Pearson Field Education Center
Established2013
Location201B E Reserve St, Vancouver, WA 98661
Coordinates45°37′21″N 122°39′16″W / 45.6225°N 122.6545°W / 45.6225; -122.6545
TypeScience, technology, engineering, and mathematics
DirectorJulia Cannell
Public transit accessC-Tran
WebsitePearson Field Education Center

The Pearson Field Education Center[1] (PFEC) is an educational facility for young people ages kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12). It is located in Pearson Field, Vancouver, Washington. The center provides programs in aviation-based science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) with an emphasis on hands-on experiences.

History

PFEC began in the spring of 2013 as a program of the Fort Vancouver National Trust.[2]

Pearson Field is the oldest continuously operating airfield in the Pacific Northwest and one of the two oldest continuously operating airfields in the United States, receiving recognition on September 8, 2012[3] as an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Historic Aerospace Site.[4]

Dating back to Lincoln Beachey's landing of the Dirigible Gelatine in 1905, Pearson Field was used as a spruce mill for aircraft parts during WWI by the US Army.[5] Established as a forest patrol base in 1921, the site soon became home to regular army flights.[6] Reserve fliers from the region began training with the 321st Observation Squadron from 1923 until the squadron was placed on active service in 1941.[7] In 1937, first non-stop transpolar flight by the Russian ANT-25 touched down on Pearson Field due to an engine oil leak.[8][9]

In September 2022, Pearson Field Education Center began operation under Airway Science for Kids.[10]

Programs

PFEC's programs are designed to build a foundational understanding of STEM principles critical to flight. PFEC's goal is to teach hands-on skills like understanding of materials and methods used in civil construction, first-hand flight experience, as well as providing educational, vocational and career opportunities in STEM and aviation related fields.

Current programs include school-age field trips, educational outreach, Scout merit badge programs, Open Cockpit Day, college and career fairs, and aviation connected summer camps. Annually updated summer camp options have included model rocketry builds and launches, model R/C aircraft builds and flights, model glider builds and flights, and supervised flight time in an aircraft.

Regular celebrations of historic Pearson aviators and aviatrixes including Leah Hing,[11] Edith "Eddie" Foltz Sterns[12] and others[13] are held to foster an empowering and motivational spirit amongst young people participating in PFEC programs.

Facility

Programs of PFEC are delivered in a 5,700 square foot hangar, on adjacent outdoor grass areas, on and above Pearson Field, on nearby Officers Row, in classrooms of schools in the area, and at partner organizations. The PFEC hangar includes selected historic aircraft and artifacts supporting curriculum, a simulator lab, hands-on skill building, tool and materials areas, and a classroom environment.

Summer camp programs may include tours of the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon.

References

  1. ↑ https://pearsonfieldeducation.org/. Archived 2017-10-06 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ "The Historic Trust | Historic Properties in Vancouver WA & Clark County".
  3. ↑ AIAA Historic Aero Space Site Ceremony. (September 14, 2012). City of Vancouver, WA. Retrieved March 14, 2015 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCG250MBYBk).
  4. ↑ Springer, Emily. (n.d.). AIAA Historic Aerospace Sites. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Retrieved March 14, 2015 (http://www.aiaa.org/HistoricAerospaceSites/).
  5. ↑ Road, Mailing Address: 800 Hatheway; Vancouver, Bldg 722; Us, WA 98661 Phone: 360 816-6230 Contact. "Pearson Field - Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ "Pearson Field - Clark County: A history". Clark County History. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  7. ↑ "History Of Pearson Field In Vancouver, WA". Pearson Field Education Center. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  8. ↑ Road, Mailing Address: 800 Hatheway; Vancouver, Bldg 722; Us, WA 98661 Phone: 360 816-6230 Contact. "Pearson Field - Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ "Pearson Field - Clark County: A history". Clark County History. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  10. ↑ "History Of Pearson Field In Vancouver, WA". Pearson Field Education Center. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  11. ↑ Leah Hing. (n.d.). Fort Vancouver National Trust. Retrieved March 14, 2015 (http://fortvan.org/images/Pearson/Educational_PDFs/Hing.pdf).
  12. ↑ Edith "Eddie" Foltz Sterns. (n.d.). Fort Vancouver National Trust. Retrieved March 14, 2015 (http://fortvan.org/images/Pearson/Educational_PDFs/Foltz.pdf).
  13. ↑ Pearson Field History. (n.d.). Fort Vancouver National Trust. Retrieved March 14, 2015 (http://www.fortvan.org/pfec-history.html).
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