A Park Pilot On The U.S.S. INTREPID

“Power of One” Panel Speaks to SummerCamp GOALS Students

One of eight remarkable ladies invited to join the historic aircraft carrier’s Women in Aviation panel, Park Pilot’s Sport contributor explained the controls used to fly model airplanes and helicopters, and how much fun it is to write aircraft articles for two internationally distributed magazines.

Park Pilot not only provides its readers with a great time, but its writers as well. This especially applies to the wonderful experience I had this summer when I spoke at the Camp GOALS summer program for girls at the Intrepid Sea, Air & & Space Museum in New York City. The head of the Intrepid’s restoration facility, Eric Boehm, is a big fan of Park Pilot and had followed my articles. When he heard that the summer camp was looking for female speakers in aviation, he put two and two together, and the next thing I knew, I found myself with a brand new gig: public speaking.

            I was somewhat anxious about the appearance, so I started brainstorming about what subjects I might cover. Then, I was put in touch with Shay Saleem, the coordinator of the camp, who immediately put me at ease by defining my role in the program. That enabled me to channel all my excitement into planning, and next thing I knew, I was headed to New York.

            Upon my arrival on the Intrepid, my parents and I were taken to meet Shay, who explained the two-day plan. That day, we would meet with two larger groups of girls, and I would give each group my presentation. The second day would consist of a short presentation by a panel of women in aviation, followed by a round-robin Q&A session between the campers and the panelists.

            My first day’s presentation focused on model aviation and writing, but also how one can have many interests outside of the field. I flew one of my favorite helicopters — a Blade mCX S300 — for each class, then demonstrated the RealFlight simulator on my dad’s laptop. I then gave each of the campers a chance to try the flight simulator on her own, and they were absolutely amazing. No one crashed the sim’s Sky Fly trainer, and many of them actually flew very smoothly and impressively. In addition to their great flying, these girls are really sweet. Every one is polite, intelligent and ambitious, and meeting them was a lot of fun.

            As enjoyable as the first day was, the second day was even more exciting. I got to the Intrepid early for a quick breakfast and an introduction to the other panelists. These women are such strong, accomplished masters in their fields, and each of them had an extremely impressive story to tell. It was an honor to be counted among them.

            After breakfast, the panelists and I headed for the Intrepid Great Room for the group session with the girls. After the panel introductions, we each went to a table of our own to begin the round-robin activity. Groups of three or four girls rotated to each table, giving each group a chance to get to know us on a more personal, informal level. They were able to ask us individualized questions and get something more personalized out of the experience. This was the section of the trip I really enjoyed, because I got to see the girls in a more relaxed situation. I became more of a friend than a teacher, and I liked that.

            Speaking at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum was an amazing opportunity, as these young girls are truly brilliant. The camp is specialized for those with impressive abilities in subjects such as math and science, and who show interest in pursuing careers in those fields. I saw many promising young women in that group, and speaking with them was enlightening.

            Everyone involved in this summer program is just great to work with. My parents and I were warmly welcomed, and the entire experience was wonderful. I can’t thank the people at the Intrepid Museum enough for inviting me to speak. The Camp GOALS program is a golden opportunity for young women in New York, and it was really nice getting to know them. Opportunities like this don’t come often, and I’m sure this one will stick with me for a very long time.