Massachusetts Air And Space Museum Education for Kids

The Problem

Many students living in Southeastern Massachusetts do not have access to affordable and timely travel options to visit the many STEM educational options offered to students in the greater Boston area.  Massachusetts Air And Space Museum is focused upon providing educational benefits derived from hands-on STEM experiences that it provides students.  Massachusetts Air And Space Museum (MASM) had exhibited at a STEM Expo sponsored by MassPort and the FAA for eight consecutive years.

Here is a quote from the MassPort web site from several years ago:

“The annual education expo gives students a chance to meet with some of the experts in aviation and maritime industries, along with representatives of government and academic institutions, to encourage them to pursue careers and educational opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

‘The Massport STEM Expo will help inspire students to pursue careers in some of the highest growth and highest wage employment categories in the Commonwealth,” said Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta, who was the guest speaker. “It is absolutely vital that the next generation of Massachusetts workers are able to come to the current job market with the skills necessary to access these careers. Thanks to Massport and all the employer partners at this event who are doing so much to connect our youth to great aviation and maritime related jobs.”

The Expo attracted an average of 2,000 students annualy, mostly from Boston and Greater Boston middle and high schools.  The Expo was set up in a Delta Airlines hangar at Logan.  Close to one hundred exhibitors including several universities, presented along with 50 aircraft (all of which were open to students) within the hangar.  MASM had become acutely aware of the transportation issues posed for Cape and Southeastern Massachusetts students.  Distance, traffic and travel time presented significant obstacles.  

MASM along with Barnstable Municipal Airport (now Cape Cod Gateway Airport, CCGA) collaborated in October of 2019 to present a similar Expo in terms of presentations and exhibits for Cape and Southeastern Massachusetts area students.  MASM covered most of the expenses for the day. It was titled, Southeastern Massachusetts Aviation Career Fair”.  The Fair attracted over thirty exhibitors including corporations, universities and government entities.  Over 400 students attended.  Covid restrictions prevented the holding of planned annual days for both 2020 and 2021.   

MASM was founded by a number of Massachusetts individuals.  One of them was Anne Bridge Baddour.  Anne spent most of her career as a pilot for MIT Lincoln Labs at Hanscom.  Her husband , Raymond Baddour was professor emeritus of chemical engineering at MIT.  Anne and her husband are significant donors of MASM.  Because of Anne's generosity MASM was able to open a museum in Hyannis in 2020.  She recorded her observation of the problem:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj8SXh

Some areas of Southeastern Massachusetts have non-white populations as high as 20% with many areas consisting of low to moderate income families.  Students from these areas deserve access to STEM opportunities.

The Solution:

MASM along with Barnstable Municipal Airport (now Cape Cod Gateway Airport) have committed to recreate its successful “Southeastern Massachusetts Aviation Career Fair” and make it an annual event.  The lessons learned from the very successful event of 2019 have been discussed during recent meetings between MASM and CCGA administrators. CCGA has again agreed to make its full terminal available for exhibitors.  CCGA will make parking areas available for school bus parking.  Outside ramp areas will allow the exhibition of aircraft and rescue equipment.  MASM will provide a large tent to allow arriving students and teachers to check in.  The tent will be equipped to provide lunch areas.  Washing stations will be provided. MASM’s location in Hyannis will allow it to provide some of its hands-on exhibits. MASM has established a large dollar scholarship for students entering vocational training or college.  This scholarship information has already been provided to most of the area high schools.  MASM, CCGA and teachers will provide activities for students to complete during the visit.  Further planning is scheduled for late February and March to include input from exhibitors and schools.  MASM is tasked to create the complete budget.

MASM has staff and a large contingent of volunteers available.  MASM is committed to providing educational opportunities to all at the Fair and its museum. MASM is constructing a conference room presentation area in its museum in Hyannis.  The area will be used to allow groups of local students to meet and listen to engineers, pilots, astronauts, government entities, and authors related to aerospace and aviation.  Cape Cod Space Force headquarters is one of only six such installations in the United States.  Its base is located nearby, in Sagamore.  Southeastern Massachusetts is rich in opportunities for children. MASM intends to be a permanent source. Support from MIT will help ensure its mission.

The Target Populations the Solution Serves

As stated, MASM's target populations are students and lifelong learners who have not had access to hands-on STEM experiences.  Massachusetts in general provides an incredible amount of STEM learning experiences.  However, most of these opportunities are centered in the Greater Boston and Worcester areas.  Geography and lack of transportation infrastructure creates a unique population zone in Southeastern Massachusetts.  MASM's operation is a major step in providing a solution to the needs of those in this location.  Access to the exhibits provided by MASM and MASM's coordination with local schools and CCGA has created this solution.

