Article submitted by Balloons Over Vermilion

Balloon School was in session Thursday morning May 2nd at Oakwood Grade School, as the entire
student body and staff entered a cold-inflated balloon for a short course on hot air ballooning. Ms.
Tiffany Johnson’s fourth grade class are this year’s Ambassador Class for the 2024 Balloons Over
Vermilion event to be held at the Vermilion Regional Airport on July 12 th and 13 th and a Balloon School
preview is one of the perks of being the host students.
As the Ambassador Class, students studied all areas of ballooning during the spring semester, designed
their own balloons with a short story about their creations and constructed a model balloon that they
set sail with the assistance of blow dryers. They will lead the Parade of Pilots at the beginning of the
festival.
Donna Carlton Vish, a local pilot with over 20 years of ballooning experience, served as the instructor for
yesterday’s class, a role she has played for Balloons Over Vermilion since the event originated in 2016.
Her focus is to present information so the students and staff gain a basic understanding about all facets
of ballooning in a hands-on environment. They were able to walk through the balloon, feel it, see the
lines, pulleys and vents that help pilots guide balloons in flight and ask questions.
We invite everyone to the next session of Balloon School Saturday, July 13 th from 3-4:30PM at the
Vermilion Regional Airport, Danville IL.
If you would like to be a part of this marquee summer event volunteer sign up is now open. It’s fun and
easy and you get free admission! Go to https://www.balloonsoververmilion.com/ and click the
volunteer tab. You will be able to see what positions are open with a short job description and select the
best time that works for you.
Be sure to visit our website at balloonsoververmilion.com for more information about Balloons Over
Vermilion where the Sky’s the Limit!