Scouting & Youth Groups

Take a Memorable and Fun trip with your Troop!

Whether you are looking to complete a Merit Badge or simply enjoy a memorable outing with your troop, the Military Aviation Museum has a great program for you! We have several offerings specifically created to support Scouts and other similar youth groups in their visits to the Museum. Each of our programs gives scouts a great opportunity to learn about the history of aviation, hear stories of the incredible pilots who took to the skies during World War I and World War II, and discover the science of flight. Because our planes are not behind barriers they offer an unparalleled experience for Scouts and young people eager to explore these larger-than-life artifacts.

Take the Tour

Booking a tour is the perfect way to ensure a private experience for your group. A museum docent will lead your troop through our Hangars. Tours last for around 2 hours, with adjustments possible to fit your schedule.

Tours: Minimum of 5 Scouts | STEM Labs: Minimum of 10 Scouts

Learn about the bombers and flighters that changed the course of the Second World War. From the European to Pacific Theater, hear the stories of the daring pilots, technological advances, and strategies used to dominate the skies.

Visit the Goxhill Watch Office, brought to Virginia Beach from England, and see artifacts representative of life on an airfield during World War II. In the Cottbus German Luftwaffe hangar, brought to Virginia Beach from Germany, see experimental German aircraft overhead alongside aircraft flown by the German Air Force during WWII.

Explore our World War I hangar and learn about the biplanes and triplanes that took
to the skies at the start of the 20th century.

  • Parachute Physics: Explore how parachutes use drag to safely bring paratroopers to the ground before designing and building your own parachute to test.
  • Forces of Flight: Dive into the science of flight through a series of hands on experiments that demonstrate how planes fly through the sky.
  • Navigation: Put your navigation skills to the test as you practice reading and using a map to plot your flight path.
  • Code Breaker: Learn about the Navajo and Choctaw Code Talkers, the Enigma Machine, Morse Code, and ciphers as Scouts race to break the codes to save a plane from enemy sabotage in this escape room inspired activity.
  • Tanks and Armored Planes: Learn about the development of basic armor plating used in airplanes and vehicles between WWI and WWII. Then use your engineering skills to build an armored object to protect your cargo during various experiments including a long drop.

Earn a Merit Badge

Join our certified Merit Badge counselors in an all-day program to earn your Aviation Merit Badge or one of the others on offer. Each merit badge program makes use of a historical theme to lead scouts from one badge requirement to the next, ensuring that the program remains fun and engaging for all its participants! Our merit badge programs are not limited to Scouts BSA, and while those are the requirements that will be covered in the program, other youth groups may book this program.
Merit Badge Minimum: 10 Scouts

The Aviation, Collections, and Public Speaking Merit Badges are offered as an On-Demand Program throughout the year.

  • Aviation: Complete a pre-flight inspection on a World War II Warbird, learn about the controls used by pilots, build and test model gliders, and learn about aviation careers.
  • Collections: Learn how to preserve, display, and label a collection while learning about the importance of the Military Aviation Museum’s collection of warbirds and artifacts.
  • Public Speaking: Go on a tour of the Museum’s warbird collection and learn the skills the trained docents have to speak to the public using different facial expressions and emphasis on personal stories. After your tour, aviation enthusiasts are able to pick out a warbird or artifact to research and design an eight to ten minute speech about the object.
  • Cadette Girl Scouts, Public Speaking Badge: Learn about the Women who helped the war effort during World War II, from the WASPS, WACS, WAVES, to Rosie the Riveter. Pick an important woman from World War II to research then design a five to ten minute speech to teach us about your choice or act out a part of their life.
  • Junior Girl Scouts: Playing the Past Badge: Journey back in time to when the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) served the United States during World War II. Become a WASPs for the day by dressing in aviator gear, taking a special guided tour that highlights the role of female pilots, preform a pre-flight inspection on a warbird, and take to the skies on our flight simulators.
  • Brownies: Mechanical Engineering, Fling Flyer Design Challenge: Supplies are provided, all you need is your engineering skills. Tours of the Museum are included in the program. You do not have to be a Brownie troop to participate in this activity, just bring your interest in building Fling Flyers.

Spend A Night at the Museum

Experience the Military Aviation Museum like never before…at night! Join us for an evening of after-dark tours and STEM activities then end the night sleeping in one of our climate controlled exhibit halls. Overnights are perfect for Girl Scouts, Brownies, BSA Scouts, Cub Scouts, Trail Life USA, and American Heritage Girls.

  • Overnights require a minimum of 25 Scouts and must observe a ratio of 1 adult to 5 Scouts. Overnights are available from Labor Day to June 15.
  • Time will be set aside for meals provided by the Scout troops, food and drinks are not provided by the Museum.
  • A $500 deposit must be submitted within 10 days of making your reservation in order to hold your date.
  • Overnights are available on Friday nights and run into Saturday mornings.
  • Sleeping bags & Air Mattresses
  • Flash Lights
  • Food and Drinks
  • No gas lanterns
  • No smoking
  • Doors will be locked at night, after 11pm it will not be possible to re-enter the building.
  • Food is not supplied during Overnights

6:00 – 6:30 pm: Arrive and Stow Gear
6:15 – 6:45 pm: Dinner supplied by Troop
7:00 – 8:00 pm: Tour the WWII Collection
8:00 – 9:00 pm: Hands-On Activities and Crafts at the Museum
9:00 – 10:00 pm: Flash Light Tours of WWI Hangar
10:00 – 10:30 pm: Story Time – share your aviation stories and we will share ours
10:30-11:00 pm: Bed Time
11:00 pm: Lights Out
7:00-7:45 am: Wake Up, Breakfast supplied by Troop
7:45-8:4 5am: Pack Up
8:45 am: Depart

Pricing

  • Tours: $6.00 per Scout, $13.00 per Leader/Chaperone plus tax / minimum of 5 Scouts
  • Tours with STEM Lab Activities: $15.00 per Scout, $18.00 per Leader/Chaperone / Minimum of
    10 Scouts
  • Badges: $20.00 per Scout / Minimum of 5 Scouts
  • Overnights: $40.00 per Scout, $20.00 per Chaperone / Minimum of 25 Scouts with a ratio of 1
    adult to 5 Scouts / only offered for Friday night into Saturday
  • Add a Merit Badge on to your overnight! Receive a discount of $5.00 per Scout when a Merit Badge program is added.

Reach our Educator to inquire about availability or to make a book by email at education@aviationmuseum.us or by calling 757.721.7767 and asking to speak with the Education Department.