The Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project is at its core an education project. Our goal is that each student on a ballooning team has a seamless, positive, transformative and personalized learning experience that supports their career goals and interests. As such, we will provide significant structured educational support to the student participants as well as their adult mentors. While some educational opportunities will come through regional pod leaders and will be specialized for your region and focus areas, other educational opportunities will be presented in broad and flexible formats designed for participants across the nation to come together and learn with—and from—one another. We look forward to learning with you!

NEBP Learning Pathways 

NEBP learning pathways will ensure that participating students acquire the necessary technical skills to participate fully in a balloon launch while also offering complementary non-technical skills for success in college, careers and life. 

Technical skills  follow a fairly linear trajectory, with skills that have been mastered providing the foundation for future skills. Students who have already mastered some of the novice skills may enter the pathway further “downstream.” Assessments will help team leaders and NEBP core leaders track student proficiency and set the pace for next steps in the pathway.  

  • The Atmospheric Science and Engineering teams will have different technical skills pathways. 
  • Technical skills are provided primarily by team leaders, who will be trained and supported by pod leaders and the NEBP core leadership team. 

Career skills  are driven primarily by learner choice and offer flexibility for each individual student to build their own relevant pathway. We will encourage participation by creating relevant, fun and engaging content; offering flexibility of delivery mode and schedule; and seeking ways to support students who desire “micro-credentials” such as certificates or digital badges. Examples of career skills trainings and opportunities will include science communication; diversity, equity, inclusion and access; teamwork; leadership; cultural approaches to science; and others.  

  • Students from Atmospheric Science and Engineering teams will have the same career skills opportunities. 
  • Career skills will be offered in multiple formats, including both regularly scheduled live (online) opportunities as well as online/self-paced opportunities, such as learning modules.