Maine ACE Camp is adding a third location for this summer and will be based out of the Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM) in Sanford. Former ACE camp student and now owner of Pine Tree Helicopters out of SFM, Parker Montano, along with Sue Tholen and Rob Montgomery are spearheading the new camp.
The new camp, Maine ACE Camp Seacoast, will be a day camp for ages 12 to 16 and will be held August 9 – 12. Campers will be introduced to many different fun aspects of aviation, both military and civilian. They learn through classroom instruction, hands on activities, and many field trips. Weather permitting; campers will get to fly in at least one general aviation airplane during the week.
The other two Maine ACE Camps are ACE Camp Midcoast, located at Brunswick Executive Airport and ACE Camp North, located in Eddington, Maine near Bangor. Midcoast is a day camp similar to Seacoast and ACE Camp North is a over night camp.
Students who attend ACE camps have the fortunate opportunity to see up close and first-hand how the aviation system works from the inside looking out. They will tour many facilities and meet military and civilian experts who are willing to share their knowledge and experience about what it takes (and what NOT to do) to get into their career fields. This insight will enable them to prepare NOW for their future and plan their academic course accordingly based on their desired occupation. The U.S. aviation industry is the most advanced, safest and professional system in the world, and remains that way only because of the high standards each organization, business, and individual maintains. Below are some of the many aviation industry jobs – both military and civilian – that are in demand now and will be in the future:
Air traffic controllers Aircraft manufacturing Fixed base operator Aviation mechanics Flight attendants Ground attendant Airline pilots Passenger service agents Aircraft refueler Military pilots Flight dispatcher Crash Fire and Rescue Avionics specialists Airport manager Corporate pilots
Maine ACE Campers are supervised the entire week by a professional staff, consisting of Camp Coordinator, Director, Assistant Director, Lead Counselor, Counselors, and Chaperones. All staff members and chaperones have strong aviation backgrounds as general aviation pilots, commercial pilots, air traffic controllers, airframe and power plant technicians, and certified current Instrument and Flight Instructor ratings, both for land and sea aircraft.
