Youth Glide

Or perhaps more correctly...how to get younger people into gliding AND keeping their interest.
It's been the real Buzz-word(s) in gliding over the last 2 years.
Ask any older member and he/she will have a view.
It would appear the most common is..."we have to have a "Youth Glide" component to our club".

Yip...good idea but;
Who's going to be the chief enthusiast?
Where's the best place to centre it?
Has anyone actually asked these young people what they want?
What's the target end point?? Solo? x-country? Contests? Wing runner?

Alongside this is an idea that came out of a GNZ Strategic Plan from 10 years ago. This was a plan put together by an outsider...perhaps some-one with no "skin in the game" and therefore less emotion.

Centres of Excellence was one of the main thrusts of that plan.

So lets survey the scene...
We had a very good presentation from 2 youth gliders at the GNZ AGM last winter. Lots of photo's and experiences were shared. An interesting aside, it would appear a big part of success was the camp/weekend component to the whole project. A week or so at a site meant a focus on gliding, but if the weather was crap (as is often the case) younger people tend to do stuff (other than sitting in the Kahu cafe drinking trim flat whites). Have a look at the video's that Abbey Delore et al, produced...there's gliding, but also, high jinks, water skiing, swimming, etc
Also peer pressure was brought to bare...
Keeping the "old codgers" away is probably an unintended consequence...

That's fine for Omarama...but what about up here??? In the central North Island where we have 60% of the nations young people???

The obvious option is to base the project around Matamata.Why?? There are 3/4 clubs within an hour or so's drive...close enough to get to, but far enough away to necessitate a camp/staying over situation.
We already have camping, toilets, and bunks available. AND there is a nice Cafe just 5 minutes drive away...short black please...
Plus we can get extra gliders and tow planes at the drop of a hat.
No airspace issues to destroy your day.
And a very handy ridge for building time in the air, doing your first 50km, racing, beating up the road crossing (strike that last one, who would encourage that??), and generally staying airborne.

So why would we encourage each local club to have a "youth glide"?? I've no idea but that's certainly the favoured option of one Club President. Perhaps some one should encourage him ask the young people what they want...