Create-a-Drone Takes Flight at Haverford!

This summer, something new soared at our Haverford campus—our first-ever Create-a-Drone class! In this high-flying, hands-on program, drone enthusiasts spent the week learning to build, program, and operate their very own drones while diving into the exciting world of STREAM (Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Arts, and Math).

Learning about the many types of drones

Practicing outside!

Learning how to take off and land

Landed right in the center!

Led by Drone Instructor Gerald, campers began their week by exploring the history and evolution of drone technology before jumping into flight training with Gerald’s professional drones. With expert instruction, they learned how to safely hover, land, and pan, even taking the drones an incredible 200 feet into the air!

But the adventure didn’t stop there. Each camper built their own indoor drone, learning about the mechanics and design behind modern robotics. Once assembled, they moved into coding and programming, using mobile devices to teach their drones to navigate classroom obstacle courses with precision and creativity.

As the week came to a close, campers tapped into the artistic side of drone technology, filming and editing their own aerial videos to showcase everything they had learned. These final projects were a highlight of the week—demonstrating not only their technical skills but their creativity and confidence as young drone pilots and makers.

Each participant left camp with a personal drone, a custom Create-a-Drone t-shirt, a mini obstacle course kit, and most importantly—a week’s worth of incredible memories.

Throughout the program, campers engaged with core STREAM topics:

• Science – learning the physics of flight and aerodynamics

• Technology – programming and digital control systems

• Robotics – hands-on drone assembly

• Engineering – understanding structure, design, and mechanics

• Arts – creative aerial photography and video editing

• Math – calculating speed, distance, and altitude

Create-a-Drone was a thrilling success and a perfect example of how learning can be both fun and future-focused. We’re so proud of our first class of drone pilots—and we can’t wait to see what they build and explore next!