Fourteen Cub Scouts in Pack 1280, based in Potomac, Maryland, (http://cubscoutpack1280.org/) discovered the wonders of space exploration, enjoyed a special behind-the-scenes tour of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and earned their “Out of This World” Nova Award.
Scouts followed two tracks to achieve their Nova Award. Some began at Camp Goshen last summer, while others began at the Pack’s Fall campout. At the campout, Scouts participated in an interactive activity where each of them took on the roles of various celestial bodies to demonstrate the differences between rotation and revolution/orbit. Then, after this dizzying bit of engaged learning, the entire pack was invited to attend a star party to look for constellations and gaze through the telescope of NOVA coordinator Dan Tobocman.
“Unfortunately, because there is so much light pollution in the region, during the viewing party Scouts had a tough time picking out constellations. However, we had a great view of craters on the moon, four of Jupiter’s moons and the rings of Saturn,” Tobocman shared.
Tobocman then arranged for Jonn Van Eepoel, an aerospace engineer at NASA Goddard Flight Center, to meet the Scouts at Observatory Park in Gaithersburg to discuss gyroscopes and his work on the Osiris-Rex mission to collect samples from a near-Earth asteroid. Scouts also shared their Mars rover or Moon base models and discussed the research on the wobble of the Earth that was conducted at Observatory Park starting over 100 years ago. This research still plays a role in the GPS in our smartphones today.
Van Eepoel, who has a Master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was so impressed with the questions that the Scouts posed to him that he reached out to invite the group to visit him at NASA Goddard over winter break for a special behind-the-scenes tour!
The Scouts eagerly accepted the invitation and arrived on campus the morning of December 27th. After gathering their badges and passing through security, Scouts observed the largest Class 10,000 clean room in the world, learned about the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, saw a giant vacuum chamber, and talked with one of Van Eepoel’s colleagues about Solar radiation. At the end of the behind-the-scenes tour, Scouts made their way to the visitor’s center and outdoor rocket garden.
Best of all, participating in the NOVA and taking the special behind-the-scenes tour planted seeds of curiosity in our Scouts regarding space science and space exploration!
Learn more about Pack 1280 at: https://cubscoutpack1280.org
Learn more about Nova Awards at: https://www.scouting.org/stem-nova-awards/awards/cub-scout/
Learn more about NASA Goddard Space Flight Center at: https://www.nasa.gov/goddard
This will be Elisabeth’s 7th summer at Goshen and first year as Reservation Director. Previously, Elisabeth worked at Lenhok’sin High Adventure for six years in a variety of positions, including Camp Director and Program Director. As a Venture Scout, she was a camper at Camp Bowman for many summers. Elisabeth is a graduate of Dickinson College where she studied Environmental Science. She is very excited to share her love and passion for Goshen with you!
Avery first came to Goshen in 2009 as a cub, and Bowman as a Scout in 2011. Avery joined staff as a CIT in 2014, and has lived and worked 10 summers at Camp Bowman. They’ve filled positions in almost every area around Camp, including Shooting sports, Bowman Vets, Aquatics, and Scoutcraft before becoming an Area Director in 2017 where they’d go on to run Bowman’s Handicraft, Scoutcraft, and Aquatics areas, as well as founding and Directing Bowman’s Culture Craft area in 2018. Avery’s humbled by the opportunity to represent the best staff in Bowman’s history, eager to welcome scouts and venturers new and old.
Joe first camped at Goshen at Camp Olmsted in 2009 and 2010 before camping at Beautiful Camp Marriott in 2011. He loved Goshen so much he decided to work there, working at Camp PMI for seven years in a variety of roles including Scoutcraft Instructor, Scoutcraft Director, BB Gun Director, Facilities Director, and Program Director. When the opportunity arose to return to Goshen last summer, he jumped at the chance to be the Facilities Director at Beautiful Camp Marriott. Heading into his 9th summer on Goshen staff and first as Camp Director, Joe is looking forward to improving Marriott’s program and making the camp experience as great as possible.
This summer will be Liam’s Twelfth year on the Goshen staff and his first as the Olmsted Camp Director! During his time at camp Liam has worked in Ecology, Culture Craft, and served on admin staff for three years at Camp Olmsted. Liam lives in Virginia and is an avid birder. Liam’s favorite Goshen memory is the Wilderness Survival merit badge that he took as a camper; the group went on an Overnighter where they slept in primitive structures underneath the stars. Working with Scouts is a deeply gratifying experience for Liam and he looks forward to using the methods of Scouting to positively impact the lives of young people this summer.
Drew attended Ross as a Webelos Scout in 2011 and returned in 2014 as a den chief with his younger brother. The following year he returned as a CIT and has been working at camp ever since. Drew spent many years working at Ross’s Nature Center becoming the Nature Director in 2019. He also worked on our Webelos Homecamping staff during Covid, and has been the Program Director at Ross the last 2 years. This will be Drew’s 9th Summer on staff and 1st summer as Camp Director. When Drew is not at camp, he is studying to earn his History Degree from Southern New Hampshire University and works as a Substitute Teacher in Richmond, Virginia. Drew is excited to create and bring a fantastic program for your scouts, and hopes to give them a great summer and introduction to scouting.
This is Daniel’s 18th summer at Goshen and 3rd at Lenhok’sin. He started as a staffer at Camp PMI in 2006 and earned his Eagle Scout in 2008. Earning an Associate Degree at Montgomery College and the a BA in History at University of Maryland, College Park, he has spent the last few years working as a substitute teacher when not trekking and teaching Scouts at Goshen. He is most looking forward to assembling and preparing an amazing staff that can provide Troops and Crews with an outstanding experience on the trail.
It was ordered to be delivered over the holidays. It was a lot of work and conscious scheduling to sell popcorn while also participating in swimming, cheerleading, STEM scouts and Cub Scouts. She belongs to Pack 278, Pack 1775 and STEM lab 4548. Scouting is a family event. Her sisters, Beth and Brooke Kellogg of Troop 3017G, also helped out by driving Callie around town and walking door to door with her. Callie also donated $1000 to the James E. West Fellowship with a gift to the NCAC Endowment Fund using the money she earned from the popcorn sale that went into her scout account. “I want all cub scouts to be able to go to camp. I have gone to camp every year and have enjoyed it very much and would like to share the experience with others who may be less fortunate. I want to make sure scouting remains accessible to all.”
