news release
Youth Guidance hosted the 3rd Annual Florida East Coast Drone Competition on Saturday, April 18th, 2026, at Vero Beach High School, bringing together student innovators, aspiring drone pilots, and community partners for an electrifying day of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning and competition.
From 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the campus was filled with excitement as students went head-to-head in a series of four challenges, including the following:
- Teamwork Mission: Students worked as a team to navigate their drone through an obstacle course, completing various objectives along the way.
- Piloting Skills Mission: Students piloted their drones through an obstacle course with the goal of scoring as many points as possible within 60 seconds.
- Autonomous Flight Mission: Teams programmed their drones to complete an obstacle course autonomously.
- Communication Mission: Teams completed interviews with a panel of judges and presented their mission logbooks, which contained their strategies for the competition.
These challenges tested students’ piloting precision, teamwork, strategic thinking, and technical skills. Indian River County Superintendent of Schools Dr. David K. Moore addressed the crowd prior to the competition, highlighting the importance of STEM-based learning and the power of partnership between Youth Guidance and the School District of Indian River County.
“The collaboration between Youth Guidance, the School District of Indian River County, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County is exactly the kind of community partnership that transforms young lives,” Dr. Moore said. “When our students get hands-on experience flying drones and solving real engineering challenges, they’re building the critical thinking and technical skills that will carry them into future careers.”
This year’s drone competition included teams from Youth Guidance, the Boys & Clubs of Indian River County, Oslo Middle School, Gifford Middle School, Sebastian River Middle School, and Fellsmere Academy.
Youth Guidance Teen Director, Richard Butler, worked closely with all teams and provided training and consultation to prepare them for the competition. Under his leadership, the competition expanded from three teams in 2025 to six teams in 2026.
The results of the competition are as follows:
- Overall Champion – Oslo Middle School
- Airmanship Award – Youth Guidance
- Teamwork Challenge – Fellsmere Academy
- Skills Mission – Boys and Girls Club of Vero Beach
- Autonomous Mission – Gifford Middle School
- Communications Mission – Gifford Middle School
The competition was made possible through a grant from the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation and was led by the Next Generation Leadership Academy in partnership with Youth Guidance. The event was further strengthened by the support of engineering students from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Institute of Technology, and University of Central Florida, whose expertise and mentorship helped elevate the experience for all participants.
Youth Guidance extends its sincere gratitude to every partner, volunteer, and supporter who contributed to making the event a resounding success. As the competition continues to grow each year, Youth Guidance remains committed to creating transformative opportunities that empower youth through innovation, academic mentorship, and hands-on STEM experiences.
About Youth Guidance:
Youth Guidance is dedicated to enriching the lives of Indian River County youth through mentoring relationships that build trust, self-esteem, and pathways to academic and career success. Founded in 1973, Youth Guidance provides four key programs to help children, teenagers, and young adults (ages 6-24) break the cycle of poverty, including: The Pathways Afterschool Program, the Summer Enrichment Program, the Exchange Parent Aide Program, and the Pre-Apprenticeship Program, which includes construction trades and culinary arts training. If you are interested in supporting or learning more about Youth Guidance, please call (772) 492-3933, or visit http://www.youthguidanceprogram.org.
Indian River Guardian 