Send a girl to Preflight Camp this summer!

This summer, the Milieux Project raised money to fund a scholarship worth $950 to a girl who wanted to attend Preflight Aviation Camp in San Marcos, TX.  Applications end 31 May 2018 if you know someone who is interested.  We are so excited to help with this endeavor!  We have included a great video at the end that captures what they do and how.

PreFlight Aviation Camp is a nonprofit aviation camp for girls, ages 11-14, and will be held June 26-30th, 2018 at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. In the same way that a pilot must first perform a “preflight” before they take off in their airplane, our camp is a young girl’s “preflight” into aviation. Taught by a staff of professional female pilots, PreFlight uses aviation to transform girls’ beliefs about gender roles, build their self-esteem and inspire them to become pilots. What sets us apart from other aviation camps is our balanced approach to relate each topic back to broader life lessons, creating healthy dialogues used to uplift, encourage and challenge each girl to think critically. It is not necessary to have an interest in aviation to attend PreFlight; the camp provides new and enriching experiences for any girl!

The current abysmal representation of female pilots, coupled with the future need for over 600,000 pilots worldwide, is something PreFlight is setting out to reconcile.  Out of over 580,000 pilots currently registered, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificated pilots in the United States, only 6.6 percent of them are women and those numbers are not increasing. In fact, when compared to 2010, the total number of female pilots has decreased nationally by 7.2 percent. The phrase “you can’t be what you can’t see” becomes a reality for young girls seeking female role models in a very demanding career field. Unless more girls are exposed to aviation in their formative years, it is possible that we will continue to see the number of female pilots decline. This paints a bleak future for women in aviation, and the industry as a whole. A deliberate effort is needed to leverage the other half of the population and show them that becoming a pilot is an attainable goal. That is why we need PreFlight Aviation Camp.

Our hands-on approach to learning explores aviation through Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM). Campers apply their knowledge first-hand and make lifelong memories when they pilot a simulator and fly an airplane on a private flight with one of our female instructors.  Preflight teaches basic skills and fun ways to practice skills related to aviation. All of our counselors are professional pilots with a wide-range of experience who empower and teach the campers there is no limit to what they can achieve.

Seeing is believing and by placing young girls in an enriching environment, surrounded by female aviators and role models, they begin to believe that becoming a pilot is a real possibility for their lives. PreFlight Aviation Camp will not only transform beliefs about gender roles but will inspire young girls to take off into their future! We can’t wait for you to take off with us!

We are currently accepting donations through our website, as well as applications for camp in 2018. Please visit www.preflightcamp.com to learn more and find out how you can help inspire the next generation of pilots!
• Dates: 26 June 2018 – 30 June 2018                                                                                                                          • Ages: 11-14
• Camp Fee: $950