Flying high at 30,000 feet – Club members experience trip of a lifetime at Air Camp

During a tour of the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, Sadie, a 14-year-old Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC) member, noticed something that struck a chord. She didn't see a single woman on a wall displaying Air Force leaders.

“Where are the women?” Sadie asked. “There are so many smart women in the world. Not seeing any represented really hurt me.”

Inspired by that moment, Sadie is now determined to pursue aerospace engineering and spread the message to girls that they, too, belong in these fields. "Women are more capable than people realize," she affirmed.

Sadie was one of five BGCC members selected for an all-expenses-paid Air Camp experience sponsored by United Airlines. The experience was designed for students passionate about aviation and STEM. Over four intensive days, she and her fellow Club members dove into the world of aviation, learning flight planning fundamentals, flying drones, and even soldering electronics.

“Since Air Camp, I’ve decided I want to be a mechanical engineer and join the Air Force,” Sadie said. “It was a big step for me.”

Angela, 16, another BGCC member and aspiring biomedical researcher, also found the experience transformative. “It gave me a head start in figuring out what I want to do and what scholarships are available,” she said.

The highlight of the trip though: Flying a single-engine airplane for 30 minutes under the guidance of an instructor. “It felt surreal,” Angela shared, while Sadie described the beauty and serenity of being airborne: “Flying isn’t that scary. You just have to give it a try.”

Air Camp opened new possibilities for these young women, and they’re eager to inspire others. Sadie’s words echo the mission of BGCC: “I want to make sure girls know they can do this too.”

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