and centripetal force.
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to:
- Bill Pritchett, AMA director of education
- Jessy Symmes, AMA coordinator of educational programs
- Bob Johnson, manager at Hobby Hangar
- All DCRC volunteers
- Orchard Grove Elementary School
We couldn’t have done it without your support.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
