Our 8th grade students recently took learning to new heights with an exhilarating and educational field trip to the Air Rescue and Fire Fighting facility at Hilton Head Airport. The visit brought to life key concepts from their Project Lead The Way (PLTW) “Flight and Space” unit—giving students the chance to engage with aviation and emergency sciences in real time.

Led by middle school science teacher Nicole Schatzle, students explored six different stations hosted by specialized local agencies, including the Beaufort County Air Patrol, Civil Air Patrol, Life Star Medical Helicopter, Beaufort County Mosquito Control, and more. A few lucky students were even invited to tour the air traffic control tower, gaining a bird’s-eye view of aviation operations in action.

“This trip was the perfect way to wrap up our Flight and Space unit,” said Mrs. Schatzle. “It gave students the opportunity to see firsthand how STEM concepts translate into real-world careers—from aerodynamics and propulsion systems to emergency medical services and vector-borne disease control.”

Students weren’t just spectators—they climbed into aircraft, asked questions, handled equipment, and interacted directly with professionals in the field. The real-world immersion offered a thrilling, hands-on connection to their classroom studies, showing them the powerful intersection of science, technology, and service.

“Being able to step into these roles and speak with experts helped students understand the vast array of opportunities available through science,” Schatzle added. “It’s moments like these that ignite curiosity and inspire future innovators, pilots, engineers, and first responders.”

This field trip didn’t just mark the end of the academic year—it launched a new sense of scientific exploration for JPII students, showing them how the skills they’re building today may one day help them take flight—literally and figuratively.