Middle school students within the Greater Washington D. C. recently participated in the second Virginia Tech Innovation Campus Drone Camp. This week-long program also offered direct practice in the integration of STEM into schooling through the use of drones. The participants construct their drones and interact with drones through simulations and lectures from specialists in the field.
Some of the key activities executed in the camp include; acquiring the FAA Safety and Trust Operators certification, with the MAAP staff taking students through all the key activities involving operation, safety and control of drones. Certainly one of the fun parts was a visit to Aurora Flight Sciences in Manassas, VA where the students could see various practical uses of drones.
The week finished with a visit to the Virginia Tech Drone Park in Blacksburg where students could fly own drones and bring the created projects to life. Not only was this experience engaging for the students but it also raised awareness and encouraged them towards STEM related paths while also providing hands-on, real world applications and knowledge.