We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

STEM

STEM-TASTIC SUMMER FOR A LOCAL CUB SCOUT!

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This summer has been STEM-tastic, for local scout, Marco J. Martin. During the summer of 2018, Marco spent countless hours working on the Boy Scouts of America NOVA and Supernova STEM program and on Friday, June 14, 2019 all of his hard work was recognized when he received the Dr. Luis Alvarez Supernova medal, a plaque, a NOVA patch and a variety of congratulatory letters from his Senator, Congressman and County Executive to mark this momentous occasion. What an awesome way to begin a STEM-tastic Summer.

His next STEM adventure would take place as he participated in his first Cub Scout Summer Day Camp in Hughesville, MD at the Kings Landing National Park. He had an opportunity to present a STEM project to his fellow Scouts and complete the NOVA section: Uncovering the Past with the help of his camp Den Leader, Amanda Zimmerman.


Once Cub Scout Camp came to a close, he continued to explore the world of STEM by attending a STEM Fair at the Community Center in Alexandria, VA which was sponsored by an organization named Fly Minds. At this event, he was the grand prize winner of a STEM door raffle. He won his very own VEX Robot. Later in the summer, he attended 2 of 3 free STEM Day programs by Fly Minds where he was a part of team that built and programmed their own robot. Now that’s cool!!

Just when you thought his STEM-TASTIC Summer couldn’t get any better, a new STEM Scout unit was forming in Alexandria, VA which he became a part of. His Cub Scout Pack 539 was taking a break during the summer and his STEM Scout unit Lab 9941 led by Burt Wagner was just getting off the ground. His new uniform was a lab coat, disposal gloves and rubber goggles. The first three weeks his unit did science experiments that made Slime, a Bouncy Ball and Silly Sand. Each experiment required Marco and his lab mates to read lab instructions, gather the necessary ingredients and mix various items to get different results as the project called for. It was funny watching the kids learn by measuring and modifying the experiments to see if more or less of an item made a difference towards the end result.


Marco’s last STEM adventure for the Summer would involve the DMV NSBE Jr Chapter located at Howard University. He became a new member and membership has privileges. During the school year, he will be a member of the Lego Robotics team. Each weekend, he will have the chance to learn Spanish and work on Advance mathematics. What I thought was the coolest thing that NSBE Jr had to offer was Marco could talk to an Astronaut and get all of his science and space questions answered.

STEM summer days are over and Prince George’s County schools are be back in session. Hopefully, this article will encourage other Scouts to learn more about STEM and to see what activities occur during the school year! Have a STEM-TASTIC day!

STEM University 2019

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Creative minds filled the Microsoft Technology Center as the various STEM professionals spoke about space, flight and the endless possibilities that STEM could bring the world.

STEM in Scouting provides Scouts with the fundamental skills and education necessary in preparing today’s youth for life in the 21st Century.

Throughout the morning, Scouts presented their well-planned science fair projects during the Einstein Science Fair while Scouters helped. Scouts enjoyed courses such as Meet a STEM Professional, a class on the scientific method and were able to work on the newest STEM NOVA award, Up and Away.

For more information on NCAC’s STEM program, please visit our events page and we hope to see you at the next STEM U!

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.”