Alanson middle school 6th, 7th, and 8th graders had the opportunity earlier this week to try their hands at flying drones, during a visit from Char-Em Street STEM’s mobile STEM initiative.
Using DJI Mini 2 drones, instructor Brandon Beltz taught the students how to safely fly the drones and then had them perform a series of activities including taking pictures of tilted buckets with colored tape inside and a number on the bottom. “In the industry these are called ‘stick skills,’” Beltz said. “The students were definitely wowed by the drones. They had a lot of fun flying them and did not want their time to be done.”
While the students had fun, Beltz said they also learned about the many potential career paths as drone operators, including capturing footage remotely where it is not possible or safe for a person to go. Drone pilots enjoy a high-paying career field with many options, he added. Those students interested in learning more can enroll in the Unmanned Vehicles course offered at Harbor Springs High School, a collaboration with Char-Em ISD Career and Technical Education.