Abstract
The Idaho Drone League (Drone) was launched to Inspire the next generation's workforce through engagement with STEM research and education. Idaho youth (middle/high school students) participated in four two-day drone workshops in locations across Idaho. Although drone applications are prevalent in many civil operations, including emergency response, hazard monitoring, delivery services, transportation, precision agriculture, public safety, and more, STEM workforce development programs are limited. The IDrone program, an informal STEM activity, was developed to introduce and apply STEM concepts packaged in a large dose of imagination, excitement, and teamwork sprit to inspire the future Idaho STEM workforce. The hands-on drone workshops integrated computer science, technology, engineering, and STEM career education. Students worked in groups to build, program, and fly drones and learned federal regulations and safety guidelines. The students also interacted with local professionals who use drones in their work and were introduced to a variety of drone research applications. Throughout the workshops, the students also shared and explored their own creative ideas for future drone applications and technologies. The preliminary results from student surveys demonstrate that IDrone can improve the preparedness of Idaho youth for college and careers in STEM fields. The developed IDrone curriculum module can be easily transferred and employed to promote a STEM pipeline broadly for K-12 education as well as for continuing education units (CEU) programs, undergraduate curriculums (IDrone X), and for graduate students and professionals (IDrone Pro) in years to come.