Discovery Flights at St. Louis Downtown Airport Cap Off Three Days of Aviation Exploration for St. Louis-Area High School Students

30 students explore aviation careers at Cahokia Heights Camp.

Staff Report

Jul 22, 2026 10:22 AM

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CAHOKIA HEIGHTS - Approximately 30 high school students spent the morning of July 11, 2026, at St. Louis Downtown Airport in Cahokia Heights exploring aircraft, meeting aviation professionals and taking discovery flights as part of the final day of the Southwestern Illinois College Aviation Summer Sampler Camp, a three-day program aimed at introducing students to careers across the aerospace and aviation industry.

The airport visit concluded the camp, which was coordinated by ROE40, Southwestern Illinois College, the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy and Women in Aviation. Organizers said the program was designed to connect students with educators and industry professionals through hands-on learning, presentations and career exploration activities.

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Throughout the week, students learned about avionics, flight simulators, machining, aviation maintenance, drones and engineering. The camp also was intended to highlight technical, engineering, maintenance and operational roles in addition to piloting.

On the final day, students viewed aircraft up close, learned about airport operations and aircraft rescue and firefighting, explored careers with aviation organizations and took discovery flights in small aircraft. For many students, it was their first opportunity to fly in the cockpit of a small aircraft. Some took their flights in a Lancair aircraft previously flown across the Atlantic Ocean by Erik Lindbergh, grandson of Charles Lindbergh. The aircraft is now operated by AeroCareers for 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 High School, said the experience broadened his view of 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, called the camp “probably one of the best experiences of my life.”

“Even though it was only three days, it felt like it was three months,” Young said.

She also encouraged other students, especially young women, to consider aviation.

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“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 met with representatives from AeroCareers, Ideal Aviation, STL Flight Training, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., the Space Force/Air Force, the U.S. Navy and Southwestern Illinois College to discuss educational pathways and career options.

“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.

Ethan Baldwin of Belleville West High School said the camp helped him refine 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 a primary goal was to help students identify opportunities in aerospace and aviation that match their 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 St. Louis Section. “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 programs such as the camp are important as the industry faces 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, owned and operated by Bi-State Development, is located just east of downtown St. Louis on approximately 1,000 acres in the Illinois municipalities of Cahokia Heights and Sauget.