Where Have All the Young People Gone in Model Aviation? At our last club meeting we came to the realization that our average age in our club is about 60. Where are the young people? As a help to us and maybe other clubs who are facing the same problem, what can be done to bring younger people in?
Is is cost? Club Dues too high? AMA dues too high? Video Games?
Give some opinions of what your club has done to increase membership and get young people interested in Model Aviation.
Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a very prosperous New Year
I’m afraid video games have taken over pretty much for all hobbies. But I think there ways to help get a youngster away from video games to actual flying. It’s been my experience that kids like to fly using simulators. Just about every event I’ve been to that has flight simulators has drawn in the kids. The idea would be to help the kids make the transition from the games by showing them that flying the real thing is very much like the simulator. The simulator is a great learning tool that I believe has not been explored nearly enough. As far as cost goes, there are so many good planes one can get for an economical cost. However, I still believe entry costs are still a bit high. Another thing that kids are into now are drones. Providing a safe place for them to fly is a good idea. Maybe working with your community’s governmental bodies could help, as they can help steer people to your field to fly safely. Before they pass new laws concerning drone usage, you can show these government officials how you can help drone pilots fly safely. And maybe involve the schools as well, by having a flying club as an extracurricular activity There are so many ways people can go about bringing kids into the hobby is they can use their imaginations and think outside the box. I have reached the conclusion a long time ago that the traditional methods of reaching out to prospective new members just doesn’t work very well anymore. There is so much competition for people’s hobby interests that clubs may have to think like marketers. They won’t be actual marketers, but they may have to employ modern marketing techniques to reach out further. Maybe someone can donate actual marketing services or provide them for a very reduced cost. A website is the hub of all modern marketing methods but does not substitute for going out and doing the legwork. However, a well-designed and updated website can help a club stand out, combined with other promotional efforts.
I know it will rub some or most club members the wrong way, but the problem lies with the current hands-on training/promotion system, i.e., the use of the buddy/box. Along with some clubs offering training usually only one day a week, some clubs only one day a month during the flying season. I’m 70 and when I started, everyone of my age or older on the club field had aeromodeling in the blood since they were kids.
They built and flew control line and/or free flight before they got into RC.
Because I use a different promotion/training method, I have no trouble at all getting kids and adults into the hobby/sport. In fact, I have trained others how to use my method. Even AMA E.D. Dave Mathewson was very impressed how well my method works.
Ok, I will bite, what is your technique?
https://amaflightschool.org/clubs/how-do-i-learn-about-ragland-student-training-technique