San Diego students learn STEM through aviation!

Cool aircraft are displayed during an event at Gillespie Field by Air Group One of the Commemorative Air Force.
Cool aircraft are displayed during an event at Gillespie Field by Air Group One of the Commemorative Air Force.

Today I headed to Gillespie Field in El Cajon and checked out an Expo organized by Air Group One of the Commemorative Air Force. As I walked among all sorts of restored World War II aircraft and a wide variety of fascinating exhibits, I made a very cool discovery!

Students in San Diego are invited by Air Group One to participate in a special aviation-themed STEM educational program! The special program is designed for middle and high school aged youth. Ricardo Sevilla, the friendly A-STEM Educational Officer, walked over to introduce himself to me, and I learned a little bit about this truly amazing opportunity.

S.T.E.M subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math) can be taught to students in San Diego classrooms or at Air Group One’s super cool Gillespie Field headquarters, where there are a variety of potential hands-on activities. Topics that are featured include how to become a pilot, how to operate a drone, how to build a rocket, and the aerodynamics and design concepts that enable an airplane to fly. Potential careers in aviation and the aerospace industry are also introduced. Sounds like lots of fun!

Are you a teacher in San Diego who’d like to learn more? Wouldn’t your students be thrilled to visit an actual airfield? Check out this page of the Air Group One website!

Banner promotes Air Group One's Aviation Educational Programs.
Banner promotes Air Group One’s Aviation Educational Programs.
Air Group One's historic 1943 SNJ-5 "Sassy" on the tarmac at Gillespie Field.
Air Group One’s historic 1943 SNJ-5 “Sassy” on the tarmac at Gillespie Field.
Flyer describes an exciting ASTEM educational program offered by Air Group One.
Flyer describes an exciting ASTEM educational program offered by Air Group One.
If you're interested, use the email shown in this photograph.
If you’re interested, use the email shown in this photograph.
Learning about aviation can help a student take flight and discover new horizons!
Learning about aviation can help a student take flight and discover new horizons!

I’ll be blogging about today’s fantastic event at Gillespie Field as soon as I get my photographs together!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Fun photos of the Mother Goose Parade!

Shriner clown gives high fives to crowd during the 2015 Mother Goose Parade in El Cajon, California.
Shriner clown gives high fives to crowd during the 2015 Mother Goose Parade in El Cajon, California.

The 69th Annual Mother Goose Parade was held today in El Cajon, out in San Diego’s East County.   The popular parade, which originated in 1947, is a highly-anticipated local tradition that marks the beginning of the holiday season.  This year the theme was super heroes, both fictional and real.

The Mother Goose Parade has become the second largest parade west of the Mississippi . . . and until today I’d never seen it in person! So I figured I had to go check it out! Here are a few fun photos…

Mother Goose Parade, A Celebration of Children, is the second largest parade west of the Mississippi. It's celebrating its 69th anniversary this year!
Mother Goose Parade, A Celebration of Children, is the second largest parade west of the Mississippi. It’s celebrating its 69th anniversary this year!
A young boy hugs Mother Goose before the parade begins.
A young boy hugs Mother Goose before the parade begins.
And here comes a live goose! It was honking in a friendly way, much to the delight of everybody.
And here comes a live goose! It was honking in a friendly way, much to the delight of everybody.
Kids gravitated toward the goose. It gravitated toward some offered food.
Kids gravitated toward the goose. It gravitated toward some offered food.
Dave Scott from KUSI News was introducing television viewers to Mother Goose and Other Goose! It was the funniest thing I saw all day!
Dave Scott from KUSI News was introducing television viewers to Mother Goose and “Other Goose”! It was the funniest thing I saw all day!
An inflatable Mother Goose balloon floats in the blue sky as the parade is ready to begin.
An inflatable Mother Goose balloon floats in the blue sky as the parade is ready to begin.
The Mother Goose Parade is underway! The fun annual tradition in San Diego's East County draws enormous crowds.
The Mother Goose Parade is underway! The fun annual tradition in San Diego’s East County draws enormous crowds.
These friendly guys on horseback are from the El Cajon Mounted Police.
These friendly guys on horseback are from the El Cajon Mounted Police.
Truck 6 of Heartland Fire and Rescue sounds its loud horn and siren as it passes by!
Truck 6 of Heartland Fire and Rescue sounds its loud horn and siren as it passes by!
A big, patriotic American Legion float in the Mother Goose Parade.
A big, patriotic American Legion float in the Mother Goose Parade.
The Boy Scouts parade the colors down Main Street in El Cajon.
The Boy Scouts parade the colors down Main Street in El Cajon.
The marching band of Christian High School in El Cajon provides stirring music during the parade.
The marching band of Christian High School in El Cajon provides stirring music during the parade.
Cal Fire had a huge bulldozer in the parade! Wildfire poses a big threat to San Diego's East County neighborhoods.
Cal Fire had a huge bulldozer in the parade! Wildfire poses a big threat to San Diego’s East County neighborhoods.
Families have gathered on a beautiful Saturday morning. Kids and adults watch the Mother Goose Parade, which this year has a super hero theme.
Families have gathered on a beautiful Saturday morning. Kids and adults watch the Mother Goose Parade, which this year has a super hero theme.
The Lions Club showcased America's true super heroes--those who serve to defend our freedom.
The Lions Club showcased America’s true super heroes–those who serve to defend our freedom.
Kids wave from a float dedicated to raising awareness about childhood cancer.
Kids wave from a float dedicated to raising awareness about childhood cancer.
A bunch of wacky clowns following the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine made lots of people smile.
A bunch of wacky clowns following the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine made lots of people smile.
This equestrian group had superhero horses! Now I've seen everything!
This equestrian group had superhero horses! Now I’ve seen everything!
And at the end of the parade, as always, there was Santa Claus. He seems to be enjoying the sunny Southern California day. Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!
And at the end of the parade, as always, there was Santa Claus. The jolly old elf and Mrs. Claus seem to be enjoying the sunny Southern California day. Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!

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