Learn how to use drones to collect field data June 24-28

DroneCamp participants look up at drone flies overhead.

People who attend DroneCamp in person will have an opportunity to fly drones.

DroneCamp in Monterey County offers lessons in person and online

Want to learn how to use drones to map and collect field data? DroneCamp 2024 will be held at California State University, Monterey Bay in Marina on June 24-28. For people who cannot attend in person, there is also an online option available.

No experience is necessary. Training will accommodate beginners as well as intermediate users who want to learn more advanced flight, data processing and analysis skills.

Now in its 8th year, DroneCamp is a five-day short course covering everything you need to know to get started using drones for mapping and research. The curriculum covers equipment, safety and regulations, flight planning, manual and autonomous flight, photogrammetry, data processing, data analysis, data management and research talks.

New for 2024 is a concurrent track for educators. Within these breakout sessions, instructors will present topics and methods for teachers developing drone programs, and will discuss drone technology, safety culture and remote-pilot code of conduct.

DroneCamp is led by a team of 21 instructors from UCMerced, UC Santa Cruz, CSU Monterey Bay, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, Lakeland College, American River College and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Becca holds a large model airplane as a man wearing a hat speaks into a handheld microphone.

Becca Fenwick of UC Santa Cruz leads a discussion of different drone models.

Participants attending the presentations in person will get hands-on experience in flight workshops, where they will have the opportunity to:

Fly a variety of drone platforms
Directly engage with instructors and other participants
Expand their networks
Gain access to all the software used throughout the week
Explore the iconic Monterey Bay Area

Light refreshments, daily lunches and a Monday evening dinner social are included with in-person registrations. Participants must make their own lodging arrangements as housing is not available through campus.

Registration for in-person classes will close on June 5 or when capacity is reached. The registration fee is $1,200 for in-person participants, $700 for academics and students, and $120 for virtual participants. To register, visit https://bit.ly/DroneCamp2024.

For more information, see the agenda at https://dronecampca.org/2024-agenda, watch video highlights from 2023 or contact info@dronecampca.org.