By Mark Feist, District III Associate Vice President and AMA Leader Member
In 2024, a group of junior club members initiated Jet Stars, a youth-focused model aviation club within The Greater Cincinnati Radio Control Club (GCRCC). They envisioned a community that combined elements of a Boy Scout troop with model aviation, which has since flourished because of the support from the GCRCC. This collaborative environment has fostered friendships and allowed young members to easily coordinate flying and building sessions. The Jet Stars aim, with the support of the club, is to “get kids flying” and to educate young enthusiasts about various aspects of model aviation. The GCRCC Jet Stars youth group is highly active and growing! Find more information and watch the AMA Air video here: Getting Youth Involved—the GCRCC Jet Stars in the AMA blog.
In the April 2025 edition of Model Aviation, you will find an excellent article about the Junior Flight Program in the Northern Geogia Model Aviators (NGMA) club. They started with the local Rotary club with program presentations, which opened doors to the local school system STEM programs and educators. They also partnered with a Horizon Hobby manager who helped acquire scratch-and-dent aircraft that club members made flyable and available to Junior members for free. New junior members can join the club at a reduced rate and participate in a flight training system that standardizes training and quickly builds success with instructors and students. The NGMA Junior Flight Program is also extremely active and growing!
Both the GCRCC and NGMA encourage clubs from across the country to reach out and gain insights into how their youth programs work. They will provide those insights and methodology for how to implement your own youth programs.
If your club has a youth program you would like to share, please let the AMA know!
GCRCC Jet Stars.
