It's the gee-whiz factor behind SOARING that makes it a five-star success with kids.

If you promise a child a chance to co-pilot a plane as a reward for completing a series of therapeutic goals, that child's behavioral issues often resolve themselves at an impressive speed.

Joe McCarron, creator of the 20-year old program, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Counselor, former Air Force navigator, Vietnam veteran, cancer survivor, and - in his own words - "a recovering human being." He's no stranger to aviation and even less of a stranger to life's challenges.

"I want to take therapy out of the office and get kids involved in a life in the community," McCarron said. "I want to make it fun for them. SOARING (Special Opportunities Affirm Recognition in Noteworthy Goals) is the 'play therapy' end of therapy." The program is open to children between the ages of 7 to 17.

McCarron said he'll ask a new client if he wants to fly a plane. If the response is, "Yeah, sure, what do I have to do?" McCarron will tell him: "Counseling."

To participate in the program, the youth must agree to work on behavioral issues, in addition to coping strategies for stressful family and health situations.

For McCarron, aviation is a metaphor for responsible living. Using it, he teaches clients core values such as courage and initiative. In SOARING, kids learn about the science of flight - they memorize airplane parts and find out what pilots do.

Carolyn Meyers' son has been in the program over a year and a half. Joshua, 12, has won the SOARING Youth of the Year Award for 2013.

"Joshua's father passed away a year ago and SOARING has been great for my son - it's meant the world to me, too," Meyers said. "Joshua's confidence has grown and he's willing, now, to stand up not only for himself, but for others, too. He's learned how aviation works and he loves to discover some new fact about planes and present it to Joe in his counseling session. It's all really neat for Joshua, because we're an Air Force family."

SOARING is a non-profit, all-volunteer program where private pilots donate their time and aircraft to take students on their graduation plane rides. More than 90 percent of the money coming in from fundraisers is spent on aviation fuel.

Soar on over for pancakes

SOARING's 20th birthday party breakfast fundraiser:

• 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday at Cd'A Applebee's

• $10 per ticket or $25 for 3 tickets

• Raffle for free airplane rides and gift baskets

Call 661-0584 or www.soaringyouth.org