2019 XC & Jr Development Camps

Thanks for chiming in Peter and I forgot about that video. It really came out nicely.

On Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 8:33:44 PM UTC-5, Wyll Surf Air wrote:
UH in terms of an article in soaring, my friend Thomas Greenhill who was really the driving force in setting up the Jr event at Avenal is writing one (I think).

Visibility is hugely important to these efforts:
1) It lets other youth know there are,and will be,events to participate in.
2) It lets potential financial supporters know that there is a coming need.
3) It shows those that provided support that their money and time were well spent.
4) By drawing in more young people a base grows so that when the current leaders age out there a trained new young people to carry forward.
When you do a good thing, bang the drum loud and long!!!!
UH

On Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 5:04:08 PM UTC-5, wrote:
Looking at the SSA on-line calendar I do not see any XC or Jr development camps scheduled for 2019.

To grow our XC ranks and our Jr's we really need to have these type of events more often - like twice a year (East & West).

I'm thinking of organizing a camp for 2019 that would be geared to developing pilots (all ages) to fly their first task as well as for Jr's who want to develop into WGC candidates. Experienced mentors would coach using lead and follow techniques, we would have briefings and focused learning topics.. We would also recruit some 2 seat ships for developing flights.

Location: At one of the Texas clubs of TSA, SCOH, or GHSA (nothing confirmed yet)

Dates: End of July

Duration: 6 days (Sunday through Friday)

Before I put forth the organization plan I need to know what attendance could be expected.

Let me know if this is something you would attend or something you would support with either mentoring or the loan of a 2 seat XC capable ship.

Thanks,
Tony Smolder
TS1

Hi all,
We're planning another series of the US Junior Contest this year. In addition to the east coast contest (likely the week of July 4th), Thomas will be organizing another west coast event as well. Details will be posted at https://juniors.ssa.org/ - I usually get all the paperwork submitted and sites updated around Christmas.

Both contests will have an article going in soaring in the coming months as well.

We're looking for others who are interested in helping as well (Send me an email if you are interested in being a part of them.)

Best,
JP Stewart
Chairman of the SSA Youth/Junior Development Committee

Thanks Wyll. Already on the Slack group.

Cheers,
Craig

On Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 8:42:56 PM UTC-8, Peter Deane wrote:
On Wednesday, 21 November 2018 14:04:08 UTC-8, wrote:
Looking at the SSA on-line calendar I do not see any XC or Jr development camps scheduled for 2019.

To grow our XC ranks and our Jr's we really need to have these type of events more often - like twice a year (East & West).

I'm thinking of organizing a camp for 2019 that would be geared to developing pilots (all ages) to fly their first task as well as for Jr's who want to develop into WGC candidates. Experienced mentors would coach using lead and follow techniques, we would have briefings and focused learning topics. We would also recruit some 2 seat ships for developing flights.

Location: At one of the Texas clubs of TSA, SCOH, or GHSA (nothing confirmed yet)

Dates: End of July

Duration: 6 days (Sunday through Friday)

Before I put forth the organization plan I need to know what attendance could be expected.

Let me know if this is something you would attend or something you would support with either mentoring or the loan of a 2 seat XC capable ship.

Thanks,
Tony Smolder
TS1

Tony - thats great! We recently had a long weekend West Coast junior camp at Avenal CA - we had several mentors there including myself - we plan another in Williams in the Spring. We would like to hold one at Montague at some point also - Ephrata also a real possibility but a very long drive for the S. CA folks- I'm sure Tom Greenhill and the gang would go if they could.

Meanwhile , hereas a youtube vid of the Avenal event that the lads made up.

courtesy of Brent Davidson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uNZRM9eeNg

Enjoy!

Peter Deane 2T

Peter, are you recruiting mentor pilots. or no need?

On Sunday, November 25, 2018 at 7:03:34 PM UTC-8, Matt Herron Jr. wrote:
On Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 8:42:56 PM UTC-8, Peter Deane wrote:
On Wednesday, 21 November 2018 14:04:08 UTC-8, wrote:
Looking at the SSA on-line calendar I do not see any XC or Jr development camps scheduled for 2019.

To grow our XC ranks and our Jr's we really need to have these type of events more often - like twice a year (East & West).

I'm thinking of organizing a camp for 2019 that would be geared to developing pilots (all ages) to fly their first task as well as for Jr's who want to develop into WGC candidates. Experienced mentors would coach using lead and follow techniques, we would have briefings and focused learning topics. We would also recruit some 2 seat ships for developing flights.

Location: At one of the Texas clubs of TSA, SCOH, or GHSA (nothing confirmed yet)

Dates: End of July

Duration: 6 days (Sunday through Friday)

Before I put forth the organization plan I need to know what attendance could be expected.

Let me know if this is something you would attend or something you would support with either mentoring or the loan of a 2 seat XC capable ship.

Thanks,
Tony Smolder
TS1

Tony - thats great! We recently had a long weekend West Coast junior camp at Avenal CA - we had several mentors there including myself - we plan another in Williams in the Spring. We would like to hold one at Montague at some point also - Ephrata also a real possibility but a very long drive for the S. CA folks- I'm sure Tom Greenhill and the gang would go if they could.

Meanwhile , hereas a youtube vid of the Avenal event that the lads made up.

courtesy of Brent Davidson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uNZRM9eeNg

Enjoy!

Peter Deane 2T

Peter, are you recruiting mentor pilots. or no need?

