Spirit of Youth: NYA's Glider Program at Lake Cassidy

This silent film documents the National Youth Administration (NYA) aviation training program at Lake Cassidy, Michigan, focusing on the educational and hands-on experience of young boys in building and flying gliders.

Learning Fundamentals: The film begins with boys working with model planes and technical drawings, illustrating the foundational education in aerodynamics and engineering principles provided by the NYA program.
Classroom and Workshop: It then transitions to classroom study sessions and shop work, where the boys apply theoretical knowledge to practical skills, preparing them for the physical construction of gliders.
Construction Process: Detailed scenes show the boys crafting glider parts and assembling them, highlighting the meticulous and collaborative nature of the work.
Flight Operations: The film culminates with the practical application of their skills, as the completed gliders are towed by automobiles for takeoff, then flown and safely landed by the young participants, showcasing their newfound abilities in aviation.

"Spirit of Youth" celebrates the NYA's efforts to engage youth in meaningful vocational training, fostering not only technical skills but also a sense of achievement and adventure through the construction and flight of gliders, preparing them for potential careers in the burgeoning field of aviation during the early 1940s.