Aerospace Education Excellence Program (AEX) for Educators

Civil Air Patrol's Aerospace Education Excellence (AEX) award program for educator members fosters and recognizes engaging use of aerospace/STEM activities with 7th grade through high school students in schools, youth organizations, community events, libraries, or museums. 

Participants have access to a variety of AEX-titled Civil Air Patrol books and other CAP aerospace-related STEM books, lessons, and activities, and resources such as CAP STEM Kits covering several national academic and Next Gen Science standards.                                                         

The requirements are simple:

• Register for AEX in eServices.Go to eServices, then, in the left Menu column, click Aerospace Education and then AEX, and "Apply for AEX."  Registration is required for each year (Oct. 1 - Sept. 30) you choose to participate.
• Complete six aerospace activities and one two-hour or longer field experience (space day; trip to the airport or museum, etc.) to earn an instructor certificate plus color certificates for the students. 

  • See particularly, the AEX II (middle and high school age) book, as well as many other AEX-titled books ready for online download, at eServices/Aerospace Education/AE Downloads and Resources. (See curriculum list HERE.)

  • For additional lessons to consider, go to the CAP AE curriculum page, lessons and activities pages and left menu item links, lesson videos page, and Aerospace/STEM Resources for Remote Education. Also, for participants' consideration, a comprehensive library of excellent virtual video lessons is found on the South Carolina Wing's Robert Roberts Aerospace Education YouTube channel. 

  • Educators can also use activities from like-minded organizations, such as NASA and others, that provide STEM lessons.

  • Schools' state-approved curriculum may replace or supplement the CAP AEX activities created for this program.

  • Many lessons involve free or low-cost materials.

  • Culminating AEX activities can be as simple or as extravagant as the participants wish. 

  • AEX program activities should take place between Oct. 1 and Sept. 30 each year.

• After your report is submitted, your certificates will be mailed to you for presentation. Submit your completion report at least 3-4 weeks prior to needing certificates.

• Templates for printing individual certificates are available here.

E-mail questions to aex@capnhq.gov .

How to register:

• Make sure CAP membership is current.  If you are not a member, but wish to join as an educator member, click "Join as AEM" for membership information.  If your membership needs to be renewed, AE members should contact ae@capnhq.gov.  

• Register to participate by completing the AEX registration online at CAP's eServices.  Registration is required for each year (Oct. 1 - Sept. 30) you choose to participate.  If you have never used eServices before, you will need to set up a free eServices account.  Click "first time users click here" when you get to the eServices login page, and follow the instructions provided. 

• Once you are in eServices, look at the left Menu bar and click on Aerospace Education.  Then, go to AEX and then click "Apply for AEX."

• Teach six aerospace/STEM-related activities.  You may select activities from the AEX books provided by CAP, or you may use your own lessons.  In addition to teaching 6 aerospace/STEM-related activities, engage students in a special 2-hour aerospace/STEM activity, such as making and launching rockets, going on an aerospace-related field trip to the airport or an aerospace museum, or presenting other aerospace-oriented activities that total 2 hours or more.  (You may teach an additional two lessons to meet the 2-hour activity requirement, if that works for you.)

• When you are ready to enter your AEX activities, go back eServices/Aerospace Education/AEX and click "AEX Award Report." You may enter the AEX activities as each one is finished (and they will be saved), or you may wait until all activities are completed. This must be completed no later than Sept. 30 for the past year. (Classroom teachers would want to complete this before the school year ends to be able to provide students their certificates, which make great end-of-year recognition for students). You should submit your completion report at least 3-4 weeks prior to the date you plan on distributing student certificates.

• After your report is submitted, your certificates will be mailed to you for presentation.

• Submit your completion report at least 3 weeks prior to needing certificates.

In the event that you do not fully complete the requirements for successful completion of the AEX Program, no notification is necessary.  Simply register again during the next school year, and try again! 

E-mail questions to aex@capnhq.gov.

PARTICIPATE IN AEX