Transcript Slide 1
STEM and Scouting
BALTIMORE AREA COUNCIL
STEM & NOVA PROGRAM IN BOY SCOUTING
C. PATRICK SHIELDS
Welcome to “What is STEM!”
Introductions & about this session.
Find this Presentation at
www.baltimorebsa.org/STEM
Our Agenda:
What is STEM and how it relates to scouting.
How do the Nova & Supernova requirements work?
Earning each award & those involved.
Methods and Ideas in this award process.
Resources, programs & growing STEM
What does the future hold?
Have you Heard of STEM and Nova?
Who knows about the Nova and Supernova awards?
What STEM programs are Scouts already doing in
schools?
Do you know any scouts who have earned the Nova
Award?
Individual scouts or a group?
What other STEM programs are you involved in?
Scouting programs or school programs? What does your child
get from these programs? What are you looking for them to
get?
What is Nova?
Nova Award:
Practical knowledge award for understanding STEM, related
careers and how scout skills are relevant to their education.
Requirements for each discipline:
Cub Scouts – 1 hour of learning, a belt loop/pin, activities.
Boy Scouts – 3 hours of learning, a merit badge, experiments.
Venturing – 3 hours of learning, an exploration, experiments.
Award Process
Confirmed within the unit leadership, awarded within the unit.
Who can accomplish it?
Everyone! Best done in groups or a part of regular activities.
What is Supernova?
Supernova award:
Higher, academic based achievement done over the course of
months. Best for scouts motivated by STEM education.
The process:
Find a mentor. Begin the requirements. Keep a record of all
progress. Finish award. Take packet and application to district.
Approved application is sent to council for confirmation.
What is a mentor?
A qualified supervisor to the scout through the award process.
So what is the difference?
Supernova vs. Nova
Nova Award:
The Nova award can be earned by all scouts and worked on by
the troop.
Any adult leader can sign off on Nova Requirements.
Supernova Award:
A mentor must be the one to sign off on a scout’s requirements
for Supernova.
When completed, a scout must have their Supernova packet
confirmed by the district advancement committee.
Nova or STEM in Weekly Program
Earning Nova as a group.
Choosing a discipline to work into the program.
Adding and mixing it with merit badges and activities are
already doing.
Purposes of Nova education.
Earning the achievements with STEM in mind.
Can also add on an academic purpose to Orienteering,
shooting sports and physical activities.
Traveling or local?
Are “field trips” needed? Can it all be done at the meeting?
Supernova from Start to Finish
STEP 1: A scout finds a mentor that agrees to council work on
Supernova.
STEP 2: The mentor reviews that all prerequisites are
complete before working on other requirements.
STEP 3: The mentor councils then approves progress made by
the scout. The scout’s work is recorded in a folder.
STEP 4: On completion the scout takes his signed application
and progress folder to the district advancement committee for
approval.
STEP 5: The district approves and passes on the application to
council to be processed.
STEP 6: The scout is presented the award by the unit.
Supernova: Looking at Different Tiers
Broken down by program then by individual levels.
General Theme of requirements:
Some prerequisites to qualify.
Earn some scouting awards from a list of choices that are
STEM relevant.
Complete some more STEM exploration.
Different Tiers
Cubs and Webelos have their own award.
Boy Scouts have a first and second level award.
Venturing has three levels.
Cubs & Webelos Supernova
Wolves and Bears can earn the Dr. Luis W. Alvarez
Supernova award.
Webelos can earn the Charles H. Townes Supernova
award.
Tigers are not eligible for the Supernova.
Each award is geared towards each group’s age
group.
Boy Scout & Venturing Supernova
Requires points of the Nova complete.
Certain merit badges complete for Boy Scouts and
Explorations for Venturers.
Both have two tiers. The first must be finished to
work on the next.
Venturing has a third, college oriented award that
must be approved by the Council then passed on to
national.
Common Questions
How far back can badges be relevant?
Approval process?
Problems being confirmed by council?
But I heard…?
What Have We Done?
What events have we designed?
What are the goals of these STEM events?
Offer a chance for scouts earn their badges with the mindset of
STEM and Nova in mind.
Bring in companies and organizations who want to share their
careers and materials to as many scouts as possible.
How can STEM work in other events?
Nova requirements make for great station activities.
Labeling Nova badges/pins at events.
Adds a level of depth appeal that is relevant to their education.
Nova at Summer Camp
Nova at Broad Creek
Nova can be earned by signing up for a discipline like a normal
merit badge class.
You can apply merit badges from the Merit Badge Days to the
scout’s pin.
14 STEM badges are offered at camp.
Nova at Other Camps
STEM expected to grow in summer camps across the country.
We need your help!
Promote a Nova program as part of your calendar!
See if there is a badge, pin or achievement that can act as a
good jumping off point to work from.
Help us mentor Supernova!
Reach out to teachers, professionals or educated individuals
who may be willing to mentor.
Can it be part of your local events?
Ask if STEM program can be added to your events.
What does the council need?
Merit badge instructors and STEM trainers wanted!
What Does the Future Hold?
Can’t we teach scouts how to use technology?
STEM has been a part of scouts for years.
Lastly scouting is designed to teach youth practical
skills to be Prepared for Life.
Resources
Mentor Form & Adult App
Requirements
Stem Flyers
Powerpoints
Contact Us:
Patrick Shields 443-573-2537 [email protected]
Ian Smith 443-573-2554 [email protected]
Let us know on your progress!