The Next Generation of Drone Pilots is Already in Training

Jacquene Curlee – affectionately often known as “Miss JC” by her college students – loves her job.  With an enthusiasm and spirit unattainable to withstand, JC is on a mission to advertise her personal model of STEAM schooling: Science, Technology, Engineering, Aviation and Math.

 

The founder and CEO of Kids Drone Zone has discovered her calling in the drone discipline by educating youngsters from ages Eight-18 to construct, code, fly, restore, and use drones.  Along the best way, they study cooperation, collaboration, scholarship and fervour.  And all of them find it irresistible.

Kids Drone Zone provides camps, courses, public occasions, internships and scholarships – and the record is at all times increasing as JC finds new methods to help her college students.  From a trial run on the Atlanta Maker Faire in 2015 to a corporation providing alternatives for younger folks throughout the nation, the Kids Drone Zone has been on a continuous development spurt.

 “In 2015, with just a crazy new idea, we went to the Atlanta Maker Faire and set up a Drone Technology Pavilion to see if the community would be accepting of the idea,” says JC. “We did drone safety and education, followed by drone tech and drones for good – and at the end, the kids got to fly.”

“1,076 kids later – my feet hurt so much! – we knew we had a business,” she laughs.

The response to that first outing was so optimistic that the Drone Tech Pavilion received the blue ribbon on the Maker Faire as the most well-liked tent.  Thousands of children and lots of occasions later, JC and her workforce are nonetheless thrilling their college students with their tackle drone know-how.

A former CPA and fraud investigator from Atlanta, Curlee obtained in drone know-how from watching TED talks in her spare time.  Fascinated by the brand new trade, she started taking each drone class she may whereas nonetheless working full-time.  Determined to make a profession change and observe her ardour, she recognized youth schooling as an unserved area of interest in the trade.

From these first public occasions, this system has unfold like wildfire.  Camps, courses, drone enjoyable days, drone olympics, drone squads and drone ambassadors: JC has a seemingly limitless vitality for getting children concerned with drone know-how.  “We shift the programs to focus on what the kids are most interested in,” says JC.  “They all love different aspects. ” Invited to take part in the Women in Aviation National Conference at Disney, JC discovered herself voted as the most effective half of the convention by the 400 women in this system.  She’s been invited to the presidential inauguration management summit and partnered with prestigious drone firms throughout the nation.  It appears that the following technology – and their dad and mom –  are simply as in the drone trade as she is.

Kids exterior of the Southeast will quickly have the ability to take part too.  Kids Drone Zone can be increasing with a “train the trainers” strategy to create “Drone Squads,” teams who can observe the KDZ program. Students who’ve been by this system would be the voices on “how to” movies that may assist information the method; data quizzes will transfer children alongside in the curriculum.

And the following technology of drone technologists may discover their calling.  “My whole goal is to give as many kids as I can that exposure and experience, to inspire them to create,” says JC.

 

For extra data on sponsorship and internship alternatives for firms or packages for teenagers, go to KidsDroneZone.org.

 

 

Miriam McNabb is the CEO of JobForDrones, knowledgeable drone providers market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone trade and the regulatory setting for drones. She writes for DRONELIFE on present information, monetary traits, and FAA laws. Miriam has a level from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising and marketing for brand spanking new applied sciences.
Email Miriam
TWITTER:@spaldingbarker
Previous Preview: Breakthrough – Game of Drones, May 23rd
Next An Interview with James Mackler, Drone Lawyer and Candidate …

Check Also

Local tech company expanding with new building in downtown F…

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A Fresno tech and educational company is expanding. Quiq Labs held …

Editorial: Fine-tune drone policy-Telangana Today

As a sizable percentage of India’s drones continue to be imported, there is a need …