How is MASM and Its Team Well Positioned to Deliver the Solution

MAMS was invited to become part of the Cape Cod community by public officials in Hyannis, a number of business leaders, Cape Cod Community College and the Airport Authority to provide educational opportunities.  MASM adds additional cultural benefits to an already thriving visitor destination.  As result of the broad spectrum of encouragement, MASM committed a significant amount of its financial capital to open its museum in Hyannis.  It has received strong public and media support.  Its first location was at a mall.  MASM now occupies a location on Main Street in downtown Hyannis within walking distance of four other museums, including the JFK Hyannis Museum. MASM location in Hyannis is central to all communities on Cape Cod, near the terminals for ferry services to the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, less than an hour from many of the major Southeastern Massachusetts cities and towns. MASM has directors, volunteers and employees who are located Southeastern Massachusetts.

Why MASM Needs Assistance From MIT

MASM existed as a concept from its inception in 2007 until it opened is museum in Hyannis in 2020.  MASM's original concept was to construct a museum at Hanscom Field in Bedford, MA.  During its concept stage, MASM's board viewed many other venues.  MASM's close contacts with the MIT museum staff and other institutions provided encouragement to continue its development. Other universities also supported the concept.  Fundraising for a new not for profit venture proved to be problematic.  Most large donors and grant providers required an operation facility for which to direct support.  The opportunities made available in Hyannis convinced the MASM board to select that location for several reasons.  The most compelling reason was to provide STEM opportunities to an underserved area. The original concept would have relegated MASM to be a complementary STEM option to an already well served portion of Massachusetts.  The next reason to choose a Cape Cod location was similar to one of the reasons for an original focus on the Hanscom location, visitor traffic.  The Hanscom location offered proximity to Minuteman National Historic Park.  The Hyannis location has a larger visitor count.  Hyannis is also near the Cape Cod National Sea Shore. 

Significant visitor flow is needed for any museum for economic sustainability.  MASM sees its new high visibility location as providing economic means to be a long-term solution to providing STEM education opportunities to an underserved location. Upon opening its museum, MASM has been able to attract large donors.  MASM can envision a long term relationship with MIT for, exhibit support, lecture series support and financial support.  MASM's directorship recognizes that frequent changes in hands-on exhibits will assure success.  MIT can be a large part of this plan.

An Innovative Solution

Most aviation and aerospace museums have focused on preserving historical artifacts.  During its concept phase MASM’s board and its advisors recognized the changing landscape involving the interface of a museum with STEM.  Virtual reality and the experiences learned from tactile activity demonstrated a way to reach students in a real-world environment.  MASM has borrowed the use of these endeavors from FAA Education and MassDOT demonstrations.  MASM’s presenters at the MassPort STEM Expo had noticed, over the years, the long lines of students that formed at flight simulators and air traffic control virtual reality exhibits.  Any exhibit that engaged students elicited involvement and probing questions. 

MASM’s curator along with its planners made a decision to create a museum experience that encouraged the visitors to engage and be part of the artifacts and exhibits.  The museum has two flight simulators and one drone simulator.  They allow visitors including students to plan and fly.  Docents engage visitors as they explain the operation or material of other exhibits.  They create STEM involvement at every stage of a tour. Additionally, there is a planned constant replacement of exhibits.  

MASM has set up a specific area for women in aviation and aerospace.  The exhibit starts with accomplishments of women even before Amelia Earhart, through the role of WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) delivering combat aircraft during World War II, through the activities of MIT Lincoln Lab pilot Anne Baddour, through women astronauts. 

At the first Southeastern Massachusetts Aviation Career Fair conducted by MASM and CCGA in 2019, exhibit space was provided to honor the Tuskegee Airmen, the African American pilots of World War II.  One of the airmen was able to attend along with family members of other airmen.  A famous movie of the exploits of these men, the Redtails, exists.  

MASM’s goal is to be experiential, diverse and inclusive.  MASM presents STEM as universal.

MASM's Impact Goals

There are several hundred thousand pilots living in the United States. If one were to ask a pilot why they became a pilot, the answer is almost always, “I walked onto a small airport and touched an airplane.”  One of our directors, Georgia Pappas became a pilot that way.  However, the events of 911 eliminated that opportunity.  Airports are now fenced off and isolated from the public.  One of our directors who was taking flying lessons at Hanscom, post 911, met several aeronautical engineering students from MIT who were also taking lessons.  They admitted that this was the first time they touched an aircraft.  To do so they had to be vetted, take a security test, and obtain a badge.  Being engineering students they were already immersed in STEM.  MASM wants to provide a platform to replicate an opportunity for boys and girls, men and women to allow the “walk on and touch” experience of the past.  Not all that try that replicated experience may go on to become pilots or astronauts, but MASM wishes to stimulate many to engage STEM as part of their lives.

One of MASM’s directors attended several economic, Sub-Saharan Development conferences in Washington.  The attendees were seeking lines of credit to allow increased aircraft ownership and usage.  One of the speakers from Africa pointed out two not so obvious facts to the MASM director.  One fact was that the speaker shared was that they were amazed by the miles upon miles of copper wire strung all over America.  Instead, his country was erecting cell tower every ten miles or so in a grid.  The next observation was more perceptive.  He said his country will never have to tear up tens of thousands of miles of pristine land to create interstate type roads.  They will lay down one and a half mile strips of concrete every few hundred miles to be used by up-and-coming fuel efficient and eclectic aircraft as regional airports.  The point is that one must look not only outside the box, but sometimes outside the building to create an impact.

