Camp is for high-flyers

The 10 students watched intently as the scale-model helicopter buzzed through the cavernous North High Gym. In the careful hands of Tom Egbert of Midwest Performance Flyers, the copter settled safely to the gym floor.

The 6th-graders were part of the Aeronautics and Aviation Camp being held through June 26 at North High. In addition to 27 students in the avaiation camp, there are 18 7th-graders students in engineering camp.

Dan Sitzman, North High official and camp coordinator, said the idea was to make science enjoyable. “We want to try and provide an educational opportunity for students during the summer, but also make it fun. No pressure. It's not a test or anything,” Sitzman said.

Although the aviation camp is fun - there will also be a model rocket launch and a chance for the children to take the controls of a real Piper Cub - science sneaks in, as well. “In this session, they go over the physics of flight,” Sitzman said. "(The model airplane group) shows them some of the airplanes, and they see how the technology of model airplanes is changing.”

Egbert said one of his club's goals was to educate children, not only about the hobby, but also aeronautics. “We try to blend it in,” he said. “We talk to them about how the planes fly . . . and we give them a little history.”

Madison Sutula, 12, was excited about the demonstration and the camp. She also attended last year. “I think I want to be an engineer,” she said.