I’VE BEEN HEARING for a long time that youth involvement in rocketry is in decline. After hearing a lot of discussion and reading through several threads on the discussion forums, I think I need to share a few thoughts. I wasn’t too aware of the problem until recently during some discussions in the chat room. The people I was talking with wanted to know what I thought would help the major organizations interest kids. It took me a lot of thought, but finally I came up with my answer.

I’m not a member of any of the big national organizations, because they can offer very little to me until I turn 18 (in just under 3 years). Sure, I’ll get the nifty magazine, but I can order that separately. Other than certification and supporting clubs I don’t see that they are doing anything. Not that I am anti-NAR or anti-TRA, so don’t take me wrong. It’s just like one of the chatters said; ‘the youth of today want something substantial, more bang for the buck’.

At first I thought that this was a problem, and maybe it is, but the answer isn’t national programs, at least none that I have heard of. The answer is for the youth who are already in rocketry to introduce others to this hobby.

When I got my start in rocketry I attended a local rocket camp that taught me how to build my first rocket and helped me fly it. I now do most of the instructing at that camp (which has helped over 350 kids build their first rocket, for FREE), and have surpassed my once-teachers, now supervisors, in rocketry skill and knowledge, mainly because of their own guidance. While most people don’t have such a wonderful system already in place (and let me tell you that it is a wonderful system!) you can have an impact.

What made the introduction to rocketry fun to me was not so much the actual building or even my fascination with space flight, but the people I was with and the helpful, friendly attitude of my instructors. The national rocketry organizations we have today, no matter how many helpful publications or cool looking (and informative) magazines they publish, will never be able to give that type of one-on-one rocketry mentorship. These in themselves are great, and should always be improved on, but that isn’t the whole solution.

If you are an adult, I hope that you will take a young rocketeer, or a group of them, under your supervision and help them through their early years. At a certain point you will probably find that you are not as much of an adult supervisor, but more of a friend flying with a friend.

My father has been probably the most important figure in my “rocketry career” so far. He has never flown a rocket, and I often have to slow down and explain it again to him, but he has always been there for transportation, advice on materials, encouragement, and help on basically everything imaginable. He is the one that makes my hobby possible. There are many out there who need help from an adult, and you can do it.

If you’re a teen like me, you can also help out. In fact you can probably help out as much or more, in other ways. Many teenagers these days, myself included, have become fascinated with high power rocketry long before they can certify. This tends to drag us away from younger flyers who are just getting started. Try to remember the influence you have. Younger kids tend to look up to “us old teenagers”. If you are going to a launch, ask a young friend to come with you. Let them push the button on a few flights, advise their parents on how safe the hobby is (and where to get a good starter kit), and keep checking back in the future and giving them advice. You might just get them to one launch, or you might spark a flame of interest in a hobby that can last them a lifetime.

That kind of friendship is what makes rocketry fun. My favorite rocketry experience ever was not my first launch, when I tripped and slid in the mud just as I was about to catch my Estes Hijax, or my first mid-power flight (I can still smell that F62!), or my first high power flight (thanks to all of you helpful adult “supervisors” for the help on that! ), but getting to meet other people who share my passion when I attended LDRS XVIII this summer.

Sport rocketry is by nature a group activity. If you fly alone for long you will soon fizzle out (I know, I’ve almost been there). But if you find a group, you’ll have tons of fun. And if you share that with someone for the first time, I think you’ll enjoy that look in their eyes more than the best flight you’ve seen. Now go out there and make a difference!