Drone Maker: Build, Code & Fly with AR for Young

Grades: Grade 3-5

Length: 2 weeks

Accreditation: Fully WASC Accredited (The Gold Standard in K-12 Education)

Prerequisite: None

DESCRIPTION

Take your creativity to the skies! Young Enthusiasts will transform into Drone Pilots and Engineers in this exhilarating 2-week journey of flight and coding.

No experience needed—everyone learns at their own pace, with extra challenges for students who are ready for more.

This isn't just about flying a toy; it's about understanding the machine. Students will explore the mechanics of aerodynamics, learning exactly how motors, propellers, and sensors work together to achieve flight. But a pilot needs more than just a remote—they need programming. Students will learn basic of coding and use coding to program flight paths, and safe landings. Finally, they will combine their physical drone with Holographic AR to fly through digital obstacle courses and explore simulated worlds!

Along the way, campers build creativity, critical thinking, and persistence as they debug and refine drone flights.

Experience the Magic of Drones + AR: We combine hands-on engineering concepts with immersive flight simulation.

• Discover Drone Mechanics: Students explore the science behind the machine. They examine the components of a programmable drone to understand how motors and sensors create stability and balance in the air.
• Code Your Flight: Forget the joystick! Students become the Mission Commander, writing code to tell the drone exactly how to take off, flip, hover, and navigate a path automatically.
• Teleport the Skies: Using Holographic AR, the classroom becomes an adventure. Students can visualize their drone flying through a digital ring of fire or navigating a space station while flying in the real world.

Hardware Provided:

• Programmable Drone with Camera: A drone designed for coding and flight mechanics exploration with PicoW (industry standard).
• Note: Hardware is provided for camp use only.

What You Will Do:

• Explore Components: Get up close with a real programmable drone, learning about circuits, motors, and aerodynamics.
• Understand Flight Science: Learn the physics of flight—how lift, drag, and thrust keep your machine in the air.
• Code the Drone: Use drag-and-drop coding to program automated flips, turns, and precise landing maneuvers.
• AR Flight Missions: Create a digital obstacle course and fly your physical drone through it using the magic of AR.
• Play & Learn: Enjoy a balance of learning with fun indoor/outdoor camp activities.
• Note: The drone hardware is provided for camp use, not to take home.

Students will learn the following:

• Computer and Internet skills (Young Level)
• Introductory Space Engineering (Young Level)
• Introductory Drone Engineering (Young Level)
• Introductory Drone Coding (Young Level)
• Intro to Spatial Reasoning & Navigation (Young Level)
• Holographic AR Design & Logic for Drone Control (Young Level)
• UI/UX Design (Young Level)
• Interactive Storytelling for Drone Applications (Young Level)
• Debugging & Problem-Solving (Young Level)

⚠️ Essential Safety & Readiness Guide (Please Read) To ensure a safe and happy camp for our participants, please ensure your child is ready for the following:

• Safety First (Strictly Indoor): Drones are regulated by the FAA and local government. Students are not allowed to fly drones outside of the classroom or outside of our designated safety nets. Students must have the maturity to follow these boundaries and listen to the instructor immediately.
• Hair & Clothing: For safety, students with long hair must tie it back, and loose clothing/drawstrings should be tucked in to prevent tangling with fast-spinning propellers.
• Focus & Patience: Flying takes practice! Students should be ready to try, crash (safely), and try again.