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One of the Best Kept Secrets
By Pat Wesolowski” Pat Wesolowski 2002

Homeschooling parents are always on the lookout for opportunities that encourage their children in good character growth and leadership skills.
Although having children who excel academically is important to many, leadership skills are not gained simply by reading books on leadership, but rather by exposing children to opportunities that encourage the use of such skills. The Civil Air Patrol is an affordable program offered nationwide to children ages 12 and up.
Two and a half years ago my son (who is now 16) joined the Civil Air Patrol. He joins a group that meets together one evening a week at the local airport. There are over 25,000 young people in Civil Air Patrol programs in the United States who participate in the cadet program. One of the five major program areas of the program is leadership training. As a child progresses through each achievement in the program they master items that are prescribed for that particular achievement. In addition to leadership skills the cadets also learn all about search and rescue and aeronautics. They are given opportunities to assist in actual emergencies as well as going up in an airplane and, eventually, learning to fly a plane if they desire.
Should a child plan to enter the military then if he earns the Mitchell award then he enters the army already ranked as an E3. Every student who has completed the Mitchell award that has applied to the Air Force Academy has been accepted. Perhaps you are not interested in your child pursuing a military career, don't let that stop you from looking into the Civil Air Patrol program. My son, when he first enrolled in Civil Air Patrol, was not at all interested in "school work" or studying. He is very good with his hands and was already skilled in both construction and automotive work. Assigning pages to be read, essays to be written, and speeches to be prepared was like pulling teeth until he joined the Civil Air Patrol.
All of a sudden David's nose was in a book absorbing information that I could barely understand (I know because I helped him study for a test).
In addition he was motivated to write essays and to give speeches in order to achieve the next award. The best part is that he was self-motivated, relieving me from being concerned about him keeping up with assignments.
He achieved the Mitchell award before he turned 16 and has been promoted to Flight Commander of his squadron. David has a friend, Richard, who is a homeschooled young man that is equally motivated to excel and, in addition to the Civil Air Patrol program, he is pursuing a career in flying. He hopes to take his first solo flight before he turns 16 this December.
If you have children who enjoy the outdoors, might be interested in search and rescue, want to be able to go up in an airplane, then I suggest you find the Civil Air Patrol program located closest to you!
Look in the white pages under Civil Air Patrol, or in the yellow pages under airports. If you cannot find a listing, the call the local airport or the armed services office in your town. Check out the website at www.cap.gov if you have access to the Internet. The cost is less than $100 per year (much less in some areas) and the program is open to all children ages 12 (or who have completed 6th grade) and up. Let's not keep this program a secret spread the word!

Pat Wesolowski, wife of Don for 28+ years, mother of nine children (ages 4 - 21, with one married), has been homeschooling for 16+ years. She co-edits a newsletter entitled BIG Ideas/Small Budget and has written several books for homeschoolers including the "Information, Please!" series that teaches research skills, a Civil War Unit Study and a unit study called Inventors, Inventions and Entrepreneurs. Pat was also asked to take part in the video series entitled "How to Homeschool: K-3." She has been interviewed numerous times on the radio and loves to speak at curriculum fairs and to support groups. Pat is a firm believer that homeschooling does not have to be a stressful experience in order to be a successful experience.