Accotink Bay District Flight School

August 22, 2026 | Gunston Hall
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Featuring: Model Rocket Launch

Accotink Bay District is pleased to welcome Scouts and units to our 2026 Flight School.

Scouts will have the opportunity to work on the Aviation and Space Exploration merit badges, learn from knowledgeable instructors, and participate in a model rocket launch. Flight School is designed to help Scouts better understand, appreciate, and become excited about the aircraft and spacecraft that have transformed our world.

Registration

Registration: $45 per Scout
Late Registration Fee: $65 per Scout (starts Sat 07-25-2026)

Event Schedule

Check-in begins at 8:30 am Please note that restroom facilities will not be available until 9:30 am.

The event will begin promptly at 9:00 am and will consist of two three-hour merit badge sessions:

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: First merit badge session

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.: Lunch

1:00 – 4:00 p.m.: Second merit badge session

Scouts will participate in one Aviation merit badge session and one Space Exploration merit badge session.

All participants must check out before leaving the event.

Merit Badge Prerequisites

Scouts should complete all assigned prerequisite work before Flight School to have the best opportunity to complete both merit badges during the event.

Scouts who do not complete all prerequisites may still attend and participate. However, they may not complete the merit badge that day and will need to follow up with a merit badge counselor at a later date.

Aviation Merit Badge Prerequisites

The 2026 Accotink Bay District Flight School Aviation Merit Badge Workbook is included as an attachment.

Scouts should download the workbook, complete the assigned prerequisite sections, and bring all completed work to Flight School. The workbook summarizes the Aviation merit badge requirements and identifies which requirements should be completed at home and which are planned as group activities during the event.

Aviation Reference Materials

Scouts may use the following free resources when completing the workbook:

Aviation Merit Badge Pamphlet
https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/Merit_Badge_ReqandRes/Pamphlets/Aviation.pdf

Current Aviation Merit Badge Requirements
https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/aviation/

Aviation Digital Resource Guide
With a parent’s or guardian’s permission, review:
https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/digital-resource-guides/aviation/

The Digital Resource Guide includes selected readings and videos about different types of aircraft and their uses. It also reviews the Aviation merit badge requirements.

Flight School Aviation Workbook

Using the Aviation Merit Badge pamphlet or Digital Resource Guide, complete the attached workbook sections for:

• Requirement 1(a)
• Requirement 1(b)
• Requirement 1(c)
• Requirement 1(d)
• Requirement 1(h)
• Requirement 5(e)

Requirement 3(a): Flight Simulator

With your parent’s or guardian’s permission, complete Requirement 3(a):

Using a flight simulator software package, set a course and fly the headings you have established with a successful takeoff and landing.

Prepare a brief report describing your experience and include screen captures from the flight simulator.

Free flight simulator options include:

• GeoFS
• FlightGear
• Infinite Flight

These may be used in addition to the Microsoft flight simulator recommendation in the merit badge pamphlet.

Requirement 4: Aviation Visit

With assistance from your parent or guardian, complete one of the following and prepare a brief report describing your experience:

1. Visit an airport. Report on how the facilities are used, how runways are numbered, and how runways are determined to be active.
2. Visit a Federal Aviation Administration facility, such as an Airport Traffic Control Tower, Terminal Radar Approach Control facility, Air Route Traffic Control Center, or Flight Standards District Office. Report on the operation and your impressions of the facility.
3. Visit a military aviation facility. Learn how the facility supports defense and/or civilian activities. Report on its operation and your impressions.
4. Visit an aviation museum or attend an air show. Report on your impressions and what you learned from the experience.

What to Bring for Aviation

Bring the following materials to Flight School for review with your merit badge counselor:

• Completed Aviation Merit Badge Workbook
• Flight simulator report
• Flight simulator screen captures
• Requirement 4 visit report

Flight School activities will address the remaining Aviation requirements identified in the workbook as being completed during the event.

Space Exploration Merit Badge Prerequisites

Scouts should review the official Scouting America resources for the latest Space Exploration Merit Badge requirements, merit badge pamphlet, and digital resources.

There have been minor updates to the merit badge requirements since last year and a new version of the merit badge pamphlet has been posted.

Please complete all items listed on the Flight School Space Exploration worksheet before the event. The worksheet contains only the prerequisites assigned for Flight School, so every item on the worksheet should be completed.

Using this workbook, complete requirements #2, 5, 7, and 8.

Bring this completed workbook to the Flight School event.  Be sure to include your name! 

Prerequisites workbook for Space Exploration

Although there have been minor changes to the official merit badge requirements since 2025, those changes should not substantially affect the Flight School worksheet.

Please bring your completed worksheet to the event and be prepared to discuss your work with your merit badge counselor.

Flight School activities will address the remaining Space Exploration merit badge requirements that are not assigned as prerequisites.

What to Bring

The event will be conducted outdoors, so participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

Recommended items include:

• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Refillable water bottle
• Completed merit badge worksheets and reports
• Packed lunch

Class B uniforms, including troop T-shirts, are appropriate given the expected weather and outdoor setting.

Lunch and Water

Lunch will not be provided. All participants should bring a packed lunch.

Water jugs will be available for refilling water bottles.

Parents, Older Scouts, and Volunteers

Parents and older Scouts who are not participating in the merit badge program are encouraged to remain on site and help during the event.

Additional volunteers will help the program run more smoothly and are greatly appreciated.

We are especially seeking:

• Registered Aviation merit badge counselors
• Registered Space Exploration merit badge counselors
• Pilots
• Engineers
• Aerospace professionals
• Model rocket enthusiasts
• Other volunteers with relevant experience

Please let the Flight Team know in advance if you are available to help, or speak with event staff during check-in.

Weather

Because Flight School is an outdoor event, it may be canceled in the event of severe weather.

Registered participants will be notified as soon as possible if cancellation becomes necessary.