I run a drone club for 4-5th graders at my school. Click the link in my bio to goto my resource site. I use Tellos, I do not have a Mavic mini. I also have some instructional videos on YouTube under "Knox Flight Group "
The Tello will be a great trainer for y'all, it behaves a lot like the bigger GPS drones, very stable and durable. You won't need a wifi extender for the EVO, but for the Tello, it will extend the fun!
Welcome aboard, John! Beautiful images on your Flickr! You are going to love a drone for photography! The Tello is the perfect one to get your feet wet!