Vision of Flight summer aviation camps offer students a chance to spread their wings in a nontraditional classroom setting—and literally take to the skies.

When U.S. Navy veteran and general aviation pilot saw students shy from social interaction as technology and computer usage grew in the classroom, he became concerned.

“I wanted to get something going to get kids back into that spectrum of learning, working together and realizing no one can do it alone,” McKenzie says. “Aviation encompasses all of those things.”

The solution? Vision of Flight, which McKenzie founded in 2011 and incorporated as a nonprofit a year later. The program offers summer camps and youth empowerment workshops to kids interested in finding their niche in the world of flight.

“We’ve seen it grow year after year,” McKenzie says, adding it draws participants from around the globe. “It’s the only thing out there during the summer that gives kids this opportunity to learn in the classroom—in a professional setting—with a bunch of airline pilots, corporate pilots, air traffic controllers, engineers and mechanics.”

The opportunity to meet individuals from all of the different specialties-the mentors McKenzie calls the “strength of this organization”—helps students recognize what path they may want to pursue in the future.

“Something clicks for every person after every session. They’re realizing there might be something more. I think that’s pretty much been the caveat as far as why we’re becoming more and more popular,” McKenzie says.

The skills learned at Vision of Flight translate to the real world. Students are learning responsibility, critical thinking skills, attentiveness and how to be more aware of their surroundings.

“Situational awareness is a key factor in aviation knowing what’s happening and interpreting what’s happening in front of you,” McKenzie says.

Summer camps

Vision of Flight camps are designed to show students everyone is just as capable as the next person and that no one is above someone else.

“After that, they’re realizing life is a competition, too. We get them on that track. We call on them in the classroom, make sure they’re interpreting the information and rewarding them as we go along,” McKenzie says.

Camp culminates in a final exam, during which kids compete for prizes, badges and, of course, honor.

But the real reward for McKenzie is seeing the kids who start the program shy and afraid to engage come out of their shell and open up to others, often exchanging numbers with new friends and happy to socialize.

“That’s the reward that comes with this type of program, and you see it immediately. You get that gratification,” McKenzie says.

The instructor also loves to see how many of his students continue down the aviation path, pursuing licensing and, for some, even coming back to teach in the program.

“We have quite a few success stories. It validates what we’ve started. It’s come full circle when we’re seeing them go onto these professional careers and come back to become mentors. It keeps the wheel turning on this,” McKenzie reflects.

Fundraising

McKenzie would love to see Vision of Flight spread its wings even further with more camps, more programs and more opportunities for kids to experience aviation and all it has to offer. Of course, to do this, the nonprofit needs funding.

“We want this more steadily available for these kids so we can keep them on track all year long,” McKenzie says.

In addition to covering insurance, fuel, food, airplane rentals and other everyday needs of the program, donations will secure more aircrafts, professional-grade simulators (which reduce the cost of training) and expanded space at the airport. McKenzie would love to see some bigger sponsors come aboard in addition to receiving support from local citizens and the surrounding community.

“We can do so much more for the kids in Central Florida as well as outside that want to come to Florida to experience what we have,” McKenzie says.

“You see them when they take that flight and come back. Their life has changed. They’ve experienced something special,” he continues. “To me, we’ve exceeded what I thought possible with this program.”

This summer, Youth Aviation Camp ALPHA will run June 22-25, and Youth Aviation Camp BRAVO is slated for July 13-16, both held at the Orlando Executive Airport GOAA Building, 365 Rickenbacker Drive. The $690 camp cost includes ground school basis, VR interactive flight simulation drones/UAV build and test fly, special guest speakers, instruction flight (real flight time) and lunch and snacks. To register or make donations, please visit VisionOfFlight.org.

Vision of Flight

Orlando

(407) 719-0912

VisionOfFlight.org