Aerospace Education

Civil Air Patrol (CAP) promotes and supports aerospace education, both for its own members and the general public. CAP educational programs help prepare American citizens to meet the challenges of a sophisticated aerospace society and understand its related issues. To fulfill the CAP mission of educating America's citizens about the importance of air and space power for our country, CAP offers a myriad of aerospace programs, products, and services to educators and aerospace enthusiasts.

CAP maintains integrated internal and external aerospace education programs. Internally, CAP members, both adults and cadets, follow a rigorous program to learn about aviation and aerospace principles. Aerospace Education Officers (AEOs) attend regional AEO workshops to learn how to promote aerospace education throughout their communities. CAP cadets have to pass aerospace tests and achievements to progress in rank and promotion. Externally, CAP offers national standards-based educational products, including a secondary textbook, Aerospace: The Journey of Flight, and the middle-school-level Aerospace Dimensions. Teachers can get other free classroom materials and lesson plans from CAP by joining CAP's Aerospace Education Membership program.

Each year, CAP sponsors nearly 200 workshops in colleges and universities across the nation which reach more than 5,000 educators. These workshops highlight basic aerospace knowledge and focus on advances in aerospace technology.

Educators from across the country learn how to use aviation and space in a variety of subject areas by attending the National Conference on Aviation and Space Education (NCASE). NCASE is the nation's premier conference in this field. CAP has sponsored NCASE since 1967.

CAP also sponsors several prestigious awards for those who promote aerospace to the public: The AE Mission Award, the Frank G. Brewer Awards, the Crown Circle for Aerospace Education Leadership Awards, the A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Education Teacher of the Year Award, and the Air Force Association's (AFA) Aerospace Cadet of the Year Award.

Please take advantage of the programs and resources Civil Air Patrol has to offer and start adding excitement to your classroom today! Check some of the videos to discover how aerospace education can make a difference in the lives of young people.