Education

Scout Activities

There are many ways to explore the Museum, and our Education Department is ready to work with scout leaders to develop programs that fit their needs. A few suggestions follow. Group rates are only given if a group requests a tour. The Director of Education may be reached at (860) 623-3305, extension 313.

Schedule a Tour
A tour of the museum can be arranged for any age group by appointment. A tour guide is assigned to every 15-20 people in a group. A tour typically lasts 1½ to 2 hours. To arrange for a tour, please click here. Please note that we do not schedule group tours during special event days (see Events here).

Scavenger Hunts
Scavenger hunts can be carried out as a group activity, individually, or in teams. Click on the links below to print out and take one of the following scavenger hunts with you to the Museum (clipboards, pencils, and answer sheets are available at the Museum):

• New England Air Museum Highlights
• Connecticut’s Role in Aviation
• Women in Aviation
• Scavenger Hunt for Veterans’ Day
• Can You Find All Of These Aircraft? (Special activity for ages 5-7, request at Museum.)

Try a Build and Fly Activity (click here)
These activities have been especially chosen to engage, educate and entertain students of different ages while they explore the principles of flight.

Plan a Workshop to Meet Badge Requirements
Half and full day workshops can be arranged by appointment to meet the requirements of such badges as the Aviation badge or Aerospace badge. Cost is $5 per person per hour. Groups are welcome to bring a bagged lunch. Please contact the Director of Education at (860) 623-3305, extension 313 with questions or to make an appointment.

Cub Scout Sleepover Programs
Sleepover events are organized twice a year for cub scouts, once in the spring and once in the fall from a Saturday to a Sunday. Reservations are taken on a first-come first-served basis. Cost is $40 per person. A deposit of $10.00 per person is required to hold a spot. Click here for a flyer on an upcoming event. Click here for a sample program. Please contact the Director of Education at (860) 623-3305, extension 313 with questions or to make a reservation. Deposits can be mailed to:

Open Cockpit Events
Open Cockpit Events are scheduled throughout the year and provide the opportunity to climb into the cockpits of many of the aircraft in the Museum’s collection. This is a favorite event for scouts of all ages and their families. A build-and-fly craft activity is usually offered at these events. Please refer to the event calendar for the dates of upcoming open cockpit events.

Voices of Pride
Around the time of Veterans Day in November, the Museum hosts veterans (men and women) who have flown or been involved with the aircraft in the Museum’s collection. This is an opportunity for Scouts to work on several badge requirements as well as meet people who have changed the course of history. Cockpits of many of the Museum's aircraft are open to the public. A food vendor and gift shop are on the premises. Scouts will receive a souvenir brochure with biographies of the veterans. Please refer to the events calendar for the date of the next Voices of Pride. (This is a biennial event.)

Sunday, November 6 - Women Take Flight
The New England Air Museum will host its seventh annual Women Take Flight event. (Click here for a flyer of the event.) The program features extraordinary women who have pioneered new careers for women in aviation and aerospace engineering. Special guests will share their experiences one-on-one with Museum visitors, at presentations, and at panel discussions. Impersonators will portray famous women aviators from bygone eras. Discover the opportunities women now have working in the aviation and aerospace industries while seeing examples of their work in the Museum’s collection. (For the program & list of participants click here.) This exciting, educational and inspirational program is presented in cooperation with the New England Chapter of the Ninety-Nines (International Organization of Women Pilots) and supported by girls RISE, Wolf Aviation Fund, and Hallmark. For a Group Pre-Registration Form click here.