Kids on the Block partners with Aviation Heritage Park to teach kids about pilots

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Kentucky Kids on the Block is partnering with the Aviation Heritage Park for a unique way to teach kids about all the pilots that are featured inside the museum.

“It actually started with Wendel Strode, he’s a friend with the people from Kids on the Block, and he said ‘Have you ever thought about reaching out to them?’ I thought what a great opportunity that would be. I’ve looked at all of the work that they do in our community to reach kids… what better ambassador for kids could we have than the puppets from Kids on the Block?,” Aviation Heritage Park director Bob Bubnis says.

Bubnis was the one who reached out to Kids on the Block with the idea for this partnership.

“He wanted an experience for children when they come in, and the kids are already used to seeing us at their schools. They love when the puppets come, and so it’s just a fun and exciting way for kids to learn about aviation and flight and space. So we thought it would be a great idea,” director of programs and lead puppeteer with KOTB Amanda Guerra says.

There are many different screens around the museum part of the Park, and the goal is that when kids go up to these screens, they’re able to push a button and a new video starts teaching them about a pilot they might not have known about otherwise.

“Her name is Willa Beatrice Brown, and she was the first African American woman in the U.S. to earn a commercial pilot’s license, so she can fly all kinds of planes,” Melody tells Brenda in the video, as she describes who her role model is.

“One of our missions is to educate, inspire and engage… get people educated about what’s going on, inspiring them to do some great things with their life and get to work on it, right, get to work on your future… and the next thing I know, they came up with this fabulous presentation that really centered on role models… and I thought what a beautiful way to approach this topic,” Bubnis says.

He hopes this is just the beginning of what’s to come, as his vision is for every pilot featured in the museum to have their very own kid friendly video.

“The great thing about having interactive technology in a museum is you can always update it, and as the exhibits change, I’m hoping Kids on the Block will want to partner with us and keep these experiences fresh,” Bubnis says.

For Kids on the Block, it’s just another way to carry out their mission in the community and show kids they have the power to do anything they set their mind to.

“Kids need to know that it doesn’t matter where you come from, if you have a disability… If you want to do something and you set your heart to it, then you can achieve that… and so we thought that the collaboration would be great, and so we really did want to be a part of that,” Guerra says.