EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (June 11, 2024) — A new youth aviation activities area located in the Vintage Aircraft Association area on the EAA grounds is the latest edition to the expanding youth and family activities taking place at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024. The 71st edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s fly-in convention and air show is July 22 through the 28. “Nearly all of us involved in aviation today were inspired at some point in our younger years,” said Paul Maloy, EAA’s director of education. “When we began welcoming those 18-and-under at no charge beginning in 2021, we immediately noticed an increase in the number of families at AirVenture. With that, we wanted to create and expand possibilities for families to encourage them to visit and engage with everything AirVenture has to offer.” The Charles W. Harris Youth Aviation Center in the vintage aircraft area gives youth the chance to have a “hands-on” experience by using hammers, pliers, and other tools to discover how aircraft are maintained. Kids will also have the opportunity to talk to pilots and hear their flying stories, as well as get a tour of the pilots’ airplanes. The center will officially open to the public at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 22, AirVenture’s opening day. In addition to this new experience, families are encouraged to visit the Youth Welcome Center located at the main Four Corners intersection to receive information on all the other activities for youth and families happening through the week. Some of those activities include:
KidVenture – Entering its 25th year, KidVenture invites kids to get hands-on with riveting, engines, electrical wire circuits, propeller design, wooden rib building, RC airplanes, space exploration, and more. (Ages 3-14). Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
AeroEducate Center – Located at the south entrance to Aviation Gateway Park, will again host fascinating morning forums focusing especially on youth ages 10-18, and a full slate of fun, fast hands-on activities held in the afternoons of each day throughout AirVenture. Come play the games and learn more about how you can explore all things aviation through the AeroEducate program and open doors to exciting aviation/aerospace career opportunities (Ages 10-18) Monday – Sunday 9am – 5pm.
NASA STEM Zone – Kids can enjoy hands-on activities, demonstrations, and exhibits that highlight some of NASA’s missions and programs. Find out more about NASA’s X-59, Artemis mission, and Sustainable Flight Demonstrator, with different activities running each day. Earn your AirVenture endorsement codes for NASA’s Flight Log program and start building your virtual flight log (Ages 5-17). Monday – Sunday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. In addition, flight simulators are open to young people in the EAA Warbirds of America area and various exhibitors throughout AirVenture offer activities and items for young people.
