Youth STEM Soaring Academy

TTSA unfortunately closed early this 2023 season due to the recently announced runway 2/20 reconstruction project. Friday, July 22 was our last day for regular operations. Our early closure also resulted in a limited schedule for the youth programs described below. We hope to bring back a full youth program schedule in 2024.

Aviation is one of the greatest ways to stimulate youth interest in the STEM disciplines, as learning about flying gliders involves practical, real-world applications of math, science, technology, planning, and operations. Our Youth STEM Soaring Academy programs are helping develop the next generation of pilots, mathematicians, engineers, scientists, and other STEM-related careers. Learning to fly a glider also involves a lot of teamwork and communication, building early leadership and critical thinking - lifelong skills applicable in any career.

Our Youth STEM Academy programming fulfills a key part of our mission and is offered free of charge or at minimal cost to participating youth, The programs are designed for students at the junior high and high school levels and TTSA relies primarily on charitable donations for the funding of all programs. The young men and women who participate in these programs are critical to Truckee-Tahoe Soaring Association's success.

Our Youth STEM Soaring Academy programs would not be possible without charitable donations, grants, and other community support. You can help us deliver these programs with a tax-deductible donation today by clicking on the link below:

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Youth Line Crew Intern and Flight School

This is a season-long program for youth ages 13 to 18, where they receive ground operations training, flight instruction, and work on the airfield under the supervision of a certified flight instructor. Nine youth participated in our 2023 program that was abbreviated due to the runway 2/20 reconstruction project.

Youth Soaring Days

This is a one-day event for youth ages 12 -18.

Key activities include:

An introductory ground school introducing the principles of flight and how gliders fly
A tour of a TTSA glider
Time on our glider simulator
A 15-minute glider flight with a certified flight instructor
A free lunch
A Youth Soaring Day flight certificate.
$50 participant fee
We held one event on July 10th, 2023 with thirteen participants

Youth Soaring Week

(Postponed due to the KTRK 2023 Runway 2/20 reconstruction project starting on July 24, 2023.

This is a six-day, Monday through Saturday program for youth ages 13-18 designed to accelerate their path towards obtaining their glider pilot license. The week includes ten glider flight lessons, visits to aviation facilities, and other educational activities.