A Bustling Time for Young Eagles

May  2022 – As I type out this quarter’s lead message, there is exactly one month until International Young Eagles Day (Saturday, June 11), and 75 days until opening day of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022! Talk about a busy time for the Young Eagles program. Although this time of year traditionally sees a peak in activity, this year seems to be buzzing with even more Young Eagles energy. With all that is going on, I wanted to remind you of some key dates, deadlines, and happenings on the horizon.

International Young Eagles Day on Saturday, June 11, 2022, marks the 29th annual International Young Eagles Day. Each year we set aside one day to encourage all EAA members and chapters to participate in the Young Eagles program and share their passion for aviation with a new generation. With only a month until IYED, there are 66 Young Eagles rallies scheduled with nearly 1,000 kids registered within the online registration tool.

If your chapter isn’t hosting a rally on June 11, I hope you still find the opportunity to engage in the program. Pilots are encouraged to fly outside of the rally setting, while ground volunteers can connect with a nearby chapter to support its Young Eagles rally.

Young Eagles 30th Anniversary Flights at AirVenture — To kick off the Young Eagles 30th anniversary, there will be a number of special Young Eagles flight activities occurring during AirVenture. The goal is to provide 30 Young Eagles flights throughout the week in the EAA powered parachute, Ford Tri-Motor, Bell 47, and other fixed-wing aircraft.

To ensure these special flight opportunities go to deserving youths, we are looking for Young Eagles volunteers and chapters to nominate deserving youths who will be in attendance at AirVenture to take flight as part of the celebration.

These youths should be active participants in a chapter, and it is okay if they have already taken a Young Eagles flight. Please be sure they will be in attendance at the convention prior to submitting a nomination. Nominate a youth today! 

Young Eagles Volunteer Banquet — The Young Eagles Volunteer Banquet is returning for AirVenture Oshkosh 2022, however, the location and scale of the event will differ from the traditional dinner. The event has been moved to the evening of Tuesday, July 26, and will now take place in the EAA Founders’ Wing, located within the EAA Aviation Museum. The change in venue has greatly reduced the number of seats available at the banquet. Event capacity has gone from 800 to 240 guests.

Pre-registration with a ticket will be required to enter the event. Tickets are still free of charge, and Young Eagles coordinators and pilots should expect an email invite in mid-June. Due to the limited capacity, pre-registration will be strictly enforced.

The change in the event was primarily driven by the unavailability of the Eagle Hangar and the growing cost to put on a large-scale banquet for 800 guests. Our team in Oshkosh could not in good conscience, spend the money required to maintain the same event structure. The savings are reinvested into supporting the program and are applied to initiatives such as double Young Eagles credits, the Young Eagles 30th Anniversary celebration, and volunteer recognition/support.

In an effort to celebrate and thank as many Young Eagles volunteers as possible during AirVenture, a Young Eagles Volunteer Root Beer Float Social has been scheduled for Thursday, July 28, at 3 p.m. in the Camp Scholler Chapters Pavilion. EAA staff will be on hand to serve and thank volunteers, as well as provide commemorative Young Eagles 30th Anniversary take-home mementos. Sign up here.

Young Eagles Awards — Each year during the convention, EAA recognizes chapter members for their personal commitment and contributions to EAA, Young Eagles, chapters, and their fellow members. It is critical to nominate those Young Eagles volunteers who have gone the extra mile to make the program so special. EAA and the GA community is indebted to these folks. It is our responsibility to ensure they earn the recognition they deserve, so your nominations are much appreciated! There are several Young Eagles awards available. Check out the Young Eagle Award nomination form.

With all the hustle and bustle occurring, our team also wanted to take a moment to say ‘thank you!’ In the midst of the busy season, it is important to remember that without our volunteer force, there would be no busy season. Thank you for continuing to keep the Young Eagles program a vibrant gem within the aviation community!

As always, the team here in Oshkosh is here to support your effort. You can reach us at YEagles@eaa.org or 800-564-6322.

Tailwinds,

David Leiting, EAA Lifetime 579157
Eagles Program Manager

Samantha Olson, EAA 797800
Young Eagles Program Assistant