​Girls in Aviation Day is back in Boise for its second year, inviting girls ages 8–18 to explore the skies, meet women working in aviation, and get hands-on with aircraft and STEM activities. Written by Sonya Fiebert Kuhn, this story highlights the pilots, mechanics, and engineers who are helping local girls imagine their own futures in flight. Enjoy!

Girls in Aviation Day takes off in Boise

By Sonya Fiebert Kuhn

As a kid, Sarina Larson didn’t dream about becoming a pilot. It wasn’t until she was a teenager on a flight with her dad’s instructor that she started to imagine the successful pilot she would one day become. “He really included me as a potential pilot,” Larson shared about the flight instructor. “He told me, ‘Girls are great pilots.’ That inspired me to go back up.”

From that fortuitous flight, Larson sought out a job at her local airport and, as she described, “was immersed in aviation from then on.” She did flight training as often as she could and got a scholarship to a university with an aviation program. “For me, it’s a passion,” Larson shared. “I love flying, being in the air, seeing the sunsets, sunrises, being above the clouds. It’s a great career. I wish more girls knew about it.”

​That’s the driving force behind the second annual Girls in Aviation Day, a free Boise event this September that showcases women in aviation and aerospace.

"We want our Treasure Valley girls to see firsthand that there are exciting careers available to them as engineers, aircraft maintenance technicians, pilots, dispatchers, air traffic controllers, and many others,” said Bri Lemmon, a pilot and the President of the Gem State Chapter of Women in Aviation International. “Only 5.5% of commercial airline pilots are women. We want to change that by planting the seeds early."

SPONSORED BY BOISE BICYCLE PROJECT Get Ready to Roll at Open Streets Boise! Bust out the bikes, lace up your skates, and dust off your skateboard decks because the second annual Open Streets Boise is back on Sunday, Sept 28 from 12–5pm! For one afternoon only, Ustick Road between Cole Rd and Mountain View Dr will be closed to cars and wide open for walking, biking, rolling, and playing. This year’s festivities include Zookfest zucchini derby races with the West Bench Neighborhood Association, a mobile skate rink with Skate Revival, a Bike Rodeo with Safe Routes to School, Freak Bike Races with the Handlebar, plus live music, mariachi, Aztec dancers, and more. Come explore local food, art, family-friendly fun, and reimagine our streets as spaces for people, not just cars. This free event is hosted by Boise Bicycle Project with support from the City of Boise and the Winstead Park Neighborhood Association. Get the details here!

Pathway to a Pilot

Planting the seeds early is crucial for a career that requires several years of preparation. Add to that the growing need for pilots — the U.S. government estimates about 18,000 airline and commercial pilot jobs will open up this decade, and airlines in North America anticipate a shortage of nearly 30,000 pilots by 2032. That’s a vast upcoming need — and an opportunity to grow the number of pilots who are women.

Larson and Lemmon recognize that introducing girls to roles in aviation early and showcasing women in these roles is the key to encouraging more girls to follow in their footsteps. Take Bri Lemmon’s path to aviation. Lemmon’s aunt is an airline pilot and Lemmon admired her job, but didn’t think of herself going into that career. Then Lemmon began working as a gate agent at the Boise Airport and went on a discovery flight, and she started to imagine her own future in the sky. “I was hooked!” she shared about her experience. “I proceeded to get all my ratings, and since then, I have had the privilege of flight instructing, flying charter, and I now fly for airlines.”

“It takes representation and role models to help younger girls see themselves in those careers,” Larson said. As she pointed out, the number of women in other STEM careers has increased, but aviation hasn’t yet shown the same growth. On top of the disproportionate number of women who are pilots, only about 2% of aviation mechanics are women.

Girls in Aviation Day aims to change that. In addition to the local Gem State chapter, Girls in Aviation Day takes place around the world. In 2024, it reached more than 16,000 participants in 19 countries at over 120 events presented worldwide.

SPONSORED BY IDAHO SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL Discover the Magic of Peter and the Starcatcher Set sail on a whimsical prequel to Peter Pan at Idaho Shakespeare Festival! Peter and the Starcatcher is a hilarious, fast-paced adventure filled with clever wordplay, ingenious staging, and heartwarming themes that captivate kids and adults alike. Before the curtain rises, families can join a Treasure Hunt on the amphitheater grounds (Sundays–Thursdays). Grab your clue at Will Call and let the adventure begin! Plus, hillside seats are discounted through Sept 28, so bring a picnic and soak up the magic under the stars. Don’t miss this playful finale to the 2025 Idaho Shakespeare Festival season, happening now through Sept 28! Get your tix here!

Airplanes, Helicopters, and More at Girls in Aviation Day​

On Saturday, Sept. 20, from 10am to 2pm, Girls in Aviation Day will take center stage at the Jackson Jet Center in Boise. Put on by the Gem State Chapter of Women in Aviation International (WAI), the free event welcomes girls ages 8 to 18 for a morning of hands-on learning, aircraft tours, and one-on-one time with women professionals across the aviation and aerospace industries.

“Between the Boise Airport and Jackson Jet Center, having them all on board has been amazing,” Larson said. “We’re raising awareness and showing girls what an aviation career can look like with real-life examples of pilots, engineers, mechanics, air traffic controllers – everyone in aviation. We show them that women do all of this.”

Expect a mix of STEM activities, exhibitors, and static aircraft displays where girls can go up in airplanes and learn all about them. Life Flight will be there with helicopters, and the Boise Airport, a sponsor of the event, will bring operational vehicles, including their giant snowplow.

“I am so excited for our second annual Girls in Aviation Day,” Lemmon said. “I love outreach and education, so my hope is for our GIAD participants to learn about all the career options there are in this industry.”

​“This year will be bigger and better,” Larson added.​

SPONSORED BY MCCALL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Real People Wanted (like you!) This isn’t a giveaway. It’s not a gimmick. It’s a real trip for real people. ​The McCall Chamber is creating a new travel series starring actual families and couples. No influencers, no scripts. The trip includes free lodging, meals, activities, and a custom itinerary for a 3-night, 4-day getaway. You just show up, explore, and let your experience do the talking. Sound like your kind of trip? Apply here!

​Girls in Aviation Day at a Glance

​WHAT: Girls in Aviation Day, a free event introducing girls ages 8 to 18 to career pathways in aviation and aerospace.

WHEN: Saturday, Sept 20, 10am - 2pm

WHERE: Jackson Jet Center, 3300 W. Aeronca Street, Boise, ID 83705

WHO: Hosted by the Gem State Chapter of Women in Aviation International, Girls in Aviation Day is open to all youth ages 8–18 and their families. Expected attendance is about 200 girls from the Treasure Valley area.

​Registration for Girls in Aviation Day is free and encouraged. You can register here.

Thanks for reading!

With love from Boise,

Marissa

This story was written by Sonya Feibert Kuhn, a writer, improviser, and performer in Boise. She's an avid Treeforter and an enthusiastic patron of and participant in the storytelling and comedy scenes. On sunny days, find her in the foothills hiking with her pup, Chloe, and partner, Mitch.

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