HomeScheduleEvent HighlightsParticipateContestsStore

Girl Scouts of Colorado and The Colorado Balloon Classic
Hot Air Balloon Patch Program

 


Would you like to be a hot air balloon pilot?  Every year, hundreds of people from all walks of life learn to fly hot
air balloons.  Get ready - it might be you soon.
 
 
Requirements:

Girls must complete the following activities:
 
Required Activities:
 
1. Learn about the history of Hot Air Ballooning. Girls can visit a Hot Air Balloon Museum or research the
history online. Some resources include:
a. Anderson, Abruzzo, Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
6121 Indian School Road NE
Albuquerque NM 87110
www.balloonmuseum.com
 
b. The National Balloon Museum
1601 N. Jefferson Way, (Highway 65/69 North)
Indianola, IA  50125-0149
www.nationalballoonmuseum.com
 
2. Learn about a woman who was a pioneer in the hot air balloon industry. Resources to find that
information are:

Service Project:
 
Please contact the Colorado Balloon Classic at 719-471-4833 for details. You must sign up in advance
and have adult supervision to qualify. All girls must wear their Girl Scout Sash or Vest at the Balloon
Classic while working on the Service Project. Service Project Ideas may include:
 
a.     Poster Distribution in August prior to the event.
b.     Collect books for the "Captain Bookworm Book Drive".  Books due by September 10th.
c.     Hand out Photo Contest Forms at the event.
d.     Park Beautification at the event.
e.     Distribute Coloring Contest Forms at the event.
f.      Distribute Logo Design Forms at the event.
 
All Age Levels:
 
1.  Attend a balloon festival.
  • The Colorado Balloon Classic is held annually on Labor Day Weekend at Memorial Park in Colorado
  • Springs.  www.balloonclassic.com
  • The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is held the first week of October annually. www.balloonfiesta.com
  • Additional Colorado balloon events are often held in Steamboat Springs, Snowmass, Erie, Parker,
  • Montrose, Colorado City, Greeley, and Pagosa Springs.  For more information, contact the city's
  • Visitors Bureau or look for a list at www.balloonfiesta.com
2.  Write a story about ballooning and have it published with at least one photo in the Pikes Peak 99s
newsletter or in the Official Program for the Colorado Balloon Classic:
 
a. Contacts for Pikes Peak 99s: 
Phyllis Wells at 719-372-0410  
Anne Whonic at 719-596-5033.
b. Contact for Colorado Balloon Classic: 
Patsy Buchwald, President, 719-471-4833 
Heather Benavidez, Event Organizer, 719-471-4833
 
 
3.  Invite a Hot Air Balloon Pilot to your Troop meeting to give a talk. Ask the pilot if he/she will be able to inflate
and deflate a balloon at the talk. Below are some resources to contact pilots:
 
Colorado Balloon Classic   719-471-4833
Rocky Mountain Hot Air   303-936-0292
Adventures Out West   719-578-0935
High But Dry     719-260-0011
Above it All Balloon Company 970-963-6148
Fair Winds Hot Air Balloon Flights 303-939-9323
Colorado Balloon Rides  970-468-9280
Camelot Balloons Inc.   800-785-4743
 
4.  Enter the Colorado Balloon Classic's Photo Contest. Go to the Entry Form
 
5.  Take a tethered balloon ride. Tethered rides are sometimes available at balloon festivals.
 
6.  Learn about the weather minimums required for a balloon flight including, clouds, winds, and visibility.
 
7.  Research the different sizes of hot air balloons and how many people can fly in each size.
 
8.  Research the safety requirements needed for a hot air balloon flight. 
 
9.  Tour an Airport Control Tower.
a. In Colorado Springs, troops may contact the FAA Tower at 719-380-6702.  
b. Other Towered Airports in Colorado include Front Range, Denver International, Pueblo, Grand
Junction Regional, Eagle, Aspen, Centennial and Rocky Mountain Regional.  They can be
contacted by calling the appropriate airport.  
c. Go online at www.colorado-aeronautics.org/aeroairports.htm. Go to: Locate airport, then go to,
download airport directory page.
 
Daisy and Brownie Girl Scouts:

1. Draw and name the parts of a hot air balloon. See the Children's Pages

2. Make and fly a tissue paper hot air balloon. Click here for instructions from the Balloon Explorium website.
 
3. Learn how hot air balloons are made.

4. Visit a balloon repair station.

5. Download and complete a kid's page from the Colorado Balloon Classic website at
www.balloonclassic.com.
 
 
Junior Girl Scouts:

1. Write an article about the Junior Balloonists.
 
2. Write the requirements to become a Hot Air Balloon Pilot.
a. How old do you have to be?
b. Where do you find a hot air balloon flight instructor?
c. What is "ground instruction" and how many hours of ground instruction do you need before you
can "solo"?
d. How many hours of "flight instruction" do you need before you can get your Flight Certificate?
 
3. Use an aviation chart/map.
a. Mark where airports and landing strips on your aviation chart/map.
b. Why would a hot air balloon pilot need to know where these are?
 
4.  Make a display board or scrapbook about hot air ballooning.
 
 
Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts:
 
1. Research three (3) careers that you that you think would be associated with hot air balloons.
 
2. Attend Crew Training for the Colorado Balloon Classic. 
(Scheduled each year for the Saturday prior to the Colorado Balloon Classic event)
 
3. Interview a woman who flies a hot air balloon or works in the hot air balloon field. What obstacles did
she face when she became interested in aviation? Did she have someone who served as her mentor?
 
4. Attend one meeting at one of these groups:
a. Pikes Peak 99s
b. Hot Air Balloon Club
c. Ballooning Society of Pikes Peak  www.bsopp.com
d. Colorado Balloon Club www.coloradoballoonclub.org
 
Balloonist's Prayer
The winds have welcomed you with softness;
The sun has blessed you with its warm hands.
You have flown so high and so well,
that God has joined you in your laughter,
and set you gently back into the loving arms
of Mother Earth.

Resources:

www.balloonclassic.com
www.ninety-nines.org
www.scs99s.org
www.balloonlife.com
www.highbutdryballoons.com
www.bsopp.com
www.coloradoballoonclub.org
www.rockymountainhotair.com
www.bfa.net
www.hotairballooning.com
www.adventuresoutwest.com
www.balloonfiesta.com
www.highbutdryballoons.com
www.fairwindsinc.com
www.aboveitallballoon.com
www.fireflyballoons.net
www.lindstrand.com
www.cameronballoons.com
www.ppld.org
www.women-in-aviation.com
www.hotairballooning.com
www.coloradoballoonrides.com