Squadron 131 Cadet Activities

✈️ Aerospace

🚀 American Rocketry Challenge Cadets design and build model rockets carrying a live egg, then compete to reach a target altitude with the egg landing intact. Real engineering. Real stakes. 🔗 Learn more at rocketrychallenge.org

🎈 High-Altitude Balloon Challenge ⭐ CAP hosts the annual National AE High-Altitude Balloon Challenge, where cadets design scientific experiments flown to the edge of the stratosphere — reaching nearly 100,000 feet. Squadron 131 proudly took home the 2025 Hand-drawn Mission Patch award, a national recognition. 🔗 Learn more about the Balloon Challenge

✈️ NASA / CAP Aviation Sky Watch Mission Civil Air Patrol has partnered with NASA to support active research. Squadron 131 cadets collect contrail data from high-altitude aircraft flying over our building. All information gathered is processed and transmitted directly to NASA. 🔗 Learn more about the CAP-NASA Mission

🏆 Leadership

Leadership Training As part of the cadet program, cadets go through professional leadership training that carries value well beyond CAP. As cadets advance through the ranks, they develop real-world skills in communication, responsibility, and teamwork. 🔗 View the L2L Activity Guide

🔍 Emergency Services

Search & Rescue Trained cadets participate in real Search and Rescue missions alongside local and federal agencies. All CAP members must complete required training and be signed off before joining actual SAR operations.

Cadet roles include:

• Ground Team Member — assists agencies in locating missing persons or Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs)
• Mission Radio Operator — manages communications between all CAP members and local and federal agencies throughout the mission

🤝 Community Service

"Prepare myself to be of service to my community, state and nation." — CAP Cadet Oath

Squadron 131 cadets serve the Santa Barbara community at events including:

• Santa Barbara Airport Events
• Santa Ynez Airport Day
• Goleta Memorial Day Service
• Goleta Holiday Parade

Cadets work closely with event coordinators and operate as a team to ensure every event is a success.