NSCC offers unique flight programs for city youth

LYNN – Students in the Lynn schools have many unique opportunities throughout the school year, from field trips and special programs to science projects and shop classes, but thanks to a partnership with the FAA, North Shore Community College can offer something most students have never experienced this summer – the opportunity to fly an aircraft in an industry-approved flight simulator.For the third year running, the college is offering its ACE (Aviation Career Education) program to students between the ages of 11-14 at its Lynn campus, where students can learn to fly just like real pilots do.The one-week program, running July 13-17, allows students an opportunity to study a variety of jobs in the aviation industry based on official FAA curriculum provided to the college. The students use Microsoft Flight Simulator to to take off and land, and learn about flight communications.The course also includes a trip to Daniel Webster College in Nashua, N.H., where they are given the opportunity to fly in a real flight simulator.”It is a wonderful way to get young people interested in flying,” said program coordinator Trish Walker. “And at the same time, it is a great way for kids to interact with one another and have a good time during the summer.”Along with the program for 11-14 year-olds, the school is also offering an ACE class for students aged 7-10, called “Magic of Flight” where they learn about the basics of flight and the mystery that surrounds it. The younger course includes kite-making, weather science, navigation and map making.For NSCC and the FAA, the summer course offers younger students in the area an opportunity to learn and become excited about the aviation industry, something that is often overlooked when children explore potential careers.”We are excited because we also have an aviation program at the college, so we can relate the two,” said Walker. “The FAA wants to find a way to expose more kids to aviation, so they are hoping to have at least one ACE program set up in every state.”FAA administrators will visit the school at the end of the program to hand out certificates and Walker said one student would be awarded a $200 scholarship.The ACE program is one of several summer programs offered for students at NSCC this year.The school is also offering a cartooning course with North Shore cartoonist Marty Riskin, a Kids to College course at its Danvers Campus, a Summer of Discovery course where students participate in a variety of exercises that “nurture the mind and body” and the “North Shore Academy” where middle and high school students can explore such courses as fashion design and film making.The ACE aviation program runs from July 13-17 and costs $249 per student for the week. For more information on this or other programs, call Walker at 978-236-1232.