• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
We Own Adventure

We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

  • Home
  • Submit Your News
  • Sponsorship Opportunities
  • National Capital Area Council BSA Main Site
You are here: Home / Adventure / Hike the DC STEM Trek!

Hike the DC STEM Trek!

September 6, 2021 by NCAC STEM

The Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Trek is a hike around the Mall area of downtown Washington DC highlighting some of the STEM that was involved in the creation of Washington D.C., and showcasing the government agencies and private organizations involved in STEM that are located in Washington DC.

The Trek includes 24 stops; each has a question for you to answer (a cub scout level question, a Scout BSA level question and an on-site question).

For a glimpse of the questions: At stop #7, the Eisenhower National Presidential Memorial, we want to know how tall the Eisenhower figure in the left-most sculpture is? At stop #16,  the Octagon House, we want to know how many angles are formed by the main house outline?

There is an ‘abbreviated’ trek highlighted in the guide for those who prefer that. The shorter hike begins at the Smithsonian Metro station and ends at the Boy Scout Memorial, with a route of 4.75 miles. The longer trek is a 10.57-mile hike and routes through 24 stops from the Smithsonian Metro station to the USDA.

To see the STEM Trek Guide, visit www.ncacbsa.org/stem and expand the section titled ‘DC STEM Trek’. We hope to see you earn your patch!

 

The origin story of the Trek:
The STEM Trek concept originated from the NCAC STEM Committee, chaired by Dr. Arden Dougan, in 2019. STEM Committee member and Colonial District Supernova Mentor Mr. Tony Springer originally identified over a dozen Trek stops and presented this in a working session at University of Scouting 2020.

Girl Troop 1853 with the Albert Einstein Statue during one of their STEM Trek hikes!

From that original idea, Girls Troop 1853 of Springfield, Virginia adapted, enhanced and completed the development of the Trek! Special thanks to Reagan and Cordelia, who were the Senior Patrol Leaders during this development. Inputs were provided by Sarah, Kyra, Sadie, Paige, Sydney, Tessa, Evelynn, Lauren, Moksha, Sumi, Rowan, Aubrie, Reagan, and Cordelia. Input was also provided by Scouters Mrs. Foster, the Scoutmaster, and Mrs. Embry, Mrs. Kelley and Mr. Schulke.

Finally, we would be remiss if we did not recognize Mr. Donlin, a truly unsung hero of the DC STEM Trek. Mr. Donlin took the initiative to rally GTroop 1853 to adopt the development of the Trek during covid. He dedicated countless hours mentoring the group in this endeavor and that does not even include the several miles of hiking/exploring to pilot the Trek! Over several months, Mr. Donlin led the group to complete the design, stops and questions for the DC STEM Trek that you see today.

We hope you enjoy the Trek, and learn about our Nation’s Capital and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics!

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

You Might Also Like...

Florida Sea Base Scuba Adventure
Test Your Orienteering Skills Oct. 23!
Canoeing and Camping on the Shenandoah River
Troop 58’s Whitewater Rafting & Polar Plunge Adventure

Filed Under: Adventure Tagged With: Hike, HOST, STEM

Primary Sidebar

NCAC Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Latest Issue

TSD Summer '18 is on Issuu

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • October 2018
  • July 2018
  • May 2018

Featured posts

Out of This World at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Last Call For Jamboree!

25 Years of Venturing Virtual Celebration!

Pack 1513 Innovates at the 2023 Pinewood Derby

Footer

Subscribe to our Scout/Family Newsletter

Subscribe to our Leader/Volunteer Newsletter

Follow Us!

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2023 · Genesis Elk on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in