Technically there isn’t a single place, but hundreds of locations across the country will soon host events for youths taking part in the Drone Discovery Challenge as part of the upcoming 4-H National Youth Science Day 2016.
Drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are one of the hottest trends in technology, which makes them the perfect tool to introduce the next generation to engineering concepts and other STEM subjects.
Last year’s challenge drew in nearly 100,000 participants, making it one of the largest youth-led engineering challenges. With any luck, this year’s drone-focused event will bring in even more budding engineers.
What You Can Do with Drones
Let’s be honest – drones are just plain cool. They are being used in construction, underwater operations, firefighting, agriculture – even flying in races.
But events such as Drone Discovery at the 4-H NYSD take youths beyond the cool-factor and into sophisticated engineering and design challenges. These includes flight dynamics, types of unmanned aircraft, remote sensing, flight control and, of course, safety and other flight regulations.
The event programming was developed by Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension program and offers participating youths a hands-on, three-part engineering design challenge that will introduce them to the essential concepts behind the design and construction of drones.
Participants will have the chance to experiment with both fixed and stationary wing designs, explore the concepts behind remote sensing, and dive deep into the world of coding to learn how drones are programmed.
All these topics are structured as examples of real-world drone applications.
“What's so exciting about 4-H NYSD is that it's a hands-on, interactive learning experience that uses cutting-edge topics from the real world to get youth excited about science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO of the national 4-H council.
“For many kids, this experiential approach to learning ignites an interest in STEM topics that can quickly grow into a passion. Facilitating this progression—from interest to sustained passion—is what 4-H STEM is all about,” Sirangelo continued.
Events like this are also excellent opportunities for engineering students, or working professional engineers, to get involved with spreading the word of STEM to the younger generation. Take the opportunity to volunteer for your local event, and share your engineering experience and knowledge with the future engineers in your community!
Join Drone Discovery Events Across the Country
The 4-H is one of many organizations aiming to encourage kids to pursue STEM throughout their education and into their careers.
4-H STEM certainly appears dedicated to this goal, reporting that youths in their programs across the nation complete more than 5 million projects each year relating to robotics, rocketry, wind power and alternative energy, environmental sciences and other STEM fields.
4-H Drone Discovery events will be happening at hundreds of locations throughout all 50 states, as well as other countries worldwide. The flagship national event will be held on October 5th, 2016 in Washington, D.C. Engineering design challenge kits, containing all the materials necessary for 10 youths to join in and complete the Drone Discovery challenge, are available through the 4-H website.
Check out the 4-H NYSD Drone Discovery page to get involved in your local event!