Our famous Kite Day Program demonstrators, Rev. Gordon and Bonnie Negen, have retired after building tens of thousands of kites with children, but the fun doesn't have to end.
The kites that they built are now available in a kit. They are easy for children of almost any age to assemble with adult assistance.
Each kit includes 20 pre-cut plastic kite sails and tails (color may vary), 40 wood rods (2 per kite), 20 bridle strings, and 20 sets of flying line. We will also include, free of charge, instructions and one pre-assembled sample kite with each order. You will need to supply masking tape.
It's a great addition to lessons on the history or science of flight, or just because it's fun to fly a kite!
Order your kite-building kit here.
We are sorry, but the programs below are no longer available.
The kits to build kites may still be purchased, however. Click here to get your kite kit!
1. "Kite Days" - A presenter takes a group of approximately 75 students and informs the youth about kites: Kite history, kite safety, kite people (Ben Franklin and the Wright Brothers) and different styles of kites. This part of the program takes 1/2 hour.
We then move to tables where plastic sheets and wood dowels are laid out. The presenter takes the students through an 8-step process to build their own kite. The student is now given a 75-foot flying string and leaves to either decorate the kite or fly it. This process also takes 1/2 hour.
The program is appropriate for K-9 but grades K-2 do need parental help.
2. "Meet Orville Wright" - Our presenter, dressed like and pretending to be Orville Wright, takes the audience through the exciting lives of the Wright brothers from youth through success at Kitty Hawk. Great emphasis is placed on the sacrifice of the Wright Brothers in making their dream come true with appropriate challenges to the youth in the audience.
The program takes approximately 35 minutes plus questions. Group size can vary but we prefer less than 150 per session. It is ideal for 3rd grade through 99 years but it has been given successfully to Kindergarteners and grades 1 and 2.
The cost is $200 for 1/2 day and $250.00 for a whole day, plus mileage from Grand Haven.
We are sorry, but the "Kite Days" and "Meet Orville Wright" programs are no longer available.
The kits to build kites may still be purchased, however. Click here to get your kite kit!