RICKENBACKER-WOODS TECHNOLOGY MUSEUM AND HISTORICAL PARK INC

Creators, Originators, and Innovators of Tomorrow Workforce Initiative (COITWI): The COITWI program operates as a six-month workforce development and violence prevention initiative for high school students in Columbus. Through paid internships, participants engage in hands-on projects that build leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills while promoting positive alternatives to youth violence. Activities include designing community gardens, producing public art such as murals and quilts, organizing civic events, and leading field trips to cultural, educational, and historic institutions across Ohio. By blending STEAM-based learning with community engagement, COITWI provides students with real-world experiences that enhance their mental capacity, address insecurities, and prepare them for higher education and the workforce, while also generating measurable cost savings to the community by reducing risks associated with youth incarceration. Summer Adventure Camp: The Rickenbacker Woods Foundation's Summer Adventure Camp serves elementary and middle school youth with a focus on STEAM exploration, literacy, and social-emotional learning. The camp operates daily over the summer months, providing participants with structured activities such as science experiments, art projects, reading enrichment, and physical fitness. Field trips to museums, parks, and cultural sites further broaden students' horizons, while guest instructors introduce innovative programs in areas like digital animation, robotics, and storytelling. The camp also emphasizes inclusion, offering a safe and welcoming environment for children of all abilities, including those with autism and ADHD, who are often excluded from other programs. With daily meals provided and a strong emphasis on creativity, teamwork, and confidence-building, the Summer Adventure Camp enriches young lives while strengthening families and the wider community.