The International Air Transport Association reports that women comprise roughly 41% of the overall workforce in the aerospace and aviation fields, and only 5.8% of pilots are women. To help close that gap, The Museum of Flight is working to bring more girls into its education programs. With more focused, intentional programming, the Museum aims to boost participation and provide an environment where every kid is welcome and has a space to learn and have fun.
The Museum of Flight offers excellent education opportunities for girls of all ages
The Museum of Flight’s education continuum provides programs that start as early as kindergarten and continue through high school. The unique career-connected model includes programs designed to foster students’ inspiration, exploration, and then preparation.
Dr. Dana Riley Black, the Vice President of Education, describes the model: “What does it mean to inspire students, allow them to explore, and then ultimately prepare them for going off into their next steps of education and the workforce?”
The Museum of Flight has been strategic and intentional when building and expanding its education programs. In addition to collaborating with organizations such as the Girl Scouts of Western Washington, the Museum has worked with the National Girls Collaborative Project to audit its programs and improve its offerings to appeal to all kids. They want to help close the gender gaps in aerospace and aviation, and that starts with all kids being able to be inspired, explore and prepare for a potential career in something that they love.
Exploration: Elementary school camps for discovery
For the elementary school kids, the Museum starts with the exploration and discovery phase. The Aerospace Camp Experience is a great fit. Kids spend time in the Museum experiencing the collections with behind-the-scenes tours. A variety of crafts and skill-building activities allow for hands-on learning. Speakers and role models are introduced to help campers see themselves in future roles in the field. Most importantly, kids get to feel as though the Museum is a place for play and get excited to come back again and again. These weeklong sessions are offered each summer.
Inspiration: Amelia’s Aero Club allows girls to build community
Amelia Earhart inspires one of The Museum of Flight’s coolest programs, Amelia’s Aero Club. The Museum launched it in 2013, when it acquired the Lockheed Model 10E Electra, the type of plane Earhart flew. Each fall, this program includes four sessions for up to 100 middle school girls.
It kicks off with the Soar and Explore session, introducing the girls to the Museum and each other, creating secret handshakes, and meeting the educators. In Lashes and Lab Coats, they can simulate a role in STEM, decorate their own lab coats, and discuss their values. The Glow-Up invites women in aviation or space to tell their stories to the girls. Speakers share more than the technical side of their careers; they share the human side. Girls see these roles in a more realistic context rather than just a textbook story. HER Footsteps introduces girls to professionals early in their careers, giving them a chance to hear about their journeys so far and meet someone who feels more like a peer.
Girls who complete Amelia’s Aero Club collect charms after each session and finish with a charm bracelet and T-shirt, but more importantly, they build a sense of community with other students and the team behind the program. With real-life stories from women in the field and honest accounts of failing forward and overcoming challenges, they find it easier to see themselves in the mentors and role models in the program.
The program manager, LaNiqua Bell, summed the club up nicely: “These girls have an interest in STEM. We’re celebrating their future self, creating a space where they belong, where they have community, we’re normalizing lifting each other up.”
Preparation: Building toward the future in aeronautical sciences
The Museum of Flight offers unique programs for high school students with a real passion for aviation. These preparation programs build skills, connections, and confidence that can turn interests into career paths.
In the Aeronautical Science Pathway program, 11th- and 12th-graders take a series of formal dual-credit courses. Students come to The Museum of Flight after their regular school day and can earn both high school and college credits at no cost. Courses like Aviation Weather/Meteorology, Drone Operations, and Air Traffic Control let students dive deeper into their interests and get a head start by graduation.
Private Pilot Ground School is a three-week summer course that explores the fundamentals of being a professional pilot. Students practice flight simulation in the Museum’s simulator lab, use the Museum’s collections and resources, and hear from a diverse group of aviation professionals.
Give your daughters a place to lift off
Sign your child up for one of The Museum of Flight’s fantastic education programs. It’s an excellent resource for discovering more about aviation, making new friends, and having fun. Check out the schedules for Amelia’s Aero Club or the summer camp options. If your child is ready to dive in and start studying, the Museum’s website has all the details on the Private Pilot Ground School, Aeronautical Science Pathway and so much more.
