For the second year in a row, AMA and the AMA Foundation welcomed Scouts and their families to the International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) for a day of discovery, excitement, and flight. On June 20, roughly 40 Scouts, ages 8-12, arrived with parents and family members, all of whom were eager to see what model aviation was all about.
Some repeat attendees had flown previously at last year's Scouting event, but for many others, this was their first time experiencing the joy that our hobby brings. By the end of the day, everyone had felt the thrill of taking control, learning to fly, and seeing model aviation from a whole new perspective.
Here is what I witnessed from a Scout's point of view: the day felt like stepping into something big and adventurous. They walked up, saw all of the simulators, and perused all of the controls. Then, AMA and AMA Foundation staff showed them what to do, how the controls work, and, most importantly, the reset button! They made a few turns and maybe crash-landed a time or two ... but for these kids, it clicked pretty fast, and they were ready to increase the difficulty level in just a few minutes!
The Model Aviation Experience Sponsored by Wing simulation trailer stayed busy throughout the event, and staff had a great time watching the Scouts become confident, capable flyers. That is the magical flight moment: the moment where curiosity turns into confidence, prompting new pilots to begin experimenting with different aircraft and flying techniques.
Events like this are so important because these Scouts are the age when a spark of interest can turn into a lifelong passion. Model aviation teaches focus, patience, problem-solving, STE(A)M education and skills, and the joy of being part of a welcoming community. Most importantly, our hobby gives young people a change to say, "I can do this."
For AMA and the AMA Foundation, that is exactly why we open the doors, bring out the simulators, and create these hands-on experiences. This is the time to get young people hooked on our hobby, and the AMA Foundation is proud to continue helping youth take their first steps into the wonderful world of flight.
The AMA Foundation is already talking with Scout leaders about how we can make 2027 collaborations bigger and better. In fact, if all of the logistics come together, the IAC will see up to 2,500 Scouts during a regional Scouting event! Click here to learn more about the IAC's hosting of the 2025 Scouting event.
The AMA Foundation encourages you to keep an eye on our website and social media. Big stuff is coming, and we can't wait to share it with you!
