This month, we celebrate Black History Month. As a resource for AEOs and AEMs in squadrons and classrooms, we have a Black History Lessons page on our website that highlights accomplishments of Black pioneers in aerospace/STEM fields.
Coming soon, we are adding an important piece to our curriculum catalog -- an activity book on the Tuskegee Airmen. This famed group of heroes has been depicted in books, movies and tributes through the years. This year, these heroes are honored on the newest addition to the America the Beautiful coin series by the U.S. Mint (pictured). In this month's curriculum spotlight, we are excited to present a sample lesson from the book, Tuskegee Airmen: Red Tail Honor with Pride, which will be available in March.
For another special feature regarding history this month, be sure to see the Events section in this newsletter. Did you know CAP is turning 80 years old this year?
We thank you for reading and hope you will reach out to us at ae@capnhq.gov with member stories and other topics you would like to see covered.
Be well and be safe!
THIS MONTH: Member story - Program updates - AE Safety Check -
Curriculum - Events - Important things to know
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PROGRAM UPDATES
CAP's Adopt-a-Classroom Program
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Educators teaching any grade level between 5th and 8th can request to have a local CAP squadron collaborate with them to teach their students a minimum of three pre-determined lessons- either in-person or virtually- any time during the rest of the school year by contacting adopt@capnhq.gov. (Info for Teachers)
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If a squadron cannot locate an ACE teacher near them on the current ACE Schools by State Listing, CAP NHQ/AE will assist in locating a classroom to adopt. (Info for Squadrons)
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Click HERE and see page 4 (#6) for the free materials to be sent to the adopted teachers and page 5 (#7) for the selection of pre-determined lessons from which a minimum of three are selected to teach.
- Squadron AE officers can include more than one cadet, if desired, to help teach the lessons and share information about the CAP cadet program. Cadets are key to the success of this program!
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Need info? Contact adopt@capnhq.gov!
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Aerospace Connections in Education Program |
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The time to acknowledge outstanding achievement in CAP's K-6 aerospace/STEM program is quickly approaching. The Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) Program honors achievement in the following categories each year: ACE Student of the Year, ACE Teacher of the Year and ACE School of the Year. (Pictured is last year's National ACE School of the Year, Silver Sands School of Fort Walton Beach, Florida). The ACE Program is not possible without the enthusiasm of its teachers, and its students are the inspiration. Be sure to get those nominations in to celebrate the stars of the ACE Program. The deadline is April 25. For nomination forms and additional instructions, please click the link below and look in Related Links. Click the second link below to see a video ACE lesson on paper rockets.
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STEM Kit Program: Check out the discussion board and lessons in the Learning Management System |
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Are you looking for STEM Kit lessons to use with your kits, such as the Bee Bot (pictured)? Click here to see a sample Bee Bot lesson, submitted by Jennifer Powers, Addison Elementary, Marietta, Georgia. If you want to submit a good STEM Kit lesson to share with others, contact stem@capnhq.gov.
Here's how to find more STEM Kit lessons:
Through the current Learning Management System in CAP's member portal, eServices, you may have noticed a new button labeled "Go To AXIS." In AXIS, you can find all the STEM Kit resources such as pre- and post-tests, safety procedures, certificates and many other resources. There is also a discussion board where you can ask questions, provide your experiences and look through others' suggestions.
Here are the steps to get you into AXIS:
- In eServices, navigate to Learning Management System. Click the "Go To AXIS" button at the top of the page. This will take you to our new LMS portal. (If you have not logged in before-there may be some prompts/tutorials to complete.)
- Once in the new LMS portal, you should have tiles or "courses" to choose from. If you do not, search the catalog and enroll in the following three courses:
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- Click on "Start" under the STEM Kits-Resources category your STEM Kit falls under.
- This will open up a new page similar to the one below:
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You now have access to all the resources mentioned previously related to your kit. The same discussion boards will be available through each of the STEM Kit-Resource Courses. To visit the Learning Management System, visit the link below. Find the Bee Bot lesson here. |
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CyberPatriot Program information |
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- 3 Middle School teams (middle school teams from schools, youth organizations, and CAP and Naval Sea cadet programs)
- 12 Open Division teams (high school teams from schools and youth organizations)
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13 All Service teams (high school teams from all Services JROTC, Naval Sea Cadet Corps and the CAP Cadet program) - Click boxes below to read about the CAP national finalist teams and to find out about all of CAP’s additional cyber opportunities for cadets.
With these three distinct divisions of CyberPatriot competition, any middle and high school student could become involved in this program, gaining important cyber security knowledge and experience, as well as opportunities to compete for scholarships and internships.
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Registration for the 2021-2022 CyberPatriot XiV competition is open April-October at www.uscyberpatriot.org.
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Registration for summer Cyber Camp opportunities for any of these divisions is open until May 1.
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AEM application: Out with the old -- in with the new |
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When an AEM is unable to use the online application, they may need to complete a paper application. The old AEM application will no longer be accepted by Membership Services after March 31, 2021. AE officers, please use the updated AEM application when recruiting new AEMs. It may be helpful to save a file copy of the new AEM Application. Did you know members may now indicate the CAP Member Recruiter on AEM applications?
