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[CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, IL / JULY 21, 2026] Approximately 30 high school students spent the morning of July 11 exploring aircraft, meeting aerospace and aviation professionals and taking to the skies during the culminating event of the Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) Aviation Summer Sampler Camp at St. Louis Downtown Airport. The airport visit marked the conclusion of a three-day immersive camp designed to introduce students to the wide range of career opportunities available throughout the aerospace and aviation industry.
Coordinated by ROE40, Southwestern Illinois College, the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) and Women in Aviation, the camp connected students with aviation professionals and educators through hands-on learning experiences, industry presentations and career exploration activities. Throughout the week, students learned about avionics, flight simulators, machining, aviation maintenance, drones and engineering while interacting with industry professionals. The experience was designed to showcase not only piloting careers, but also the many technical, engineering, maintenance and operational roles that support the industry.
During the final day at St. Louis Downtown Airport, students viewed aircraft up close, learned about airport operations and aircraft rescue and firefighting, explored careers with aviation organizations and experienced discovery flights in small aircraft. For many campers, the discovery flight was their first opportunity to fly in the cockpit of a small aircraft, and some of them got to take their flight in a Lancair aircraft previously flown across the Atlantic Ocean by Erik Lindbergh, grandson of Charles Lindbergh. The aircraft is now operated by AeroCareers to help inspire students during these types of outreach events.
"I came in here not knowing anything about aviation, but now I'm starting to like it. I can see myself doing something in this field," said Rashawn Williams, a student from Belleville East High School. "If you're interested in aviation, this is definitely the camp for you."
Alijah Smith, a student at O'Fallon (Ill.) High School, was one of the first-time flyers and was thrilled he got to push the throttle in during the flight. But he said the experience was about more than just the flight, opening his eyes to the countless opportunities available in the industry. "Earlier this week I also got to do the flight simulators, some machining, carved out a name plate, did some soldering and ran a jet engine," Smith said. "It's really inspirational. It shows you a lot of job opportunities and helps you figure out what you want to do."
Amber Young, a student from Belleville East High School, described the camp as a transformative experience. "This was probably one of the best experiences of my life," Young said. "Even though it was only three days, it felt like it was three months." Young also encouraged other students, particularly young women, to explore opportunities in aviation. "You meet a lot of people and make a lot of connections," she said. "Women have a huge future in aviation. I just had my first discovery flight and that fulfilled my childhood dream and I just know others can do it too."
Students also had opportunities on the airport grounds to speak directly with representatives from organizations including AeroCareers, Ideal Aviation, STL Flight Training, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., the Space Force/Air Force, the U.S. Navy and Southwestern Illinois College about educational pathways and career options within the industry. The airport visit offered a unique opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world careers and equipment.
"I've learned a lot about not just flying, but all the different aspects of aviation and had a lot of fun doing it and made a lot of connections," said Syndney Roth, a senior at Cor Jesu Academy. She got to take her second discovery flight and was able to take control for a little bit in the air, which she said was really fun.
Ethan Baldwin of Belleville West High School said the camp helped him identify a career path that best matched his interests. "It's been amazing," Baldwin said. "I learned I don't want to fly but I really like avionics and all the systems in the planes. It teaches you all the little niches in aviation."
Camp organizers said one of the primary goals of events like this is to help students see the incredible range of opportunities that exist within aerospace and aviation and connect those opportunities to their own interests and talents. "Whether a student leaves interested in flying, engineering, maintenance, manufacturing, technology or another specialty, we consider that a success," said Dr. Kelly Remijan, camp coordinator and STEM Outreach Assistant for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) St. Louis Section. Remijan added, "The enthusiasm we saw throughout the camp reinforces the value of bringing educators, industry partners and aviation organizations together to inspire the next generation of professionals."
St. Louis Downtown Airport Director Sandra Shore said events like the Aviation Summer Sampler Camp play an important role in introducing youth to an industry facing workforce shortages. "For many students, this is much more than a field trip; it's the moment aviation becomes real," Shore said. "When they step into a cockpit or take the controls in the air, talk with industry professionals and see the incredible variety of careers available, they begin to picture themselves in those roles. That's why these experiences matter. They inspire dreams, open doors and help cultivate the next generation of aviation and aerospace professionals our industry so desperately needs."
St. Louis Downtown Airport is owned and operated by Bi-State Development and is located just east of downtown St. Louis on approximately 1,000 acres in the Illinois municipalities of Cahokia Heights and Sauget.
About Bi-State Development
Bi-State Development (BSD) owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport and the Gateway Arch Riverboats, as well as operates the Gateway Arch Revenue Collections Center and Gateway Arch trams. BSD is the operator of Metro Transit, the main public transportation system in eastern Missouri and southwestern Illinois. The Metro Transit operation includes the 46-mile MetroLink light rail system serving 38 stations in the two-state area; a MetroBus vehicle fleet of approximately 237 clean-burning diesel buses and 24 battery-electric buses; and Metro Call-A-Ride, a paratransit fleet of 123 vans. BSD also operates the St. Louis Regional Freightway, the region's freight district.
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