School Age Program inspires tomorrow's Airmen

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany – Participants of the Youth and Teen Center's Aerospace Training Camp are given a tour of an A-10 Thunderbolt during a visit to the 81st Fighter Squadron here July 13. During the visit, children were also briefed on possible careers in aerospace. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nick Wilson) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is A-10C 82-0649.

by Senior Airman Nick Wilson
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

7/20/2011 - SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- To provide better quality of life for Spangdahlem Air Base's elementary and middle school students, the 52nd Force Support Squadron's School Age Program is hosting weekly summer camps for 9 to 13 year olds.

The camps began early June and are scheduled to end Aug. 19.

Each week's camp focuses on a different theme to give the children an opportunity to learn about different careers. A few of the camps featured are adventure camp, science crime scene camp, art camp and fitness camp.

"We like to give youth an opportunity to experience different careers," said Sarah Williams, 52nd Force Support Squadron Youth and Teen Center programmer. "Not all youth may be interested in the theme, but they may get excited and learn so much about it. We like to give the youth fun experiences they may not have in school."

From Aug. 11-15, preteens participated in Aerospace Training Camp, which focused on possible officer and enlisted careers in aerospace.

"Most of the students in this week's camps were interested in Civil Air Patrol or becoming a pilot," Williams said.

The week's activities included a trip to the 81st Fighter Squadron here to interview an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot. The students also learned about aerodynamics and built paper helicopters and rockets made of candy.

"We want to provide fun and interesting activities for the youth while continuing to inspire them to learn during the summer," said Courtney Frantz, Kansas State University student intern and 52nd FSS Youth and Teen Center acting assistant supervisor.

Frantz said each week's camp not only focuses on different themes, but they also teaches the children communication, team building, how to work in a group, how to conduct interviews and creativity.

"It's important for youth to learn how to effectively communicate so they can express themselves in their ideas and be creative so they can analyze situations from a variety of viewpoints," Frantz said.

Frantz also mentioned children had the most fun when they had the opportunity to express their creativity or get outside of their classroom environment to learn and experience something new.

"I enjoy working with the kids," Frantz said. "It is extremely rewarding to know that I had something to do with them learning something new and having fun."

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