RIVER Opening skies.
Expanding possibilities.
Connecting Indigenous youth across the Pacific Northwest with aviation, aerospace, STEM exploration, mentorship, and meaningful career pathways.
Opportunity begins with awareness.
River Education Connection is dedicated to helping Indigenous young people discover what is possible in aviation and aerospace—and understand the steps to pursue those opportunities.
See the possibilities
Introduce students to pilots, engineers, technicians, air traffic controllers, airport professionals, and the broader aerospace workforce.
Learn by doing
Connect youth with aviation demonstrations, simulators, STEM workshops, site visits, and qualified experiential-learning partners.
Find a pathway
Help students explore training, scholarships, certifications, college programs, apprenticeships, and mentorship opportunities.
Programs designed to inspire the next generation.
Our proposed initiatives can be developed with tribal communities, educators, and industry partners to reflect local priorities.
Aviation & Aerospace Discovery
Career talks, interactive presentations, aviation fundamentals, and introductions to the people behind flight and space exploration.
Hands-On STEM Experiences
Flight simulators, drone demonstrations, design challenges, airport visits, and aerospace learning experiences through appropriate partners.
Youth Career Academy
A structured multi-week experience combining career discovery, leadership, industry exposure, mentorship, and future planning.
Mentorship Network
Connect students with Indigenous aviation professionals and other qualified mentors who can share real-world experience.
Scholarship & Training Navigation
Guidance on education routes, financial support opportunities, FAA-related training, and entry-level career preparation.
Community & Educator Partnerships
Co-design school and community programs with tribal education departments, local educators, and aerospace organizations.
Explore the world of flight.
From aircraft and airport operations to engineering and exploration, the aviation and aerospace industry offers many ways to build a future.
Illustrative photography; images do not depict River program participants or confirmed partners.
There is more than one way into aerospace.
Aviation and aerospace careers span hands-on technical work, operations, technology, engineering, and leadership.
Explore the careers and meet professionals.
Try STEM activities and visit industry sites.
Find mentors, schools, and training resources.
Build a plan for education and career entry.
Partnerships make pathways possible.
We seek collaborative relationships with tribal nations and education departments, schools, colleges, airports, airlines, aerospace employers, aviation professionals, nonprofits, and sponsors.
Our approach is community-informed: Indigenous partners should help shape programs, representation, student safeguards, and measures of success.
Help the next generation take flight.
Are you a tribal education leader, school representative, aerospace professional, potential sponsor, parent, or student? We'd welcome a conversation.
Contact River Education Connection LLC
Service area: Pacific Northwest, beginning with Washington and Oregon.
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This website describes proposed initiatives. Program availability, scholarships, and partner commitments will be announced when confirmed.