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Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

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Cub Scouts Receive Supernova Award During Pandemic

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A total of 28 NCAC Cub Scouts have earned a Supernova Award during these first months of Covid-19.

Congratulations to the 19 Bears and Wolves from 6 Districts who earned the Dr. Luis Alvarez Supernova Award, and congratulations to the 9 Webelos/AOLs from 4 Districts who earned the Dr. Charles H. Townes Supernova Award!

While the requirements for each award are distinct, all of these Cubs had to earn at least one rank-specific adventure, learn about famous scientists, participate in a science experiment and connect with their teachers.

Supernova Awards are approved at the Council level, and must be earned under the guidance of a registered Supernova Mentor. A tremendous thank you to all of these Cub Scouts’ Supernova Mentors!

To see the requirements for the Cubs Supernova Awards, click here.

To learn more about BSA’s Nova & Supernova Awards, click here.

Virtual Reality, Helicopter Pilot… join STEM@Home!

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Every Thursday at 7PM, you can join our virtual STEM@Home Speaker Series! Read more about the upcoming speakers, leap into STEM career exploration, and secure your spot here.

The presentations will be streamed live, and the presenters will host a special VIP Q&A with registrants in ZOOM. We hope you join this program for STEM careers exploration!

May 28: Engineering Night: A Conversation with LT John Delpizzo

John is an Eagle Scout from Troop 980 with a degree in Computer Science and a Minor in Cyber Security. But he is also interested in anything having to do with computers, robotics and programming. He will be working in Cyber Operations in the Air Force and is going to his first assignment this summer. As a hobby he likes to work with Virtual Reality (VR) equipment and software; he will explain how it works and allow the viewers to experience a bit of what VR is capable of doing. It’s not just about gaming! (But yeah, the games are pretty cool).

June 4: Technology Night: A Conversation with Mark Bruno

Mr. Mark Bruno is a 2006 Coast Guard Academy graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Specialized in Computer Networking. He spent 11 years flying helicopters for the Coast Guard and Maryland State Police, and now works as an Aviation Safety Program Manager. He has a passion for physics, weather, mechanical systems, computers, navigation, and data analysis. He is an Eagle Scout and the Cubmaster of Pack 1014 in Brandywine, Maryland.

30 Day Nova Challenge for Cubs!

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It’s been over two months of lockdown for most, and so here we have it – two 30 Day STEM Challenges!

This calendar is designed to help your Wolf, Bear, or Webelos Scout complete some NOVA Award Requirements. Please contact your Council/District STEM Committee to get in touch with a registered NOVA Counselor and complete the remainder of the award. If your youth is in NCAC, and seeking a Nova Counselor, please contact stem@ncacbsa.org and be sure to include your District so we may help connect you!

The downloadable PDF and PNG for each Nova Challenge is available here!

Special notes: Use proper safety precautions for hands-on activities. There are resources and ideas for most awards included in the requirements links at the start of each week. Extra Research is HIGHLY encouraged. Have fun!
#STEMatHome #Nova #scoutingAtHome

Mattaponi District Welcomes Pack 847

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During the virtual Roundtable Meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2020, the Mattaponi District welcomed our newest unit, Pack 847. Sponsored by Tabernacle United Methodist Church, the families of Pack 847 have entered the Scouting World running! Leaders have attended PowWow and completed their trainings and Scouts have enjoyed hikes, field trips, achievements, and more. The Mattaponi District is happy to welcome them into our Scouting family and we look forward to celebrating their Chartering and other Scouting accomplishments in person soon.

How can your Scout STEM at Home?

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“Seriously, STEM Labs, Nova, and Supernova are each different creatures. We need them all towards giving our Scouts the tools and opportunities to be the best they can be. STEM literacy is tantamount for future leaders. The labs are not a part of regular scouting. It’s not for everyone but for those that are interested, it should be a viable option.”

Marcus J Martin is the Associate Lab Manager of Junior Lab 9941, which pre-social distancing, would meet at the USPTO in Alexandria, VA. The sponsor organization for Lab 9941 is the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers – USPTO chapter.

STEM Scouts Labs
STEM Scouts is a BSA program focused fun ways for girls and boys to learn more about science, technology, engineering and mathematics in tandem with character development, leadership training, and ethical decision-making. Through hands-on activities delivered to you, this program is challenging, thought-provoking and fun.

Program Structure: STEM Scouts has programming organized in 2 divisions: Junior Labs for grades 3-5 and Technology Labs for grades 6-8. Every meeting starts with the Scout Oath & Law, involves a hands-on experiment, and wraps up with discussion of a STEM Innovator.

Youth Leadership: Youth work in teams of three and rotate through roles of Principal Investigator, Co-PI and Project Manager.

What can you do during Covid-19?
Start this in your family or neighborhood, provided you are complaint with social distancing guidelines. Safety first! Activity kits are shipped in bundles for 5 youth, and lessons and lab journals are online in the STEM Scouts portal. Once you get the kits, host your virtual Lab through ZOOM!

Need help getting started?
NCAC STEM is here to help! To find out more, visit www.stemscouts.org or contact stem@ncacbsa.org.

Nova Awards
Nova Awards offer activities and recognition for youth in traditional programs: Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venture Scouts, Varsity Scouts and Sea Scouts. Read the requirements at www.scouting.org/stem.

What can you do during Covid-19?
Join NCAC’s STEM@Home program: https://scoutingevent.com/082-STEMatHome
STEM Committee volunteers and Nova Counselors are offering virtual STEM Nova events so your youth can advance in pursuit of Nova Awards.

Can you also work on Novas within your unit?
Absolutely! Be sure to work with a registered Nova Counselor. Contact supernova@ncacbsa.org with questions.

Supernova Awards
Supernova Awards offer recognition for youth in traditional programs who go the extra mile in their pursuit of STEM. Read the requirements at www.scouting.org/stem.

What can you do during Covid-19?
Check out the requirements online, then connect with a registered Supernova Mentor to get started! Contact supernova@ncacbsa.org to identify a Mentor

You can also join a STEM@Home Speaker Series event .

Note: Conversations with scientists or engineering professionals fulfills requirement 7 in Dr. Luis W. Alvarez Supernova for Cub Scouts and Dr. Charles H. Townes Supernova for Webelos. The conversation partially fulfills #6 in Dr. Bernard Harris Supernova for Scouts BSA and Dr Sally Ride Supernova for Venturers and Sea Scouts.