Hewisons Help the Ravena/Selkirk Girl Scout Troop get their Aviation Badges
I sat down with Maura Hewison to talk about her involvement with the Girl Scout Try It Career Days she hosted earlier this year. Maura started as Hewison Aviation’s operations manager in 2016, “I was a girl scout for about a year in 4th grade” and was a scout troop leader in Hoosick Falls before moving to the Albany area. She was very excited to coordinate with Linda Stephan of the Girl Scouts North Eastern New York Council (GS NENY) to get scouts to South Albany airport for a career day. “Nobody really knows where pilots come from unless you are lucky enough to have a relative who flies.” This collaboration resulted in scouts from Troops 1744, 1509, and other scouts from the Ravena/Selkirk area joining Maura for several career days throughout February and March.
Pilot Career Avenues
Maura gives each scout troop a tour of the facility starting in our ground school classroom. The scouts range from 6th to 10th grade and were given a rundown on the different paths in the aviation field. “It was really cool to be able to explain what it takes to be a pilot and watching their excitement as they realized that they could learn to fly.” Maura said “It was really nice to be able to open up their eyes to this career field. Kids are expected and trained to go to college and are oftentimes never exposed to the trades as a possibility.” dates were 2/18 3/29,
Simulating Flight
Each participant was given the opportunity to takeoff and land in our simulator. “Personally, I think being a pilot is right up there with being a doctor or a lawyer, schools and parents don’t advertise this as a viable career option when in reality it can be really rewarding.” Each scout got to feel what it is like to control an airplane in the sim to earn their aviation badge.
Hands-On Experience
Participants were given an overview of the aircraft and the opportunity to sit in the pilot’s seat to feel the controls. “I am always looking for opportunities to introduce young women to aviation, I think that it could change their whole life.”
Contact Us
Maura is very excited to continue to work with the girl scouts next year and introduce more young women to the STEM fields. Hewison aviation partners with the BOCES program out of our location in KRME. If you or a loved one are looking to get started on your aviation journey an introductory flight at any of our locations is a great way to start.
Daniel Foster
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