Greenwood Military Aviation Museum

Recently, I went with my son’s grade 6 class to visit the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum.

They had recently studied a unit on flight, so what better way to put their knowledge to the test, and to learn first-hand, than by visiting the aviation museum?

I have written about the museum before in my family-fun column in the Advertiser.

Read that article here.

Here’s what the website says:

Experience Greenwood’s exciting military history and learn of its heroes through the museum’s permanent and temporary exhibits that chronicles its beginnings as an RAF Station in 1942 to its present day status as the largest airbase in Atlantic Canada.

We visited the museum so long ago that the boys can’t remember going!

As a class trip, this what a phenomenal experience for the students.

They have so many school parties come through that they are a well-oiled and organized machine! Students were broken into 6 groups, and rotated around the museum (with buzzers sounding to announce when it was time to move!). Each station was manned by volunteers, who were retired personnel who were either pilots, engineers, or worked in some capacity on the airplanes.

This was first-hand knowledge of flight by those who know best!

At one point, one of the students noticed that our tour guide was the same man as in the painting behind him!

Rotating through all the stations, the students got first hand information on how airplane engines worked,

How to fly a parachute,

And they learned a lot about military history and how the equipment worked. Did you know that salt water was what caused the reaction in a torpedo when they dropped them in the water?

I learned so much, and was so impressed with how much the students learned, and transferred from session-to-session!

As my son said, “What a phenomenal day!”

General Public Visits

The museum is open to the general public by free-will donation.

Opening hours can be found here

You are free to roam the museum on your own, reading the signs, and exploring the exhibits. There are lots of hands-on opportunities for kids. The first time we went, the boys could have spent the whole time playing with the Morse code machine!

If you are interested in a more extensive tour, there are usually volunteers around. Just ask at the desk for someone to take you around. This will dramatically increase the value of your visit!