In addition to visiting government and civic monuments and buildings we exposed our youngsters to the progressive and wide ranging industry of aviation. With the creation of our new Aviation Education Career Program we offered first level exposure to the aviation industry by providing aviation exploration for elementary, middle and high school students. Each participant of the program learned about aviation history, theory of flight, and other related subjects. The focus was on aviation exploration with emphasis on professional opportunities for women and minorities. On this trip we tourned the Air and Space Museum on the National Mall and also the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport. The two sites together showcased the largest collection of aviation and space artifacts in the world.

Our trip to Washington, DC would have been incomplete without experiencing a tour of the White House and to visit the home of the first African-American President and his adoring family. For over two hundred years, the White House has stood as a symbol of the Presidency, the United States government, and the American people. We want our youngsters to have vivid memories of the current White House occupants so they could share this experience with their children and grandchildren.

We are partnering with Plantersville Elementary School (PES) to improve reading comprehension through family journal and diaries. "Read across America" where the child sends a note and a list (journal) to a family or friend about what they are reading. The person that receives it sends a postcard back to his friend or relative and sends the journal on to another friend or relative for 2 months where the journal is sent back to the original sender.

We also will host a spaghetti dinner in conjunction with the PTA for parents and students. The librarian will take the children and read a story while the parents go the class room to observe the teacher presenting a reading or study strategy.

Finally each child will receive a book at the end of the year for summer reading. When the child completes the book he/she will write a letter to the teacher that discusses both the book and their summer adventures. The teacher will then mail another book to the child, the cycle will continue for 8 weeks. Prizes will be awarded to the top reader in several categories.

Again we are partnering with PES to transport students to the Huntington State to visit the 2,500-square-foot Education Center – featuring a saltwater touch tank and a live baby alligator among its exhibits The Educational Center was created to share with visitors the interdependence of human beings and the natural community, focusing on the intersection of land, marsh and sea that makes the Grand Strand such an attractive and critical environment. We will also host a cook out for the students, serving hot dogs and hamburgers.

The Village Group is pleased to announce the continuation of the educational program which offers first level exposure to the aviation industry by providing aviation exploration for middle and high school students. Each participant of the program will learn about aviation history, theory of flight, and other related subjects. The focus is on aviation exploration with emphasis on opportunities for women and minorities. Students will have the opportunity to go on field trips to aviation facilities, museums and participate in other hands-on activities designed to give students a total aviation experience. All expenses associated with this program, except food, will be funded through The Village Group. This school year our goal is to participate in the following activities:

• visit local airports in Georgetown County
• visit Washington DC Air and Space Museum
• travel on an overnight field trip to Greenville, SC to visit a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA ) approved training program and commercial airport
• invite representatives within the FAA and also someone associated with the Organization of Black Airline Pilots to speak to middle and high school students at Carvers Bay

The directors and members of The Village Group seek to engage the young people of this rural African American community in such a way as to inspire, motivate and compel middle and high school students to explore careers in aviation. It is our intent to provide such excitement through a series of field trips.

The aviation industry has much to offer these young individuals. Only five percent of professionals in the aviation industry represent women and individuals of color. The young people in the Village Group need to know that they can tap into this field rich with history, culture, challenges and educational opportunities. It is our desire to help them see that the aviation industry has something for everyone. For those interested in working with their hands, aircraft maintenance technology can be a field to explore. For those seeking management positions but don’t wish to leave the beloved state of South Carolina, they can receive a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Maintenance Management through a partnership with Greenville Technical College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Of course, there are opportunities for those wishing to fly the friendly skies and become pilots.

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