Classes & Workshops
SHAF partners with NASA, launches online program for kids
VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — The Southern Heritage Air Foundation (SHAF), a nonprofit WWII and Aviation museum located at the Vicksburg-Tallulah Regional Airport in Tallulah, Louisiana, is expanding its nationally recognized STEM and Future Leaders education programming with three major initiatives for 2026. The Foundation is launching the Online Kid Zone, a new digital learning platform that brings STEM activities to young learners nationwide; returning as a NASA ASTRO CAMP® Community Partner for another year of hands-on science programming; and debuting the Traveling NASA ASTRO CAMP® Experiment Station: a mobile, hands-on STEM experience designed to bring NASA- inspired activities beyond SHAF’s home base. The Traveling Experiment Station will make its inaugural appearance at the Mississippi Wing of the Commemorative Air Force’s Aviation Discovery Day on June 6, 2026, at Bruce Campbell Field in Madison, Mississippi, a celebration being held on the 82nd anniversary of D-Day.
The Online Kid Zone
The Online Kid Zone is the Southern Heritage Air Foundation’s newest digital initiative and offers a free, interactive online platform designed to bring aviation and space history, STEM activities, and the excitement of flight and space exploration to young learners wherever they are. Developed to extend SHAF’s educational reach far beyond the walls of its museum and hangar, the Online Kid Zone makes curated aviation and STEM content accessible to families, educators, and young explorers nationwide.
Through the Online Kid Zone, students and families can engage with age-appropriate STEM Experiments & activities while reinforcing the Foundation’s commitment to making learning both meaningful and accessible. Whether in a classroom, at home, or on the go, the Online Kid Zone delivers the same spirit of discovery that defines every SHAF program.
The URL has launched! You can find it at: southernheritageair.org/kidzone
“From the beginning, our mission has been to preserve the stories of the men and women who served and to inspire the next generation through history, aviation and hands-on learning. The Online Kid Zone and the Traveling Experiment Station represent a natural evolution of that mission by taking what we do best and bringing it to families and communities who might never have the chance to walk through our doors. Combined with our continued partnership with NASA ASTRO CAMP®, 2026 is shaping up to be our most impactful year yet. We are deeply proud of the work our volunteers put into these programs, and we remain committed to honoring our veterans while sparking a love of science and discovery in every child we reach.”
— Dan Fordice, Co-Founder, Southern Heritage Air Foundation
NASA ASTRO CAMP® Returns: “Galactic Explorers: The Next
Generation”
The Southern Heritage Air Foundation is proud to once again serve as a NASA ASTRO CAMP® Community Partner, bringing hands-on, NASA-inspired STEM programming to young learners in the region. The 2026 camp theme, “GALACTIC EXPLORERS: The Next Generation,” invites participants ages 8 through 11 to explore the frontiers of space, science, technology, engineering and math through a series of engaging, interactive experiments and activities.
The Southern Heritage Air Foundation has announced an extension for NASA ASTRO CAMP® registration, now open through May 10 at 11:59 p.m. Due to strong community interest and only a few remaining seats for each
day, families are being given a final opportunity to choose.
Register at: southernheritageair.org/kidzone
Camp Details:
- ● Dates: Wednesday, June 3 and Thursday, June 4, 2026 (participants choose one day)
- ● Location: Southern Heritage Air Foundation Museum and Aircraft Hangar, 179 VTR Airport Road, Vicksburg-Tallulah Regional Airport, Tallulah, LA 71282
- ● Ages: 8–11
- ● Registration Fee: $45 per participant (registration closes May 4, 2026)
- ● Capacity: Limited to 30 participants per day
- ● Schedule: Check-in 8:00–8:15 AM; Camp concludes at noon with a Certificate of Achievement ceremonyWhat’s Included:
- ● Camp T-shirt
- ● All experiment supplies
- ● Snacks and bottled water
- ● NASA ASTRO CAMP Certificate of AchievementActivities:
- ● Learning astronaut names
- ● Coloring assigned group mission patches (art and visual communication)
- ● Building and testing stomp rockets (biological and physical science)
- ● Building a candy nuclear reactor (engineering and physics)
- ● Dinosaur egg dig (paleontology and geology)
- ● Paper plate marble maze (engineering and physics)Registration is available at southernheritageair.org.
Introducing the Traveling NASA ASTRO CAMP Experiment Station
The Southern Heritage Air Foundation is proud to introduce the Traveling NASA ASTRO CAMP Experiment Station — a brand-new, mobile extension of SHAF’s NASA ASTRO CAMP programming. The Traveling Experiment Station is a portable, hands-on STEM activity station designed to travel to community events, festivals, schools, and partner organizations across the region.
By bringing select NASA-inspired experiments and activities directly to families and young learners at partner events, the Traveling Experiment Station gives children who may not be able to attend a full camp day the opportunity to experience the thrill of hands-on science and engineering. Each station is staffed by SHAF’s dedicated volunteers, who guide participants through interactive activities rooted in the same NASA ASTRO CAMP curriculum that has earned the Foundation recognition as a leader in community-based STEM education.
For organizations and events interested in hosting the Traveling NASA ASTRO CAMP Experiment Station may contact the Southern Heritage Air Foundation at patty@southernheritageair.org or (318) 574-2731.
First Stop: Aviation Discovery Day at Bruce Campbell Field
The Traveling NASA ASTRO CAMP Experiment Station will make its debut at the Mississippi Wing of the Commemorative Air Force’s Aviation Discovery Day on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Bruce Campbell Field in Madison, Mississippi — a date that marks the 82nd anniversary of D-Day.
Event Details:
- ● Date: June 6, 2026 — the 82nd Anniversary of D-Day
- ● Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- ● Location: MS Wing CAF Hangar, Bruce Campbell Field, 7450 Old Canton Road, Madison, MS 39110Aviation Discovery Day is a celebration of American aviation heritage, honoring the aircraft and heroes of World War II. The event features living history displays, vintage and warbird aircraft, and hands-on activities for all ages. The Southern Heritage Air Foundation is honored to bring its Traveling Experiment Station to this event, connecting the next generation with the spirit of exploration and service that defines both organizations. For more information reach out to mswingcaf@gmail.com or call 601-209- 0025
“Bringing the Traveling NASA ASTRO CAMP® Experiment Station to the MS Wing of the Commemorative Air Force’s Aviation Discovery Day is a natural partnership. Both the Southern Heritage Air Foundation and the Mississippi Wing of the CAF share a deep commitment to preserving aviation history and inspiring the next generation to dream big. We are honored to stand alongside them on such a meaningful day, the anniversary of D-Day, and to put hands-on STEM activities directly in front of the families and young people who attend.”
— Sherry Grimsley, SHAF Advisory Board Member and Volunteer
