Workshop Requirements
This is to help understand the needs of children and adult participants in model airplane workshops. You can use this information if you are booking a workshop to see if your facility is optimal or not. You can also use these guidelines to determine how much help is required for your group. Also feel free to use this as a guideline if you are conducting workshops yourself. This document was written with Squirrel construction and flying in mind so adjustments may need to be made for other projects.
Facility for building:
a) Each participant needs about 25 wide by 20 inches deep of table space. That is about the same number of people at a table that would be appropriate for eating. They can be standing or sitting.
b) The room must be free of things that can be broken. It must be possible to fly an airplane in the room without concern for breaking anything.
c) Each participant must be close enough to the workshop facilitator to be able to see clearly the demonstration of the steps. This is generally about 15 feet or less unless there are some visual aids.
Facility for flying:
Indoor flying) They can fly in any room but a room of 25 x 25 foot is a minimum. I gymnasium or auditorium is better. The larger the better.
Outdoor flying) The wind must be less than 5km/h. Their must be an open space large enough to play baseball with no trees, roads, buildings or other hazards. It is the discretion of the workshop facilitator if the climate and location are suitable for the participants to fly.
Assistance:
For each 10 participants there will be at least one assistant. An assistant does not build an airplane, they pay attention to the directions and help participants with the steps. The workshop facilitator is counted as one. An assistant can be under 16 only if they have previous experience with modeling (at the discretion of the workshop facilitator).
Accompaniment:
Children under 12 or with the need for extra help need to be accompanied by one guardian who is at least 16. The person who is accompanied can participate in the workshop.
Duration:
The workshop facilitator needs a period of 2h with no disruptions by the host. One hour will be used for building and 1h for flying with continuity. No announcements, other meetings or any sources of distraction in the room. The workshops are better if they finish quickly. Lets fly not build!
Disruption:
No walkmans, radios, cell phones or other rudeness during the presentation of the steps. Late arrivals are only permitted at discretion of the facilitator.
Transportation of Airplanes:
In order for children to transport their airplanes home safely they should be asked to bring a shoebox that is at least 12.5 inches in length. Or any box that is at least 12.5" x 6.5" x 4".
Permissions:
Your volunteer and other workshop providers work hard in order to provide their services. It is desirable to have the right permissions from parents including permission to use photographs and videos taken during the workshop. This increases the reward for the providers because they can use the photos to share with others. It also helps the hobby propagate because when the pictures are shared it draws more interest in the activity (for both workshop leaders and participants).
Sample venues for flying
Jack Purcell Recreation Association, 320 Jack Purcell Lane, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2J5, Tel. 613-564-1050
YMCA, Argyle
Plant Community Centre, Somerset @ Preston
McNabb Community Centre, Ottawa
Ottawa Community Centres
Ottawa Private Schools
Ottawa Public Schools
Sample events
Squirrel Fun Fly at McNabb Community Centre, Ottawa
Mar 4, 2005, 6-7pm at McNabb (RSVP)
Description: An informal get together to try out any new planes and have some fun.
Squirrel Fun Fly at McNabb Community Centre, Ottawa
Feb 11, 2005, 6pm-7pm at McNabb (RSVP)
Description: An informal get together to try out any new planes and have some fun.
Rubber Powered Flight! (Level I: Introduction)
Feb 19, 2005, 1pm-3pm at Jack Purcell Recreation AssociationFeb 26, 2005, 1pm-3pm at Jack Purcell Recreation Association
March 26, 2005, 10am-Noon at Plant Recreation Centre
Description: Learn to build a rubber-powered sheet-balsa aircraft. The Squirrel (design by local Darcy Whyte) is easy to build and can fly in a gym or outdoors. Using white glue and pre-cut balsa parts, this aircraft can be assembled quickly. In an outdoor environment, it can fly for one minute and can easily cover 100 yards or more. Participants will be encouraged to set up for model building and repair at home. (A handout will be provided). For more information on rubber powered flight visit www.Rubber-Power.com
Audience: Children under 9 must be accompanied by someone 15 or older. (Accompaniment may register too).
