Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst hosted a week-long Drone Legends camp in July for Toms River, New Jersey students to learn more about the role these machines can play in the military and everyday life.

The camp incorporates Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) foundations for middle and high school students, who participate in 10 “missions” during the program.  

These activities include flight training, medicine delivery, drone racing, fighting fires, shark watching, and even looking at life on Mars.  

“Drone Legends is an exciting educational program that uses drones as interactive and engaging tools. The Drone Legends experience introduces children to the wonderful career opportunities that await them in the burgeoning drone services field, plus cinematography and computer coding fundamentals. These are disciplines and skills they’ll use to succeed in the 21st century,” said Haidy Oliveira, NAWCAD Lakehurst Education Coordinator. 

The drone camp is just one of several examples of NAWCAD Lakehurst working with local school districts to increase student interest in STEM careers, including Camp Invention, Kids Week at the USS Intrepid, and the SeaPerch regional competition.