Cradle of Aviation Museum

Andrew Parton, President

The mission of the Cradle of Aviation Museum is to “engage all ages in the exploration of aerospace heritage by preserving and displaying Long Island’s contribution to air and space travel,” as well as to “inspire, motivate, and stimulate our youth to be the next generation of aerospace scientists and engineers.” The museum manifests its mission through ever-expanding educational programs that combine historical information with exciting hands-on learning experiences.

Through the museum’s programs, students and families throughout Long Island can discover the birth of aviation, the history of the space program, the future of space exploration, and the leading edge of science research. The Cradle inspires students to explore careers in science, engineering, technology and mathematics (STEM) and helps to set the stage for the next generation of innovators and leaders to contribute to the advancement of the aerospace field.

The Cradle of Aviation has long partnered with Long Island schools, providing students with comprehensive learning opportunities through innovative programming, both at the museum and in the classroom. Through these partnerships, students engage in vital STEM activities in flight, augmented reality, robotics, drones and solar energy. They are prepared for careers in STEM through interactions with astronauts, engineers and other industry professionals, as well as real-world work experiences.

One such partnership is with the Freeport UFSD, made possible through the district’s Pathways in Technology Early College High School grant. The partnership makes it possible for Freeport students to earn an associate’s degree in aeronautical engineering technology or electronics engineering technology from Vaughn College. In addition, Freeport educators benefit through a variety of professional learning opportunities.

“Freeport is proud to partner with the Cradle of Aviation in this amazing opportunity,” said district administrators. “This partnership empowers us to prepare our students to become the next generation of scientists, mathematicians, creative thinkers and leaders.”

The Cradle is a proud co-steward of the Long Island STEM Hub, along with its partners Brookhaven National Lab and Northwell Health working to bridge the gap between education and industry to provide students with exposure to the variety of career paths in STEM.