University of North Texas 
ACE Camp is a fun, interactive aviation summer camp geared toward incoming junior and senior high school students interested in aviation and aerospace. The goal is to give students an awareness of aviation history, different career opportunities within aviation, flight preparation, the physics of flight, and aircraft design and maintenance. It is an adventure where students use flight simulators and go on field trips to observe various aspects of aviation careers at local aviation industries and airports. Students also have the opportunity to fly in an airplane from a certificated FAA flight academy with a Certified Flight Instructor.
This year’s camp welcomed 30 students representing 28 schools across North Texas and
beyond, including Arlington, Austin, Benbrook, Burleson, Carrollton, Coppell, Crandall,
Dallas, Denton, Flower Mound, Fort Worth, Frisco, Josephine, Keller, Lewisville, Mansfield,
Plano, Princeton, Rockwall, Royse City, Trophy Club, and Waxahachie. Participants
gained a firsthand look at aviation and aerospace careers while engaging directly
with industry professionals, faculty, and student mentors.
Throughout the week, students participated in a wide range of interactive, career-focused experiences designed to bring classroom concepts to life. Highlights included light helicopter rides, unassisted flight experiences, drone racing, and advanced simulation training. Students also explored aviation and aerospace environments through tours of major industry sites such as the American Airlines Training Center, Airbus Helicopters, the CR Smith Aviation Museum, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Embraer Aircraft, the Federal Aviation Administration, Fort Worth Fire Department, Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport, and Southwest Airlines Technical Operations.
In addition to facility tours, students engaged in hands-on learning at Thrust Flight, where they experienced discovery flights, and with Veracity at TCC, where they participated in helicopter rides. Additional training experiences included aircraft simulator sessions at both TCC and American Airlines, drone operations at the Maverick Autonomous Vehicle Research Center, and educational modules covering aerodynamics, meteorology, engineering, aviation maintenance, aviation law enforcement, and military career pathways.
The camp also featured industry certifications and partner-led instruction. Fastenal provided safety glasses for participant training activities, while Pitsco Education delivered TRUST certification training, allowing students to earn a recreational drone license. Counselors from the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), Tarrant County College (TCC), Texas Woman’s University (TWU), and UNT supported students throughout the program, reinforcing mentorship and leadership development.
In addition to technical exposure, ACE Camp emphasized teamwork, leadership development, and problem-solving skills through collaborative challenges facilitated by faculty and industry professionals. These experiences encouraged students to step outside their comfort zones, build confidence, and strengthen communication and decision-making skills.
"My first year, I was nervous. I didn’t know anybody, but I was really excited, had a great time and made friends. This year I felt more confident and got more involved and I even learned about an internship in my field while we were touring different facilities,” said Kaleb Taylor, senior and second-year ACE Camp attendee from Rock Hill High School. “If I had a piece of advice for a new person coming to ACE Camp next year, I would say to get in there and make friends, don’t be shy. There is a lot of information to take in, so make sure and take notes too. You’ll be glad you did.”
By connecting students directly with aviation professionals, cutting-edge technology, and real-world environments, ACE Camp continues to reflect the commitment of the G. Brint Ryan College of Business to experiential learning and workforce development.
As the program looks ahead to its next year, organizers aim to continue expanding partnerships, hands-on experiences, and access to aviation and business career pathways for students across the region.