MASM immediate goal is to stimulate Massachusetts youth to seek educational and or training opportunities stimulated by their exposure to STEM.  Creating the workforce of the future starts now.  

Over the next five years MASM plans, that as a visitor leaves the museum or the career fair, that they begin a new journey.  MASM will participate with Cape Cod Community College to provide interested people, a pass to visit its Aviation Maintenance Technology program.  MASM will participate with Bridgewater State University to provide an application to join its Department of Aviation Science.  MASM will be partnered with several Southeastern Massachusetts flight schools that provide private pilot lessons. MASM will have a display rack full of brochures and applications from any Massachusetts college or technical school that want exposure. Most of all MASM will be a catalyst for all lifelong learners to expand one’s horizons.

MASM tracks all visits and comments made on its web page. It tracks watch time on any of its cable ads.  It asks visitors to rank it on various web sites.  Students that attended the Fair in 2019 filled out a questionaire used to improve all new Fairs.  MASM uses a program that tracks visitor counts and provides demographic information.

MASM's Theory of Change

Several of MASM's directors have attended courses that focused on change and being a change agent.  One of our directors teaches a course on managing change.

MASM's curator recognizes that many museums die a slow painful death by neglecting to change not only its exhibits frequently but also neglect to change the way it presents itself.  MASM enters into exhibit rotation programs with other aviation and aerospace museums.  It also works with collectors to present private objects of interest.

MASM belongs to several organizations, such as; Aero Club of New England, the oldest aero club in the United States and second oldest in the world and National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education.  MASM also subscribes to NASA education programs.

Technology usage by MASM

MASM employs many currently available virtual reality experience devices.  Four simulators. One is a Piper Cub with a number of available flight missions.  One is a Cessna 172 in including instrument flying. One is a Cirrus SR-20 simulator that is FAA certified. One is a multifunction drone simulator with over one hundred drone options project on an eight foot LCD.  MASM also has direct, real time hook up through NASA with the Space Station cameras using the LCD.  MASM incorporate Oculus vision goggles to recreate space walks.  MASM has a simulated Fixed Base Operation.  MASM broadcasts continuous air traffic control communications via ATC Direct.  MASM offers Air-traffic control simulation via NASA's Sector 33 APP.  This app requires the use of the T=D/R formula, a great teaching tool.

MASM's Diversity Climate 

MASM is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  MASM does not discriminate in any way as to visitors or students.  MAMS believes in gender diversity.  MASM's board consists of women, men of diverse educational background and economic status.  MASM's advisors are diverse and include minorities.  MASM adheres to ADA compliance.

MASM Business Model

MASM was founded as, and continues as, an IRS 501 C 3.  Its model relies on donations and grants to provide its capital base and operating income. MASM will derive 60% of its annual museum's operating expenses from ticket and memorabilia sales.  MASM's ticket pricing is structured below some of the other local museums and geared toward discounted pricing for students.  There is no cost for any attendees to the Career Fair.  Special pricing will be available for school field trips to the museum or lectures.

MASM uses an independent accounting firm to prepare its financial statements and tax filings.

MASM has a finance committee that oversees the accounting reporting and tax filings.  It prepares budgets and fundraising projects.

MASM has a Scholarship Committee that raises funds independent of funds needed for capital projects and museum operations.  The committee seeks out applicants and vets applications.  Preference is given to Southeastern Massachusetts students.

MASM accepts donated artifacts that may be used for display, offered for sale to collectors or used as a raffle prize.  Currently, MASM is holding a raffle of a donated aircraft.  The proceeds will be used for MASM's education efforts.  Proceeds are expected to range from $50,000 to $200,000 depending upon ticket sales over a two year period.

MASM's Financial Sustainability

In order of magnitude:

Capital Projects- Special Capital Campaign using board member supervision

Museum Operations- Ticket sales followed by individual donations and grants

Education Activities- Raffles- grants- designated individual donations

Scholarship Activities- Individual and corporate donations

When ever special government or local grants are announced, MASM will apply. MASM currently has enough capital to complete the renovation of its Main Street location.  MASM's capital base remaining after renovation and with revenue from minimum projected ticket sales and no further gifts or donations other than those already committed, will allow MASM to operate for five years.  Any ticket sale above the minimum expected and any further donations or grant could extend MASM financial sustainability well beyond five years.

The location of MASM's business office is in the Civil Air Terminal at Hanscom in Bedford, MA. MASM rents a seperate climate controlled storage facility.

MASM's IRS 990 tax return can be access from the IRS data base and is public.

MASM has generated ticket revenue during its two fiscal years of operating a museum, 2020 and 2021.  From its inception in 2007 up to the opening of the museum, MASM received numerous grants, corporate and individual donations to sustain the development of its concept.  That amounted to almost $350,000. Grants came from such sources as the Wolf Foundation, General Electric Foundation, Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, Massachusetts Aviation Historical Society, Massachusetts Air National Guard Historical Association, various Fidelity Charitable Trust Accounts and other sources.  Donations increase substantially after 2019.  They now exceed $1,000,000 in total.