We teach the fundamentals: true “stick and rudder” flying skills, critical thinking, situational awareness, judgment, discipline and the understanding of winds and weather that are applicable in both gliding and powered airplanes. Instructional flights are conducted by our highly experienced, FAA-certified flight instructors in two-seat gliders (two PW-6’s and two SGS 2-33’s). Advanced, qualified students may also fly the single-seat, SGS 1-26.

Each camper receives ten instructional flights (weather permitting) and daily ground school sessions over the course of a week. Topics include aerodynamics, airspace, FAA regulations, glider/aircraft components, launch and recovery procedures, glider maneuvers, weight and balance, weather, soaring techniques and aviation career options. All flights are logged as instruction and count towards total flight time for the FAA.

Due to our location in the Mad River Valley and depending on the weather, on any given day students could experience any of the three forms of soaring lift – thermal, ridge and mountain wave (or in some cases, all three!)

When not flying, the campers are helping run the ground operations, launching and recovering gliders, tracking flights in the day sheet log, receiving formal and informal ground instruction, flying our new flight simulator and hanging out with each other.

Last season, we launched a hands-on STEM program to introduce campers to science, technology, engineering and math concepts that pertain to aviation. Campers built and flew drones, and also built a flying wing that they tested in a wind tunnel. More STEM “modules” are under development and will be introduced in 2026.

As available, the group takes off-site, aviation-related outings. Previous trips have been to visit Burlington International Airport (BVT) for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Tower and Approach Control Facility and to BETA Technologies to fly their VTOL simulator.