Educational Outreach

We love getting out in the community to teach students about STEM and Aviation. We offer class lectures, career day exhibits, and motivational class/group presentations. Linda Castner has participated in two large research studies involving women, self-esteem, and personal empowerment. The lecture “Finding Your Wings: Leadership and Empowerment for Girls in STEM”, has been very successful. This lecture utilizes the findings from the Garret A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Education Program Grant study and the Leaders Take Flight @ Rutgers Workshop for Women STEM professors.

If your school is hosting a career day or is seeking a motivational speaker for young girls to help them achieve peak performance don’t miss out on this local resource

Contact Linda Castner at upupaway@embarqmail.com and 908.735.0870

Living Lab Courses

The Living Labs are STEM field trips to an airport that last up to two hours.  The labs combine classroom theory with hands-on problem solving presented in an aviation context. Lab content is developed by UUAH.

Features

  • Common Core and NGSS compliant
  • Proven lab designs with real world applications
  • Five labs currently available, with seven additional labs in development
  • Lab content pre-developed and provided to teachers
  • Integration of STEM, ELA, and other disciplines
  • Requires no extra classroom preparation by school teachers
  • Easily procured lab materials
  • Public-private partnerships

 Community Outreach Events:

February 22, 2020, a FAA Safety Seminar was conducted by N85’s FASTeam Rep. Torkel Tellefsen. The topic was “Distractions and Interruptions” as well some discussion on ADSB requirements /use and the upcoming seasonal operations by Skydive Jersey. Twenty-one attended along with four staff. Food and good conversation were the focus of the morning.

December 2019 thru January/February 2020 – Katie Doo  Project at the Second Street Youth Center has been moving forward: teacher training, UUAH building an SSYC pedal plane just for them as well as working on a classroom version of Pilot Role Play using a converted Bee Bot for coding how to fly the traffic pattern.  

April 1, 2019 – Katie Doo  Project at the Second Street Youth Center has concluded its onsite data gathering and now is writing up the results.  

October 2018 thru March 2019 – Katie Doo – An aviation-themed early learning experience to develop Executive Function and Spatial Skills in 3 to 5 year olds at the Second Street Youth Center in Plainfield, NJ

September 13, 14, and 15, 2018:  Up, Up and Away in Hunterdon, Inc. conducted a Train-the-Trainer for our Living Labs programs in Joseph, OR.  Linda and Rich Stowell worked with Toby Koehn, his wife Susan and one of their daughters Keegan to present the STEM through the lens of aviation curriculum.  Toby has received grant money and established a coordinated effort with the airport in town.  He has a great group of stakeholders and the students are on their way to careers in aviation.  We enjoyed the hospitality of all, the Lodge at Wallowa Lake and the warmth of the Joseph Charter school administrators and teachers.

June 5 and 6, 2018: The Alexandria  TWP Middle School Science Classes of Julianne Malecki took part in two labs: “What Makes an Airplane Fly?” and “A Beautiful MindSET” from 9:00 AM until 12 noon.   There were 32 students the first day and 30 the second day.  All had a good learning experience in the sun!

May 25, 2018: The Readington TWP Middle School Gifted/Talented students with teacher Betsy Freeman took part in two labs: “What Makes an Airplane Fly?” and “A Beautiful MindSET” from 9:30 AM until 1 PM.   Sixteen students, Ms. Freeman and Superintendent DeFabilis enjoyed the new learning and sunshine.

May 23, 2018:  A second group from Lopatcong Middle School students arrived at N85 for a Living Lab on “What Makes an Airplane Fly?”  It also was after school from 3:30 to 5:30 with sixteen students and two faculty.  Instructors, Fan and Linda added some “Beautiful MindSET” lab curriculum – well received!

April 25, 2018:  The Lopatcong Middle School 7th graders participated in the first of two Living Labs on “What Makes an Airplane Fly?”  This is the first after school Living Lab given at N85.  Twenty students and two faculty came for the lab from 3:30 to 5:30.  Lots of fun was had by all not to mention STEM learning.

March 27 & 28 2018:  The Kingwood TWP Schools 6th graders participated in two WEATHER Living Lab sessions.  There were a total of 36 students and 3 teachers.  Fran Stager (scientist) and Linda Castner (pilot) took the students through the science of weather and what a pilot needs to know to remain safe.

November 16, 2017:  A presentation was given at the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce to area Superintendent’s and their Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math appropriate faculty regarding the various STEM programs that are at N85 – STEM Through the Lens of Aviation – good interest and action

November 14 and 15, 2017:  The Kingwood TWP Schools 6th graders came to Alexandria Field for the Living Lab – What Makes and Airplane Fly?  We had 36 students and several teachers including Mrs. Tanya Brooks.  Fran Stager and Linda Castner taught and Tucker Gott took video and photos.  Lots of Fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!