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(Welcome to AE Safety Check! These safety nuggets are things to think about as you lead or participate in an Aerospace Education activity. The writer of this monthly feature is Lt. Col. Karen Cooper, who works in safety and risk management on the AE National Headquarters Staff and is also the Northeast Region Assistant DCS/Aerospace Education.)
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USE A CRITICAL EYE TO PLAN LESSONS
Do you have a critical eye? It means being aware of the small details and using those lessons learned to see a problem before it happens. New parents will baby-proof a house using that critical eye. Our current AE curriculum covers a vast age range – from pre-school through adults. Not all of the lessons in the AEX books are proper for all ages. Use that critical eye to see if the lesson, including the materials and tools to be used, is appropriate to the ages of the people participating. How long is their attention span? Will they maintain their situational awareness long enough to avoid the potential hazards? Will they watch out for the people around them? We want them to have fun, but we want them to be safe, too.
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If you have a safety topic you would like to be included in this space, please email kcooper@ner.cap.gov.
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AEO STORY
Illinois AEO, a retired commercial pilot, develops
fun virtual AE lessons that engage cadets
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Meet Major Dave Hooper, the Aerospace Education Officer for Lake in the Hills Composite Squadron in Illinois (GLR-IL-282). Hooper, who has been flying since he was 13 years old, enjoyed a 29-year career flying Boeing 727s, 757s, 767s and 777s for a major international airline. A few years after retirement, he joined Civil Air Patrol after a CAP member with whom he flew asked him to join. He has been leading engaging virtual lessons during COVID-19 restrictions including working with VEX Code VR computer science curriculum and building skimmer cars. He enjoys making AE lessons fun for the cadets. "You have to create something where the cadets have to participate," he says of developing virtual meeting agendas. Click the link below to read the full story and get links to the resources he uses. |
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"You learn so much from the cadets. When you can lock into what they are interested in, you will do well."
-- Maj. Dave Hooper, Illinois Wing
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CURRICULUM
Celebrating Black History Month
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NEW TUSKEGEE AIRMEN MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOK: CAP is connecting the past with the future by embracing and perpetuating the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen via a new middle school book featuring some of these famed heroes. It is hoped that young people will be motivated to succeed after reading the inspirational personal and professional stories of this unique group of individuals. From pilots to aviation mechanics, the Tuskegee Airmen influenced our nation and the world. See a sample lesson on General Chappie James here. The book, Tuskegee Airmen: Red Tail Honor with Pride, will be available in CAP’s member portal, eServices/Aerospace Education/AE Downloads and Resources, in March. Find out more about the Tuskegee Airmen at Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
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Join in the celebration:
It's CAP's 80th Anniversary year
Founded in 1941 by a fledgling group of volunteers led by civilian pilots, CAP celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, and a national-level working group is on the job to make it memorable.
We’ll be releasing things throughout the year to celebrate the legacy of the subchasers who flew reconnaissance missions from Coastal Patrol bases near the nation’s East and Gulf coasts to protect cargo ships, especially vital oil tankers. And we will be celebrating the current members and looking toward the future. Watch this space for more information.
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2021 NATIONAL AEO SCHOOL
Save the date! The National Aerospace Education Officer School will be virtual this year, meeting June 4-5. Additional information will be available soon. Please check the link below for updated information as it becomes available.
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Each month, this space features important highlights or answers to frequently asked questions. Here are three things you need to know now as an AEM or AEO.
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You can update your eServices profile information. Here's how: |
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Sign into eServices and click on your name in the top right hand corner. Update your email address, mailing address, contact numbers, etc. This ensures you receive timely and pertinent information from CAP. If you are a teacher, ensure your primary email address is your home and your secondary email address is your school so that your annual renewal email and any other important information will not end up as spam in your school email account.
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AEMs: Is it time to renew your membership? |
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All Aerospace Education Members (AEMs) are offered an annual FREE “in-kind renewal." The online renewal email is sent 60 days prior to the membership expiration date. A renewal banner appears at the top of the eServices sign-in page 90 days prior to expiring. (You can’t renew earlier than 90 days.) Find additional information at the link below. Thinking that due to the pandemic you cannot participate in CAP’s AE programs? That may be partly true, but when we get back to “normal,” you will wish you kept your membership current, so do not let it expire!
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AEOs: Reach out to AEMs whose memberships expire soon |
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AEOs, this is the perfect time to reach out to your AEMs whose memberships expire within 60 days or whose memberships have expired. For more guidance, see Recruiting and Retention of AEMs on the AEO Resources page link below.
Please note: CAP has several categories of membership, but each member can only be assigned one category of membership. Any adult uniformed member, who is an educator, may access all the resources available to an AEM. And, we wish to encourage our AEMs to “hang on” until the end of the pandemic and continue renewing their membership. Once things are back to “normal,” they will be glad they did!
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Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Education
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