We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

STEM

Geology Rocks

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Geology Rocks, and this year it was awesome!

This was the 4th biannual Geology Day at George Mason University and sponsored by Dr. Julia Nord. The day’s events led with going through requirements 1 and 3-8 of the Earth Rocks Cub Scout Adventure, and requirements 2-3 of the Down and Dirty Nova Award.

Cub Scouts were able to learn about paleontology and physical sciences with tactile activities, including exploration of the microscope labs. The kids were most excited about the stream table which demonstrated how soil erosion changes our land forms.

Cub Scouts Meet STEM History at STEM U

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Hey Cub Scouts (and Cub Scout parents) – have you ever wanted to meet a famous scientist? Do you want to find out what it’s really like to be an engineer? Do you have a science project that you want to share? Or do you like math games and puzzles? We have all that and more for Cub Scouts at STEM U!

Sign up right now for STEM U on June 15 at Microsoft Training Center in Reston!
And bring your mom, dad and the whole family because there will be great things for them to learn too!

REGISTER FOR STEM U!

Six Eagles graduate from St. Mary’s STEM Academy

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St. Mary’s new Eagle Scout graduates (from left): Alan H., Adam L., Kevin M., Jack O., Finn O., and Jay L.

The St. Mary’s County Public Schools STEM Academy in Maryland has something to brag about: 35% of the young men in the STEM Class of 2019 are Eagle Scouts!

Nationally, only 4-6% of members of the Boy Scouts of America earn the rank of Eagle Scout. Up until now, all of those Scouts have been young men, so when you look at the total number of young men in the United States only about 1.5% of them earn the rank of Eagle Scout. And yet, six out of seventeen young men in the STEM Class of 2019 are now part of that elite group.

According to the St. Mary’s County Public Schools website, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Academy at Great Mills High School is “a rigorous and unique program of study emphasizing the core areas of mathematics and science with an infusion of technology and engineering.” Students take as many as twelve Advanced Placement courses during their high school career and complete an internship in a STEM field during the Summer before their senior year.

The Scouts represent four different troops throughout St. Mary’s County: Troop 303 in Valley Lee, Troop 793 in California, Troop 1785 in Mechanicsville, and Troop 2819 in California. In addition to their school work, each of these Scouts completed at least twenty-one merit badges in subjects such as citizenship, first aid, cooking, camping and personal fitness. Some of the merit badges they earned were STEM related, with topics such as environmental science, mammal study, robotics, weather, and energy. They each also completed a leadership project to benefit their community.

If that were not enough, four of them participated in varsity sports during high school, including track, cross country, tennis, lacrosse, and soccer. Three are active in the National Honor Society. Two competed with robotics teams and one participated in several school plays.

Their future plans include degrees in paleontology, biology, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, and environmental planning.

Cub Scout Recognized for Achievement in STEM Activities

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A local Cub Scout, Marco J Martin of Pack 539 has earned the Alvarez Supernova.

“I wanted to do the Supernova because there were fun activities,” said Marco. “And I would learn a lot about mathematics, science and engineering.”

Marco entered into the Lion Pilot Program at Mt. Ennon Baptist Church located in Clinton, Maryland at the age of 5. He has gone through the ranks of Lion and Tiger, and is currently at the rank of Wolf. As a Tiger, Marco wanted to earn the Supernova, however, Tigers are not eligible to earn the Cub Scout Supernova award.

“I was not able to start the Supernova until this year when I became a Wolf,” said Marco. “I continued in Cub Scouts because it was fun and I have friends in Cub Scouts.”

The Cub Scout Supernova award recognizes superior achievement by a Cub Scout in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). To earn the award, Marco learned about Dr. Luis Alvarez and other famous scientists, participated in a science project at school, visited a workplace where STEM technology is being used, and conducted an experiment of his own choosing. The requirements provide options for pursuit, and since Marco enjoys mathematics, he concentrated his efforts in that area.

Since 2014, 128 Cub Scouts have earned the Alvarez Supernova in NCAC. Less than 2500 Alvarez Supernova Awards have been earned Nationwide. Since 2018,  70 Supernova Awards from all ranks have been earned in NCAC.

Current NCAC records show that Marco is the first Cub to earn the Alvarez Supernova in the Patuxent District.

“When I was reading books or doing experiment I learned new stuff and it was fun. I thought it was going to be hard, but it was just a lot of work.”

 

2019 Akela Chess Classic

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On Saturday, February 2 and Saturday, February 9 scouts from all over the National Capital Area Council competed in the Council’s five-round chess tournament, the Akela Chess Classic. The February 2nd event, held at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Herndon, VA, was the Scouts BSA tournament, open to all scouts in troops, crews and ships. Seventeen scouts competed in two brackets: age 10-12 and age 13 and up. In the younger-scout bracket, one scout took first-place honors, with one scout finishing second, and three scouts finishing third. In the older-scout bracket one scout took first-place honors, with three scouts finishing second and three scouts finishing third. The first-place winner in each bracket finished with a perfect 5-0 score.

The February 9th event, held at St. Raphael School in Rockville, MD, was the Cub Scout tournament, open to all scouts in Cub Scout packs. Twenty-seven scouts competed in two brackets: Lion/Tiger/Wolf and Bear/Webelos/Arrow of Light, with awards given for first, second, or third by rank. One Tiger took part, winning first place for his rank. There were one first-place, two second-place, and one third-place finishers in the Wolf rank. For the Bear rank, one scout finished first, one finished second, and two finished third. The Webelos rank had five first-place finishers, three second-place finishers, and one in third place. Rounding out the tournament were one first-place Arrow of Light scout, one in second place, and three in third place. The first-place Wolf and Bear each had a perfect 5-0 score.

Each round of the Akela Chess Classic is limited to one hour, with touch-move rules in effect; under these rules if a player touches a piece he is obligated to move it. All participating scouts must know, in advance of the tournament, the rules of chess and how to play. The 2019 Cub Scout tournament was the 14th annual tournament, and the 2019 Scouts BSA tournament was the 8th annual tournament.

A fun and exciting time was had by all participating scouts. All are looking forward to the Akela Chess Classic next year!

Scouts BSA Supernova Award Recipient

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On January 5, 2019, Dominic Gagliardi was awarded not only his Eagle Award but also the Dr. Bernard Harris Super Nova Award.

When Dominic started High School in the fall of 2014, he joined the Botball team of Explorer Post 1010 in addition to being a member of Boy Scout Troop 944 and Venture Crew 27, to start his path to the award. During this high school years he earned three Nova awards with each requiring earning a merit badge, at least 3 hours of study, and an experiment and a field trip.

Then, to earn the Super Nova, Dominic had to fulfill several more requirements, including earning 5 more STEM merit badges, researching a STEM career, shadowing a scientist or engineer, participating in STEM competition, researching a STEM debate, and sharing his knowledge. He shared what he learned by helping Cub Scout Pack 1975 earn a part of a nova award. Among other things, he showed them how a soda can demonstrated two different levers. As a member of Post 1010, Dominic participated in Botball competitions for each of his four years of high school. To prepare for theses competition,s he spent a minimum of 3 hours each week building, rebuilding , and coding an autonomous robot made from a rumba.

Only 20 others Boy Scouts have earned the Dr. Bernard Harris Super Nova award in our Council since its inception in 2012.