PreFlight Aviation Camp
East Valley Institute of Technology, 1601 W Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201
About
PreFlight Aviation Camp is a six-day camp where campers pilot a simulator and fly an airplane on a private flight with one of the female instructors. The program also includes a mentorship component connected to the camp experience.
• Ages: 11–14 years old
• Schedule: Six-day camp
PreFlight Aviation Camp offers an aviation camp for girls ages 10–14 with a mission to transform beliefs about gender roles and inspire young girls to take off into their future. The program uses aviation to build girls’ self-esteem, empower them to reach their goals, and inspire the next generation of pilots. PreFlight is a 501c3 nonprofit that provides a six-day camp and mentorship program for girls ages 11–14. All counselors are female pilots, aviation professionals, and women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and the camp uses a hands-on approach to explore aviation through Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM). Campers pilot a simulator and fly an airplane on a private flight with one of the female instructors. Applications will open around February 2026 for all five camp locations in Texas, Colorado, Florida, Arizona, and California. PreFlight’s logo colors each have symbolic meanings: orange represents adventure, pink represents hope, and blue represents perseverance.
The leadership team includes Madisen Kunkel, a Certified Flight Instructor at Skyborne Flight Training Center in Vero Beach, FL, who holds a Certified Flight Instructor Certificate, Airplane Single/Instrument Airplane (CFII) and Commercial Single-Engine Land and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership from Arizona State University with a minor in Digital Audiences. Liz Greene is a veteran and former United States Air Force Senior Pilot and a pilot for Hawaiian Airlines who holds an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, Airplane Multi-Engine Land and Commercial Airplane Single-Engine Land/Single-Engine Sea, and she earned a master’s degree in Military Operational Art and Science from Air University and graduated cum laude from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geographic Information Science. Nancy Hultgren is an Airbus 320 pilot for Delta Air Lines who has worked as a flight instructor, contract pilot, intern simulator instructor, and regional airline pilot, and she holds an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, Airplane Multi-Engine Land, Commercial Airplane Single-Engine Land, Certified Flight Instructor Certificate, Airplane Single/Multi-Engine/Instrument Airplane, and Advanced Ground Instructor; she graduated summa cum laude from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Airway Science and a minor in Business. Kristen Franke is a Major in the United States Air Force Reserve, where she serves as a C-17A pilot, and is an Airbus 221 pilot for Delta Air Lines; she holds an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, Airplane Multi-Engine Land and Commercial Airplane Single-Engine Land, earned a master’s degree with honors in Sports Studies from United States Sports Academy, and graduated from William Woods University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology.
Madisen is an active volunteer and participant in Women in Aviation and other local nonprofit organizations like SkyKids. Liz is a participant and volunteer at Women in Aviation International events and conferences and is actively involved in her community as a member of Women in Aviation International.
Last updated January 16, 2026.
• Ages: 11–14 years old
• Schedule: Six-day camp
PreFlight Aviation Camp offers an aviation camp for girls ages 10–14 with a mission to transform beliefs about gender roles and inspire young girls to take off into their future. The program uses aviation to build girls’ self-esteem, empower them to reach their goals, and inspire the next generation of pilots. PreFlight is a 501c3 nonprofit that provides a six-day camp and mentorship program for girls ages 11–14. All counselors are female pilots, aviation professionals, and women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and the camp uses a hands-on approach to explore aviation through Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM). Campers pilot a simulator and fly an airplane on a private flight with one of the female instructors. Applications will open around February 2026 for all five camp locations in Texas, Colorado, Florida, Arizona, and California. PreFlight’s logo colors each have symbolic meanings: orange represents adventure, pink represents hope, and blue represents perseverance.
The leadership team includes Madisen Kunkel, a Certified Flight Instructor at Skyborne Flight Training Center in Vero Beach, FL, who holds a Certified Flight Instructor Certificate, Airplane Single/Instrument Airplane (CFII) and Commercial Single-Engine Land and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership from Arizona State University with a minor in Digital Audiences. Liz Greene is a veteran and former United States Air Force Senior Pilot and a pilot for Hawaiian Airlines who holds an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, Airplane Multi-Engine Land and Commercial Airplane Single-Engine Land/Single-Engine Sea, and she earned a master’s degree in Military Operational Art and Science from Air University and graduated cum laude from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geographic Information Science. Nancy Hultgren is an Airbus 320 pilot for Delta Air Lines who has worked as a flight instructor, contract pilot, intern simulator instructor, and regional airline pilot, and she holds an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, Airplane Multi-Engine Land, Commercial Airplane Single-Engine Land, Certified Flight Instructor Certificate, Airplane Single/Multi-Engine/Instrument Airplane, and Advanced Ground Instructor; she graduated summa cum laude from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Airway Science and a minor in Business. Kristen Franke is a Major in the United States Air Force Reserve, where she serves as a C-17A pilot, and is an Airbus 221 pilot for Delta Air Lines; she holds an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, Airplane Multi-Engine Land and Commercial Airplane Single-Engine Land, earned a master’s degree with honors in Sports Studies from United States Sports Academy, and graduated from William Woods University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology.
Madisen is an active volunteer and participant in Women in Aviation and other local nonprofit organizations like SkyKids. Liz is a participant and volunteer at Women in Aviation International events and conferences and is actively involved in her community as a member of Women in Aviation International.
Last updated January 16, 2026.
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