Students learn the basics of aerospace in week-long camp

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN) — Clark State College is giving students the power to take flight with a hands-on camp called The Air Space Experience.

Every year, the community college hosts an aerospace camp to get students interested in the industry early on.

About a dozen students took part in the week-long camp, learning the principles of aerodynamics and the art and science of flight. They also got a lesson in drones, took tours at air space sites, and discovered how the industry plays a crucial role in the economy.

“The camp is designed to give students an introduction to aviation in general. We talk about fundamentals of aviation, the Bernoulli principle, lift and control surfaces, that kind of thing. And then we do some fun stuff like make paper airplanes,” says Shadh Molla, a camp instructor for Clark State and an adjunct professor at Embry-Riddle at Emmanuel Christian Academy.

The program is full of various activities poised to give students a clear idea of all that aviation entails.

“We are going to have a paper airplane contest. And we’ve visited a couple of sites up at the airport. We’re going to go to the Air National Guard, so, just to give them a general feel of what aviation is like and see how cool it is, really. And then, the last day, we’re going to be flying drones and giving them an introduction to kind of a new field in aviation,” describes Molla.

Urbana Middle School sixth grader Keisha Neri is one of the students taking part in the camp.

“We’re making paper airplanes,” states Neri. “It’s really fun. And there’s a lot of trips here.”

Global Impact STEM Academy eighth grader Ethan Keyes is eventually planning on getting his private pilot’s license.

“I just like being up in the clouds and flying above all the people and seeing all stuff from above,” says Keyes. “I definitely learned some stuff that I didn’t know yet. I learned what hypoxia is. I learned why planes had different camber and different size of wings.”

With the birthplace of aviation as the backdrop, the annual camp at Clark State provides an opportunity for students to take off in a growing field.

“There are numerous pathways to a career in aerospace. It’s not just pilots. There’s a large demand for mechanics. There’s a large demand for manufacturing,” states Toni Overholser, the Vice President for Advancement and Outreach at Clark State.

While the camp serves as an introduction to aviation, skills transcend the camp.

“One of the most important things that anybody can have going into the workforce is the ability to problem solve. We’re giving kids a fun way to explore this industry, design, and problem solve and make corrections. And regardless of the industry that you’re going into, that’s a very important skill,” states Overholser.

“One of the things that a lot of people assume about aviation is it’s just about pilots. If I’m going into aviation, that means I want to become an airline pilot. But that’s not the case. Almost literally any field you can think of there’s an aviation piece,” says Molla. “One of the things that we try to do here is explain to them that aviation is not just flying it. There’s a lot in the background that’s going on. And if you want to be a piece of that, there’s room.”

Clark State offers a variety of other camps as well including medical and theater. All camps are one week and are held in the summertime.

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