California Wing members stepped up during Scouting America’s annual two-day Camporee, leading an aerospace-themed set of activities involving 648 Scouts from across the Golden Gate Council Meridian District at Rancho Los Mochos in the San Antonio Mountains.
Members of Livermore-based Tri-Valley Composite Squadron 156 used an aerospace education focus to emphasize exploration, learning, and leadership as Scouts tested their skills, built camaraderie, and took on new challenges.
Wendy Chan, the Camporee’s principal organizer, had reached out to CAP several months earlier in hopes that the wing could craft a hands-on curriculum that would introduce Scouts to some fundamentals of aviation and aerospace. Several rounds of planning led to a set of five dynamic activities, including one focused on emergency medical training.
The activities featured:
Scouts in the Cockpit: The Glider ExperienceFew things spark a passion for aviation like sitting in an actual aircraft, and CAP members ensured Scouts got that opportunity. The team assembled a Schempp-Hirth MiniNimbus glider on-site, transforming a simple display into a fully interactive session.
With guidance from Capt. Andrew Randazzo, an experienced glider pilot instructor, Scouts explored the mechanics of flight, learning about control surfaces, instrumentation, and cockpit functions. Each Scout took a turn inside the aircraft, manipulating the controls and visualizing what real flight might feel like.
In all, 96 Scouts devoted 48 hours across 12 glider-focused sessions.
Mastering the Skies: Quadcopters and Unmanned AviationAviation is evolving, and drones are at the forefront of modern aerospace technology. CAP members designed an immersive quadcopter workshop for Scouts that blended instruction with high-energy competition. Using Beta FPV Cetus Lite drones, a CAP aerospace education STEM Kit, Scouts first learned the fundamentals of flight, testing their drone piloting skills with guided practice sessions.
Then came the challenge, with each patrol selecting its best pilot to navigate a timed obstacle course. Precision and agility determined the winning team.
Led by 1st Lt. Jacob Trueblood of the Tri-Valley squadron, a CAP small Unmanned Aircraft System mission pilot, and assisted by cadets Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Satyansh Anand in the morning and Cadet Airman Samraat Chauhan in the afternoon, the drone activity engaged 128 Scouts over four sessions.
Mapping the Skies: Sectional Scavenger HuntAirspace classification, airport operations, and navigation are critical skills for pilots. The Sectional Scavenger Hunt turned map-reading into an engaging competition, challenging Scouts to decipher San Francisco Sectional Charts and answer questions about airports, controlled airspace, military operations areas, and known hazards.
Guided by 1st Lt. Mike Ward, Tri-Valley commander, and Maj. Van Henson, deputy commander for seniors, the activity emphasized problem-solving and teamwork as 192 Scouts participating in patrols raced against each other to correctly answer the greatest number of questions.
Blasting Off: Paper Rockets and AerodynamicsFor the younger Cub Scouts, nothing beats the thrill of building and launching rockets — even if they’re made of paper. Under the instruction of 2nd Lt. David Ward assisted by cadets Anand and Chauhan, 144 Scouts participating in six sessions assembled air-driven rockets, experimenting with designs to maximize flight distance and stability as part of an introduction to aerodynamics and propulsion.
On the Front Lines: EMTs and Emergency PreparednessWhile not directly tied to aviation, emergency medical response remains a vital component of CAP’s mission to serve communities. Thanks to the coordination of Jennifer Henson Crumrine from ProTransport-1, 88 Scouts participating in 11 sessions received an inside look at real-world emergency medical operations.
Emergency medical technicians Geno Ramelb and Ryan Thompson brought an ambulance on-site, demonstrating lifesaving tools and techniques — including gurneys, lift-assist equipment, CPR training, and first aid essentials._____Maj. Van Henson Deputy Commander for SeniorsTri-Valley Composite Squadron 156California Wing
