Drones for Good

What Is DFG?

Silicon Valley Drones for Good (DFG) is a K’nex based drone program for students from 5th to 8th grade. During our events, groups of kids build and operate their own drones to compete in various challenges with the mentorship and assistance of 4904 team members. Working together, the students use design thinking to solve engineering problems while developing skills in collaboration, real world thinking, flying drones, and having fun!

How It Started

DFG began as a passion project of a Bot-Provoking team member who had a love for drones and a desire to inspire others to see the beauty in drones he saw. The program was also inspired by FIRST’s model, and students are able to learn STEM collaboratively by building and prototyping drones. DFG has been running since 2018 and has now expanded to partner with three outside organizations to further expand our outreach impact. We are now partnered with The Nueva Middle School, Parkside Elementary, and Peninsula Bridge, an organization that serves under-resourced, high-achieving, historically marginalized students. Originally our program could accommodate ~30 students per year, but we have now grown to involve 85+ new students per year.