“One of my students started a business after taking the agriculture drone program and another student just entering the program in grade 10 works with her father putting up fence lines. She uses drones to survey the space before installment." - Kal Koch.

Prairie Rose School Division is in their fourth year of offering the UAV (Drone) Program. The original program focused on High School student programming but now is providing drone education to grade six to nine students.

The drone and aerospace industry in Southern Alberta and across Alberta continues to grow. With CFB Suffield, Foremost UAS Test Range, and drone companies like Landing Zones located in Southern Alberta, Medicine Hat and area is the Alberta hub for aerospace activity.

Prairie Rose School Division students are now being introduced to the industry at an early point in their learning journey from as early as Grade 6 to Grade 12, preparing them for their career after graduation.

Kal Koch is a retired deputy superintendent from PRPS and is now the drone program coordinator/teacher. With 35 years in education, it’s seeing students learn something new with excitement that keeps him in the education field. 

“This program is something brand new. One of my students started a business after taking the agriculture drone program and another student just entering the program in grade 10 works with her father putting up fence lines. She uses drones to survey the space before installment,” says Koch.

The UAV High School program gives students from Eagle Butte High School, Foremost High School, Senator Gershaw School, and South Central High School the opportunity to complete their Basic or Advanced Drone Certification.  Additional modules are available in photography and videography, automation, first person view (virtual goggles) racing, and agriculture application. 

The program is designed to show students that drones are a growing industry. There are real career opportunities close to home, for agriculture, photography, videography, surveying, and so much more.

Specifically in agriculture, drones are being used for spraying applications, like fertilizer, on farms. With Prairie Rose being a rural school division, some students take what they’ve learned from the program and bring it to their family farm for real life application.

“We get them to understand that these aren’t toys. There is a real purpose for them, and if they like drones enough, they can pursue a career after graduation,” says Koch.