Real drones, real flight. Students in grades 5–12 learn to pilot, program autonomous missions, and explore the engineering behind unmanned aircraft — hands-on with real UAV hardware.
Get your pilot started →Drones are one of the most engaging ways into real engineering — and among the fastest-growing skills in the world, from filmmaking to agriculture to search-and-rescue. In our Drone program, students learn to fly safely, program autonomous flight paths, and understand the physics and engineering that keep an aircraft in the air. It's hands-on, it's real hardware, and it's a blast.
The Drone program is built for students in grades 5–12, at any experience level. Beginners start with the fundamentals of safe flight and controls; more experienced students move into autonomous programming, aerial photography, and building or repairing their own aircraft.
Every pilot starts with the same hands-on basics — then chooses a direction, and can do both.
Learn to fly, then go further — autonomous programming, aerial photography and mapping, and the engineering behind flight, at your own pace. A natural pair with robotics, CS, and AI.
See all programs →Ready to test your skills? Students can take flying into drone racing and flight challenges — precision courses, timed runs, and mission-based competitions.
Join the waitlist →Why STEM4U
Areas We Serve
STEM4U runs drone classes for families throughout Loudoun, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier & Arlington counties — including Ashburn, Aldie, Leesburg, Sterling, South Riding, Brambleton, Stone Ridge, Dulles, Chantilly, Centreville, Herndon, Reston, Gainesville, Haymarket, Bristow, Manassas and surrounding Northern Virginia communities.