Colorado AeroLab (CAL) was founded in July 2017 by Elaine Menardi and Jess Buller and is a registered non-profit corporation in good standing in the State of Colorado. CAL received 501(c)(3) non-profit status in February 2018.
Original programming began as an aviation and aerospace homeschool enrichment opportunity in Colorado Springs at Colorado Military Academy. In December 2017, the program directors took over daily operations and financial responsibility for these activities under a different organization.
In May 2018, CAL was awarded a federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC) grant from the Colorado Department of Education to set up learning centers in the northwestern corner of Colorado. New programming began in August 2018 and continues to the present day. Enrollment has grown to 450 students in three years.
Colorado AeroLab employs two full-time staff, Chief Innovator and CEO/CFO, and 18 part-time staff members, 13 instructors and 5 support staff. Throughout the year, approximately 10 volunteers help in some way across all sites.