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Drone camp aims to launch STEM interests in local city youth

Posted at 4:55 PM, Jul 26, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-26 18:44:03-04

It takes skills, and definitely some patience to master controlling a quad-copter through the air.

This week, it's also part of drone camp for a group of nine youths.

"Sometimes the drones can be unstable, so it's hard to maneuver it," said 13-year-old Xavier Goodall.

"I like drones because they fly, and they can go really high, and you can do tricks with them" 10-year-old Jamaal Kadrolli said.

Flying the aircraft is the fun part.  But before takeoff, the drones need to be assembled.

"My favorite thing is that we get to build things,” said 10-year-old Jamera Mosby.  “It's a life experience."

Each participant gets their own kit.

"We have been building our drones, and we have been talking about them," Kadrolli said.

"So far we've learned how drones work, what they're made of, what they're used for," said Goodall.

"We've been finding out different pieces about the drones, like the flight controller is the one that controls the drone," 10-year-old Maleek Surrette said.

For five hours a day the kids learn how the parts fit together, and how the technology works.  Organizers hope the drones become more than a hobby for camp participants.

"Usually we try to target the elementary to middle school range, you know, catch kids while they're young, get them exposed to the STEM aspects, the technology and everything, and just engage with them so they have something to build off of going forward," said Austin Brown with Global Air Media.

And possibly launching education and careers in the science that gets the devices off the ground.

At the end of the week, after building the drones, everyone who came to the camp gets to take their own quad home.

"Seeing them light up as they learn about what pieces do and putting it together, and then at the end of the day they walk away saying I built this, that's the most rewarding part," said Brown.