barn,
i also have to drive almost an hour to get to my flying field but its worth it for the instructor, comradery and all the info you learn while there.and also worth not crashing a plane
as far as the kids are concerned i have 2 1 is 6 and the other 9 and i take them with me and have now got them interested in flying as well. and there are also other members who bring there kids and they play together.
bassman