June 14, 2017: The Idaho Division of Aeronautics ran an ACE Academy Living Lab as part of a four day camp program,  adapted under license from the Living Labs Experience created by Up, Up, and Away in Hunterdon, Inc.  The first Living Lab to be utilized outside of New Jersey.  Rich Stowell was the lead in this successful collaboration – thank you Rich!

ACE Academy Living Lab Video

May 24 and 25, 2017:  Kingwood TWP School 6th graders had their fourth “living lab” for the school year: Navigation, “Jetstream”.  tucker Gott, Jon Trainor and Linda Castner conducted 2 hour labs on each day.  There were 36 students in all.

March 22 and 23, 2017:  Kingwood TWP School 6th graders had their third “living lab” for the school year: Weather, “Pilots and weather forecasters have a lot in common”. Tucker Gott , Jon Trainor and Linda Castner conducted 2 hour labs on each day.  There were 36 students in all.

January 16, 17 and 18, 2017: Trip to  Ohio State University – PEGASAS Tactical Planning meeting for Community Outreach programming – “STEM through the lens of aviation” using “Living Labs” delivered by small general aviation airports.

November 20-23, 2016:  Kingwood TWP School 6th graders had their second “living lab” for the year: Rockets, Explore the Why and How of Rocket Science. Tucker Gott and Linda Castner conducted 90 minute labs on each day.  There were 32 students in all.

October 12-13, 2016: Kingwood TWP School 6th graders had their first “living lab” for the year: What makes an Airplane Fly? Tucker Gott and Linda Castner conducted a 90-minute lab session. There were 32 students in all.

May 22, 2016: One day “What Makes an Airplane Fly” International Student Program.

May 17th and 18th, 2016 – The fourth “living lab” for Kingwood TWP schools sixth graders of the 2015-2016 school year  on Navigation.

April 19th and 20th, 2016 – The third “living lab” for Kingwood TWP schools sixth graders of the 2015-2016 school year on Solar Balloons.

April 10, 2016: One day “What Makes an Airplane Fly” International Student Program.

March 19, 2016:  “Boy Scout Aviation Badge” – Dave Pond an N85 Airpark resident brought a group of Boy Scouts to complete their merit Badge in Aviation.  They took classroom instruction, did a pre-flight check on David’s C-182 and then took flights.

March 12, 2016: “What Makes An Airplane Fly?” Repeat of One Day Event for more International students.

February 21, 2016: “What Makes An Airplane Fly?” One day event with a group of students from New York City.  Lots of fun building and actually taking introductory flights.

November 9th and 13th, 2015: Second Kingwood “Living Lab” at N85 with Kingwood TWP School for the 2015-2016 year – Rockets

October 13th and 15th, 2015: First Kingwood “Living Lab” at N85 with Kingwood TWP School for the 2015-2016 year – What Makes and Airplane Fly.

May 26th and 27th, 2015: Third “Living Lab” Event at N85 with Kingwood TWP School 6th Graders

Saturday May 2nd, 2015: CJAESC’s Booth at MMU Airport Event

April 15th and 17th, 2015: Second “Living Lab” Event at N85 with Kingwood TWP School 6th Graders

January 13th and 14th, 2015: “Living Lab” Event at N85 with Kingwood TWP School 6th Graders

A trip to the airport is an opportunity to learn for Kingwood TWP school’s six grade classes.  The “Living Laboratory” program was secured by a Kingwood TWP Education Foundation Grant by math and science teacher Tanya Brooks, allowing 42 students and 3 teachers to see math and science in action.

Linda Castner, Co-Owner of Alexandria Field Airport, is applying aviation science and math to bring real-life applications  to students. Assisting Castner were two young pilots, members of the airport’s Central Jersey Aviation Education Science Club – Tucker Gott of Bethlehem TWP and Miranda Evarts of Milford.

In total, there are three labs scheduled.  This first lab covered the basics of aerodynamics, then each student built a FPG-9, which stands for Foam Plate Glider, made from a 9-inch disposable picnic plate.  Flight is flight, and the same principles that govern the flight of a full-sized Cessna also apply to the kids’ humble FPG-9s.

The second two labs, designed by Castner and Gott, will include constructing solar balloons and flying balsa models tethered on a six-foot cord connected to a pylon.

If interested in learning more about the “Living Labs” program for your school or group, contact Linda Castner at : upupaway@embarqmail.com

April 6th, 2014: Girl Scout Leadership Presentation

Branchburg Middle School – Lecture for GATE class

Finding your Wings: Leadership and Empowerment for Girls in STEM

Kingwood Middle School Career Day – 150 students