NextStop Blog

Metro is committed to making the quality of life better in bi-state communities and as part of that commitment, Metro sponsors, partners, and participates in events that benefit the residents of the region.

Last month, Metro co-hosted Youth Gateway to Aviation at the St. Louis Downtown Airport and participated in Child Safety Day at the Pageant Theater in St. Louis.

This is the fourth year Metro Transit joined the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, St. Louis Fire Department, Missouri Highway Patrol, BJC Healthcare, St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, and other organizations and businesses for this important event. Child Safety Day is free annual event geared at teaching families in a fun environment how to stay safe on the street, safe on bicycles, safe on the Internet, safe in the car and at home especially during home emergencies like fires, and safe around strangers.

Click here to view the slideshow in Flickr.

Metro Transit educated children about safety around trains—not playing or walking on railroad tracks, and not trying to beat a train by walking or riding their bicycles around the warning gates. Fredbird was there on October 8, riding with passengers from the Stadium MetroLink Stations to Delmar Loop MetroLink Station.

That same Saturday in October, St. Louis Downtown Airport in Cahokia, Illinois, and Saint Louis University’s Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology hosted Youth Gateway to Aviation. Approximately 500 scouts from the Lewis and Clark Council of the Boy Scouts learned first hand about the exciting world of aviation – from the air and from the ground! Eighteen pilots, including St. Louis Downtown Airport Director Bob McDaniel, donated their time and fuel so the Scouts could experience what it is like to fly. No doubt some of these scouts are now hooked on flying and will go on to become pilots.

In fact, McDaniel said that is what happened to him. “When I was 15, I rode my bicycle to this airport and took my first flying lesson and then told my mother about it later. I soloed on my 16th birthday and have been flying ever since,” he said.

“Opportunities for today’s youth to get involved with aviation are very limited. If we don’t create those opportunities for them and light a fire of enthusiasm about aviation, there won’t be anyone around to replace us when old timers like me move on.”

Click here to view the slideshow in Flickr.

The event featured interactive activities, discovery flights, simulators, airport fire truck demonstrations, displays, tours, and a scavenger hunt. Saint Louis University’s Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, The Boeing Company, Saint Louis Science Center, Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Young Eagles, Gateway Eagles, Garmin, the Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association, Wicks Airplane Supply and other aviation companies participated as partners to help youngsters get excited about aviation science.

Being part of the community means getting out, leading and being part of these great events. If you or your organization would like to parnter with Metro on your event, please let us know!