Flying Objects Kids Day

Flying Objects Kids Day

National Warplane Museum

Flying Objects is the National Warplane Museum’s hands-on STEM event designed to spark curiosity and introduce young people to aviation through interactive projects, demonstrations, and real aircraft encounters.

Hands-On Steam Activities

Participants explore the four elements of flight—Lift, Weight, Thrust, Drag—through stations such as:

• Build-and-fly kites
• Coffee-filter parachute drops
• Airplane chip-clip crafts
• Finger-painted “planet” art with rockets/airplanes
• Wooden glider assembly and flight
• Children’s book reading: Duffy’s First Plane Ride
• Scavenger hunt throughout the museum
• Guided walk through vintage aircraft exhibits

Live Aircraft Demonstrations

Every 30 minutes, a “Flying Object” arrives: landing, taxiing in, and greeting visitors. Kids can meet pilots, ask questions, and see aircraft up close—often for the first time.

Expected participants include:

• Finger Lakes Soaring Club – static glider & tow-in flight
• Rochester Flyers – hang-glider, paraglider, potentially powered ultralight
• National Guard – helicopter display
• Local rocket, drone, UFO, and model airplane clubs
• Cornell Cooperative Extension with STEM programming

Community Engagement

• MOOG volunteers host a paper-airplane design contest.
• NWM volunteers support craft tents and activity stations.
• Giveaways include kites, balloons, frisbees, and Red Wings goodies.
• Families can enter a drawing for two 2026 Geneseo Airshow tickets by completing a short event survey.

Event Logistics

• Date: Saturday, May 30
• Time: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
• Location: National Warplane Museum, Geneseo, NY
• Audience: Families, especially children ages 4–10
• Admission: Reduced-rate entry to keep the event accessible; pre-registration required
  • Adults: $10.00
  • Kids (Ages 4-18): $6.00
• Weather: Activities move indoors/tented if needed

Why It Matters

Flying Objects brings accessible, aviation-centered education to a rural region where many families cannot attend large aviation events. With local poverty rates as high as 17.7% and many schoolchildren receiving free lunch, this program offers an affordable entry point into aviation and STEM learning. It also strongly appeals to the Greater Rochester Homeschool Community, which values interactive, low-cost educational experiences.