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Aerospace Education Excellence Program (AEX) for Teachers

Civil Air Patrol offers a very popular program free to its members that involves conducting hands-on aviation and space-related activities with students in schools, youth organizations, community events, libraries, or museums.  It is called   “Aerospace Education Excellence," or, simply AEX.

Participants have access to a variety of AEX-titled books and other aerospace-related STEM books, lessons, and activities, covering several national academic and Next Gen Science standards. 

                                                        

The requirements are simple:

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. 

 NOTE: During COVID-related restrictions on in-person meetings, virtual meetings using any AEX activities or virtual conferences and/or field trips can be used to complete the requirements for this program.

  • NOTE: Schools' state-approved curriculum may replace or supplement the AEX activities created for this program. Lesson plans for any supplemental activities need to be attached to final reporting form.
  • The activities are designed to fit during a normal educational setting, either virtually or in-person. 

  • Lessons involve free or low-cost materials.

  • Culminating AEX activities can be as simple or as extravagant as the participants wish. For example, watch Wisconsin's Lombardi Middle School's high altitude balloon experiment. This school went "above and beyond" the two-hour minimum and their results were "out of sight!" View now.

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

To Register

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.

When you are ready to enter your AEX activities, return to eServices/AEX and go to "AEX Award Report." You may enter the AEX activities as each one is finished (and your doc will save this info), or, you may wait until all activities are completed. The report must be completed no later than Sept. 30 each year (obviously, a classroom teacher would want to complete this before the school years ends to be able to provide students their 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!

E-mail questions to aex@capnhq.gov .

Detailed steps for first-time AEX teachers:

  • 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.  (If membership is as a regular CAP uniformed member, renewal information is found from membershipservices. com. )
  • 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 6 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. You should submit your completion report at least 3 weeks prior to the date you plan on distributing student certificates!
  • You should receive your AEX certificates within 3 weeks of submitting your award report.  In the event you do not receive your awards within 3 weeks of submitting your report, please send an email to aex@capnhq.gov.  

*** 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.

 
Activity Corrections in Old AEX I and II
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