San Diego Airport Youth Airfield Tour!
The San Diego International Airport offers a FREE two hour Youth Airfield Tour for kids in grades 2-8! This field trip tops out a maximum of 22 persons per tour. It’s open to school groups, scouts, etc…
The Youth Airfield Tour Meets At The SD Airport Authority Administrative Building
The tour begins at the San Diego Airport Authority’s Administrative Building. This building is located at what used to be the original Commuter Terminal. Parking for the tour is available here as well. A designated Airport Authority Guide will meet you out front. The guide will hand out official pre-printed name tags that are required for the tour.
Depending Upon Availability, the Tour May Include A Demonstration From the Harbor Police K-9 Unit
Depending upon availability, the Youth Airfield Tour may include a demonstration by the K-9 bomb-sniffing dogs of the San Diego Harbor Police. This portion of the tour gives great information about airport security, dog training/handling, and the many duties of a Harbor Police officer.
An Air Conditioned VIP Bus Shuttles You Around the Airfield
Each of the persons on the tour board an air conditioned “VIP” bus for the airfield tour. The bus goes through security checks to make sure the guide has authorization to enter the runway.
Your Guide Informs You of Interesting Details About the Airport
Once on the airfield, planes arrive and depart at a close distance. The guide describes different jobs that people have at the airport. The guide also points out interesting details about planes, the fueling area, etc… He/she will also inform your group of the least tern, a type of small, endangered bird that can be found living on and around the airfield, as well as other areas of San Diego.
You May Be Able To Tour the Airport Fire Station As Well
The tour continues to the airport fire station. Depending upon availability, your group may be able to get out and tour the station. You may be able to tour of both the inside and outside of the station. A firefighter will likely tell your group about the responsibilities of an airport firefighter, and give you the opportunity to go inside one of the engines.
Kids Receive A Very Gracious Gift At the End of the Tour
After arriving back at the Administration Building the kids are surprised with a backpack filled with neat, fun, and educational goodies from the airport. This is an awesome addition to a wonderful field trip, and VERY nice gift from the airport.
You Must Sign Up In Advance and Pass Security Clearance Prior To the Tour
If you have the interest in taking the Youth Airfield Tour, you’ll need to sign up in advance, and there will likely be a long wait for an available date. Each person must pass a security check prior to attending, and no one other than those signed up in advance may be present at the tour.
Here’s a link to the Youth Airfield Tour section of the San Diego Airport’s website, where you can read further details about the tour, request more info, and visit assorted links that include games and activities, curriculum, and more.
No upcoming dates available for the Youth Airfield Tour? You might also want to inquire about the other airport tour(s) available by clicking here. (Please Note: We have not taken any tours other than the Youth Airfield Tour, and don’t know if the other tour(s) available include the same amenities as the one we took.)
The Youth Airfield Tour is a great way for kids to learn about many of the different operations at an airport. It was definitely an experience that we each enjoyed, and will always remember. It made for a very fun and interesting field trip. Perhaps we’ll see you there!
