Grow soaring thru entertainment

"Bruce Greeff" wrote in message
...
Shawn Curry wrote:
bt news wrote:

In the UK the problems associated with getting a bunch of high school
kids
onto an airfield are far too challenging for the average club. Health
and
safety, child protection and the sheer responsibility of having someone
else's kids under the control of an unnofficial, untrained,
unsupported and
potentially 'dangerous' supervisor is enough to make this a
non-starter!


Nah, its not so hard. Myself and a fellow clubie once flew with about
10 14 year olds. We were in the gliders most of the time. We gave them
rules and instructions. Followed up between flights. No problems and
no complaints.

Shawn
Just ran a flying day for some scouts. 9 girls, one boy version turned up
and we
had a really good day.
Started off with a safety lecture at the hangar.
Took them to the launch point and got them to follow around with a daily
inspection, and then made 30 flights, including taking some of their
parents up.

The biggest problem we had safety wise was a club member having a senior
moment
and sending the retrieve vehicle up the runway when we had a cable out.
Slowed
things down a bit but our procedures worked and no danger incurred.
Experience has been similar to Shawn's - Have well thought out rule,
explain the
rules, be alert to problems, enjoy a really rewarding day. Kids in the
10-16 age
group who come out to the field are generally no problem. They were safe,
worked
hard and were a pleasure to have around, wish I could say the same of some
of
the adult geniuses we occasionally get turning up for a flight.

It is a bit of work, and you have to have the right people on the field
but is
is a great way to introduce people to the sport.

Will be doing this with my scout troop in a few weeks.

In the US Boy Scouts there are some permit (two-week lead time) and consent
(two signatures for most) requirements
Permit http://www.longspeakbsa.org/forms/flight.pdf
Consent http://www.scouting.org/pubs/gss/forms/23-673.pdf

Plus your local release. You might add a Young Eagles recognition also.

Frank Whiteley