Hopefully the organizers (junior pilots) are running things :-)

On Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 8:42:56 PM UTC-8, Peter Deane wrote:
On Wednesday, 21 November 2018 14:04:08 UTC-8, wrote:
Looking at the SSA on-line calendar I do not see any XC or Jr development camps scheduled for 2019.

To grow our XC ranks and our Jr's we really need to have these type of events more often - like twice a year (East & West).

I'm thinking of organizing a camp for 2019 that would be geared to developing pilots (all ages) to fly their first task as well as for Jr's who want to develop into WGC candidates. Experienced mentors would coach using lead and follow techniques, we would have briefings and focused learning topics. We would also recruit some 2 seat ships for developing flights.

Location: At one of the Texas clubs of TSA, SCOH, or GHSA (nothing confirmed yet)

Dates: End of July

Duration: 6 days (Sunday through Friday)

Before I put forth the organization plan I need to know what attendance could be expected.

Let me know if this is something you would attend or something you would support with either mentoring or the loan of a 2 seat XC capable ship.

Thanks,
Tony Smolder
TS1

Tony - thats great! We recently had a long weekend West Coast junior camp at Avenal CA - we had several mentors there including myself - we plan another in Williams in the Spring. We would like to hold one at Montague at some point also - Ephrata also a real possibility but a very long drive for the S. CA folks- I'm sure Tom Greenhill and the gang would go if they could.

Meanwhile , hereas a youtube vid of the Avenal event that the lads made up.

courtesy of Brent Davidson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uNZRM9eeNg

Enjoy!

Peter Deane 2T

Nice one.
If at home I'll go to Avenal for the next Juniors event, and take the Duo.
Williams is a possibility too.
Jim

On Sunday, November 25, 2018 at 7:03:34 PM UTC-8, Matt Herron Jr. wrote:
On Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 8:42:56 PM UTC-8, Peter Deane wrote:
On Wednesday, 21 November 2018 14:04:08 UTC-8, wrote:
Looking at the SSA on-line calendar I do not see any XC or Jr development camps scheduled for 2019.

To grow our XC ranks and our Jr's we really need to have these type of events more often - like twice a year (East & West).

I'm thinking of organizing a camp for 2019 that would be geared to developing pilots (all ages) to fly their first task as well as for Jr's who want to develop into WGC candidates. Experienced mentors would coach using lead and follow techniques, we would have briefings and focused learning topics. We would also recruit some 2 seat ships for developing flights.

Location: At one of the Texas clubs of TSA, SCOH, or GHSA (nothing confirmed yet)

Dates: End of July

Duration: 6 days (Sunday through Friday)

Before I put forth the organization plan I need to know what attendance could be expected.

Let me know if this is something you would attend or something you would support with either mentoring or the loan of a 2 seat XC capable ship.

Thanks,
Tony Smolder
TS1

Tony - thats great! We recently had a long weekend West Coast junior camp at Avenal CA - we had several mentors there including myself - we plan another in Williams in the Spring. We would like to hold one at Montague at some point also - Ephrata also a real possibility but a very long drive for the S. CA folks- I'm sure Tom Greenhill and the gang would go if they could.

Meanwhile , hereas a youtube vid of the Avenal event that the lads made up.

courtesy of Brent Davidson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uNZRM9eeNg

Enjoy!

Peter Deane 2T

Peter, are you recruiting mentor pilots. or no need?

Hey Matt,

We definitely are recruiting mentors.
Are you a commercial pilot or CFIG by chance?

Thomas (5T)

My apologies, I haven't surfed RAS in a couple of weeks...

I saw the thread and thought everyone should know there are some plans in the works for 2019.

The tentative plan is to hold both East Coast and West Coast Junior Development Camp/Contests in 2019. The West Coast camp is being organized by Thomas Greenhill and will run concurrently with a regional sports class contest, if approved. Site-selection is under way; Williams Soaring is one possible destination. The East-Coast camp/contest will likely be held at Harris Hill Soaring Club again (Region 3), if Harris Hill approves of the the Junior/Youth Committee's request to do so. I can't speak for JYC but I think JP Stewart has been in communication with Andy Brayer about hosting the camp, and the club is open to hosting it again.

Having said that, we would like to recruit other possible sites to host future Junior Soaring contests... Ephrata and TSA would make good alternative sites I believe if they have the necessary infrastructure in place. Ideally we need a site that has a home club that has 2 or more Buss Class or 20m two-seaters available for experienced, local contest pilots to mentor Juniors who don't have their own single-seater to fly in the contest. Sites also need camping, shower, and restroom facilities available to Junior campers.

Additionally, former or current US Team members, national champions, and other experienced contest pilots are greatly needed as mentors and camp instructors, lecturers, etc. The SSA's Junior/Youth Committee would also like to get the US Team more involved in mentoring Junior pilots who are developing advanced racing skills in an effort to further develop a pool of young contests pilots who may be eligible for U.S. Junior Team consideration.

Lastly, clubs who are interested in hosting a Junior Camp/Contest should contact myself or JP Stewart so we can start planning ahead for 2020.

Best regards,

Chris Schrader
SSA Director, Region 6

SCOH, Casear Creek, and Chilhowee are other possible sites that could host a Junior contest.

Adrian, Michigan, is another possibility too but showers would need to be installed to facilitate on-field tent camping.

- Chris Schrader