The highly successful Family Aeronautical Science Program, developed by the NASA Nebraska Space Grant Consortium, expanded to include geospatial activities in 2003-2004. Phase I of the program included lessons on basic map reading skills, heading and bearing, latitude and longitude, and the Global Positioning System (GPS). The Nebraska Geospatial Extension Program (NEGEP) is working in close partnership with several reservation teachers on the lesson plans for Phase II. These will build upon the curriculum from Phase I including GIS and remote sensing concepts and applications.

Mission: To inspire Native American youth from Nebraska to pursue academic excellence and professional careers in the aeronautics and aerospace fields.

Activities:

• Creation of the Native American Working Group Annual Aeronautics Day for Native American Youth at the Sioux City Airport
  • Over 600 students have participated!
  • Included are tours of the Sioux City Air Guard and JetSun Aviation

  Underrepresented Student Scholarship Program

• Families United (FUN) in the Discovery of Mathematics, Science & Technology
  • During the first two evenings of this program, 130 Native American students in grades K-12 from Santee Sioux Community Schools, along with 30 parents and 15 teachers/staff members have enjoyed evenings of fellowship and aeronautical investigation. The newest addition to this program is a flight simulator!
• Walthill Family Science, Feb. 18, 2004 (pdf format)
• Family Science Manual (pdf format)
• 2002 Fact Sheet

The NASA Nebraska Space Grant Program works on the Family Science Program Initiative in collaboration with the Iowa and South Dakota Programs.