Young Minds Take Flight At The Vermilion Airport

The skies may have remained calm on November 10, but excitement was certainly soaring as the Vermilion River Flying Club welcomed children from the Vermilion Play Development Kids Korner and Kinder Care programs for an educational and interactive visit to the Vermilion Airport.

The field trip was thoughtfully designed to suit the young learners, who ranged in age from four to six. Split into small groups, the children rotated through several activity stations, each introducing a different aspect of aviation and airport operations.

Upon arrival, the students were greeted by club member and weather specialist Darcy Balaneski, who also works as a Flight Service Specialist at the Lloydminster Municipal Airport. They also met club member and Flight Instructor Erwin Warkentin, along with club member and pilot Larry Bingham. Each of the volunteers brought their unique aviation experience to life for the eager young visitors.

Balaneski explained the importance of weather reporting in aviation, along with the NOTAM alert system, which provides real-time updates on anything affecting airport or airspace operations. He described how NOTAMs can notify pilots about closed runways, unserviceable navigation aids such as faulty beacons, or obstacles like tower lights near airfields.

Warkentin followed by introducing the children to the many different roles within aviation. “We have pilots like Larry who fly for fun, I teach people how to fly, and Darcy teaches and also coordinates the activity between pilots and airports,” he told the group. “Then we have people who love aviation and help behind the scenes, like Roger, who is very skilled with computers. He looks after our Fly YVG website, which includes aviation information and articles. It takes a lot of work to keep it organized.”

Before heading into the hangars, Balaneski explained the purpose of the large buildings. “Kids, these big buildings are called hangars, and that is where we store airplanes,” he said.

Inside the hangar, Warkentin asked the children if they recognized any parts of the airplane, and many hands shot up with answers. Their enthusiasm grew as Warkentin and Bingham guided them around the aircraft, identifying components such as the windows, wings, and landing gear. When one child pointed out the wheels, Warkentin elaborated by explaining that not all aircraft use wheels. “Some planes have skis for winter, or floats for landing on water,” he said. This prompted a young visitor to ask if the plane before them could land in water. Bingham answered, “Not this one, but the green and white one over there can when it has its floats on in the summer.”

Another child drew attention to the “back wing,” giving Warkentin an opportunity to share more technical knowledge. “Bennett pointed out an important part,” he said enthusiastically. “At the back, there is a horizontal stabilizer, a vertical stabilizer, and a movable part called the elevator, which controls up-and-down motion. All together, those pieces make up what we call the empennage. Without it, the airplane would spin sideways or in circles, so it is a very important part.”

Balaneski and Bingham also demonstrated how the wing flaps move and explained how they help airplanes take off and land safely.

By the end of the tour, the young visitors had not only seen aircraft up close but also learned about the science and technology that make flight possible. Their curiosity and excitement were clear as they asked questions, pointed out details, and absorbed the world of aviation around them.

For the Vermilion River Flying Club, the day was about more than sharing knowledge. It was an opportunity to ignite a lifelong interest in aviation—one that may one day lead these young minds back to the skies.