Take Flight Robotics: A STEM Education Workshop for High School Students

Abstract

Summer activities and programs are important to attract students to careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Take Flight Robotics (TFR) was a youth outreach workshop and program that ran for one week during the summer in 2015 and 2016 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). The camp was very well received by about 15 high school participants each year. This paper provides a comprehensive summary of the TFR program, a look at the student experience and activities, and lessons learned. Suggested guidelines, program activities, and technical descriptions of unmanned aerial vehicles are provided. This paper provides enough information for interested instructors and educators to replicate the program at their home institutions.