The World Center for Paper Airplane Learning a 501.c.3
our mission: STEM education
New science standards present new opportunities to use paper airplanes as a way to explore basic science and engineering. It's not enough to simply recite the steps of the scientific method. We're doing science and presenting engineering challenges. By partnering with educational instutions across the country, we're providing hands-on learning that's simple to facilitate and inexpensive in material costs.
Since engineering is usually an iterative process, paper airplanes are ideal. Many planes can be made in a relatively short amount of time at a very low cost. This affords the opportunity to test ideas and create solutions. The National Paper Airplane Contest presents three engineering challenges that can all have wildly different success tracks. Strategy is a big factor. Looking critcally at previous paper airplane designs is important. Innovation is important. Getting the basics right is a requirement.
Paper airplanes are a fun path for discovering why the system of science works. They provide an instant engineering task: making a flying machine from very modest resources.
OUTREACH
Every day, we're teaching thousands to love the science of flight with paper airplanes. Through personal appearances, web based learning, and published works, WCPAL is reaching millions of people. We've reached every country on the planet. We're reaching more people every day.
Working with museums, libraries and schools insures that cost is never a barrier to providing high quality STEM programs for all students. Material costs are low and the quality of our programs is very high. Learning happens during the fun. And it happens for free when teachers use our resources.
John has personally provided programs for incarcerated youth, because he believes we don't have any spare brains on the planet. A tiny nudge at the right moment can create a huge trajectory shift. It's true whether in space or in a classroom; where ever that class might be. Paper airplanes have the power to inspire in every environment.
WHY HAVE A CONTEST?
It's fun to get a bunch of paper airplane enthusiasts together! Competition fosters innovation. The events are designed to favor brains more than brawn. The Fly for Fun days lay the ground work and provide STEM education. The contest fees help WCPAL keep providing programs. It's that simple. We want to give our services to our education partners. In order to do that, a friendly competition with a modest entry fee helps. We rely on contest fees and donations to keep this bird flying.
Just like the first international paper airplane contest that inspired generations of paper pilots, our annual, national contest will give wings to dreams of flight. Finally, there will be one national standard for contests around the country, with an associated database of current records and winning designs.