> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://stem-docs.intellectualpoint.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Welcome to camp

> Kick off your drone journey - meet the week, meet your team, and get set up for a safe, successful build.

## Welcome to Drone Flight & Coding

Welcome! Over the next five days you'll build a real quadcopter, learn to fly it like a pilot, and then program it to fly on its own. Today is **Foundations Day** - before anything takes off, you'll build your drone, understand how it flies, and learn to handle it safely.

<Frame caption="Your five-day journey - from a boxed-up kit to a coded capstone mission">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/intellectualpoint/PocgpVBYuYokR5M6/images/drones/week-roadmap.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=PocgpVBYuYokR5M6&q=85&s=6418e8377897c31b4ca17240d880d918" alt="Roadmap of the five-day drone camp: build, fly, code, camera, and capstone" width="1536" height="1024" data-path="images/drones/week-roadmap.png" />
</Frame>

<Info>
  This camp is fully virtual and facilitator-led. Every student has a **Pitsco Echo Drone** shipped to their home to build, fly, and keep.
</Info>

## The one big idea of camp

Everything this week follows the same loop that real engineers use: **build** something, **fly** (test) it, **code** it to do more, and **create** your own missions. You'll spin this loop over and over, getting a little bolder each time.

<Frame caption="The build-fly-code-create loop you'll repeat all week">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/intellectualpoint/eW7U9shBQKKM3XX9/images/drones/build-fly-code-loop.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=eW7U9shBQKKM3XX9&q=85&s=e2680e390f0e4a604be72613e3e44e00" alt="Circular loop showing build, fly, code, and create stages around a drone" width="1024" height="1024" data-path="images/drones/build-fly-code-loop.png" />
</Frame>

## What today is about

<Steps>
  <Step title="What is a drone?" icon="plane">
    Learn what makes a drone a drone and where drones are used in the real world.
  </Step>

  <Step title="How drones fly" icon="wind">
    The four forces of flight and how four spinning propellers create controlled movement.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Anatomy of your drone" icon="cpu">
    Every major part of your Echo Drone and what it does.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Build your drone" icon="wrench">
    Attach the propellers and guards, install the battery, and get flight-ready.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Safety first" icon="shield">
    The rules that keep you, your drone, and everyone around you safe.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## The week ahead

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Day 1 - Build & basics" icon="wrench">
    Unbox and build your drone, learn how drones fly, and cover safety.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Day 2 - Fly it" icon="plane-takeoff">
    Pair the controller, learn the controls, and take your first flights.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Day 3 - Start coding" icon="code">
    Connect over Bluetooth at echo.pitsco.com and write your first programs.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Day 4 - Camera & FPV" icon="camera">
    See through the drone's camera and fly first-person-view.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Day 5 - Advanced & capstone" icon="trophy">
    Build more complex programs with the AT-66BL app and your capstone.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Meet your camp team

Your instructors and technical helpers support you all week. Please allow up to 24 hours for email replies.

| Role             | Name           | Email                                                                           |
| ---------------- | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Lead Instructor  | Stephen Ware   | [stephen.ware@intellectualpoint.com](mailto:stephen.ware@intellectualpoint.com) |
| Content Lead     | Ishan Jadhwani | [ishan@intellectualpoint.com](mailto:ishan@intellectualpoint.com)               |
| Technical Help   | Rita Valentine | [rita@intellectualpoint.com](mailto:rita@intellectualpoint.com)                 |
| Technical Help   | Suraj Varma    | [suraj@intellectualpoint.com](mailto:suraj@intellectualpoint.com)               |
| Attendance & Ops | Lyan Ware      | [lyan@intellectualpoint.com](mailto:lyan@intellectualpoint.com)                 |

## Get set up for success

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Clear a flying space" icon="door-open">
    You'll need an indoor area with a few meters of clear floor, away from people and pets.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Charge everything" icon="battery-charging">
    Charge the drone battery fully and put fresh AAA batteries in the controller.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Have your devices ready" icon="laptop">
    A laptop or Chromebook for coding (Day 3+), and a phone or tablet for the camera (Day 4).
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Icebreaker: dream up a mission

Before we build, take two minutes and imagine: **if you had a flying robot that could go anywhere and see anything, what job would you give it?** Jot down one idea. Keep it somewhere safe - the best Day 5 capstone projects come from exactly this kind of spark.

<Tip>
  **Instructor:** go around and have each student share their one-sentence "dream mission." It warms up the room, surfaces interests, and gives you hooks to call back to all week ("Remember Maya's search-and-rescue idea? That's what thermal drones really do.").
</Tip>

## Safety first

Drones are safe when handled correctly, but spinning propellers and lithium batteries deserve respect. Keep these rules in mind all week.

<Warning>
  * **Spinning propellers can cut.** Keep fingers, hair, and loose clothing clear whenever the drone is powered on.
  * Always fly **indoors in a clear space**, never above people or animals.
  * Handle the **lithium battery** carefully - never puncture, crush, or charge it unattended.
  * Land and power off before picking the drone up.
</Warning>

<Check>
  You're ready to begin when your workspace is clear, your drone and controller are charged, and you have a way to take notes. Let's build!
</Check>