We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

STEM

Pack 278 Celebrates First Townes Supernova in 70 Years

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As Pack 278 enters its 70th year as a chartered BSA Pack serving boys and girls in the FSK District, leaders are excited to award it’s first Dr. Charles H. Townes Supernova to an Arrow of Light Scout, Finn H. The Dr. Charles H. Townes Supernova honors Dr. Townes’ many achievements. While working on the Townes Supernova, Finn was given the challenge to research 5 different scientists and engineers. Finn chose to research Ralph Baer, Jane Goodall, Katherine Johnson and Alan Turing. He found they had similarities to Townes and his ability to believe in himself despite others telling him his ideas would never work. The fifth innovator Finn researched was Walt Disney. Walt Disney believed that if you could dream it then it was possible. Throughout his life, Disney pushed the boundaries of what was possible by inventing a multi-plane camera to create the first full-length animated motion picture, Snow White. Walt Disney inspired his Imagineers to combine their imagination with technology to create incredibly life-like animatronics and innovative theme park rides. Like Disney, Supernova Mentors strive to inspire youth to believe in themselves and push the boundaries.

Finn’s parents would say that Finn has an overabundance of imagination. That imagination routinely materializes through Lego creations and occasionally scotch tape. While working on the Townes Supernova, Finn interviewed John Morin, a mechanical engineer responsible for designing and building the equipment and hardware that attaches rockets to the launch pad on the Northrup Grumman’s Antares and Omega programs. Finn continued to investigate his interest in engineering while completing other Townes Supernova requirements. Finn designed and built a birdhouse out of PVC drainage pipe. He spoke with his den leader, Adam Fogle, about the importance of angles when building and discussed why a tool that looks like a triangle is called a square. He completed a science experiment to better understand the structural design of bridges. He tested how different shapes like triangles, squares, and trapezoids can add to their strength. Finn has proven through his hard work over the past 18 months that he has potential as a future engineer if he continues to believe in himself and his imagination. Finn will continue Scouting with Troop 1066 in Jefferson, Maryland.

Cub Scouts Can Code

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Cub Scouts Can Code is a Nova Award that offers Wolves, Bears, Webelos and AOLs recognition for exploring how people instruct computers.

Specifically, the module entails learning about algorithms or conditionals, and the meat of it – which is to actually become a programmer!

Join the class on March 26! The Coding Space is hosting a class for youth in grades 3-5 to earn their Cub Scouts Can Code Nova Award while gaining guided experience coding.The Coding Space holds a 5:1 student: instructor ratio, and will guide all in at least one hour creating instructions for a computer to execute, then testing and debugging them.

All participants will receive a NCAC STEM patch mailed to them, and provided they complete the requirements, will also receive a digital Nova Award Certificate.

To sign up for the class: https://scoutingevent.com/082-56366-146633

In recognition for completing his/her Nova Award, a Cub Scout would earn a Nova patch. Then for each subsequent Nova Awards, Cubs earn a pi device.

To read more about the Cub Scout Nova Awards, please see here: www.ncacbsa.org/stem


Who is The Coding Space?

The Coding Space is an enrichment program where students learn to tackle challenges independently through learning to code. In our classrooms, students learn entirely through creating projects, allowing them to work on their critical thinking and problem solving skills while simultaneously picking up the hard skills of coding. By challenging students at their individual level to create projects as unique as they are, we underscore the power of personalized learning. And with our small student-to-teacher ratio and Socratic-based teaching methods, students get the guidance they need to keep moving forward while developing their inner critical voice.

Science Fair Project Inspired by Merit Badges – What Keeps Food Cold the Longest?

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My name is Russell and I am a tenth grade student. I’m a Life Scout with Troop 1577 in Herndon. My science fair project this year was inspired by Scouting and my project won second place for my school.

My project was about DIY refrigerants. I tested which materials keep food cold the longest.

I got this idea from working on my Cooking, Hiking and Backpacking merit badges. For those badges, we learn about keeping food safe when you are outside for a long period of time. While the safest option might be dehydrated foods, I like to eat non-dehydrated foods like cheese. I wanted to know which refrigerants might work best for the longest period of time.

For the experiment, I bought a wireless thermometer and put it in a Styrofoam cooler. I put different refrigerants in the cooler with the thermometer and monitored the temperature. It was important to use a wireless thermometer so I would not open the cooler and impact the temperature.

The refrigerants that I tested were:

  • 330 mL of water, 170 mL of rubbing alcohol, 125 mL of salt (the salt dissolved and did not increase the volume)
  • 500 mL of dish soap
  • Two plastic sponges in water with 500 mL of water
  • Commercial ice packs
  • Control = 500 mL water

I got the ideas for these refrigerants by reading blog articles by backpackers. I also researched the concept of “phase change,” meaning materials that release or absorb energy and provide useful heat or cooling.

What were the results? The frozen sponge refrigerant maintained the lowest temperature for the longest time, although the control (water) and commercial ice packs performed similarly.

However, for my next hiking trip, I won’t freeze sponges. I will just use frozen water. Then I can drink it and not have to carry sponges. But I definitely won’t bring commercial ice packs which add a lot of weight to my pack.

So when you work on these badges, you can show your merit badge counselors this information, and use frozen water to keep your food cold as well.

Eco STEM Sailing Adventure to USVI – summer 2022!

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Are you ready to take your STEM interest out on the open seas? Are you interested in studying the marine environment in the crystal clear waters around the US Virgin Islands? Join STEM Lab 991 in St. Thomas this summer at Sea Base for a STEM-oriented sailing adventure! Spend a week on a sailboat with your fellow STEM Scouts, sailing the ocean and studying the science involved in doing so. You’ll be underway for a week on a sailing vessel or around St. Thomas, USVI, snorkeling the beautiful reefs near St. Thomas. You’ll also study astronomy, navigation, fish identification and coral reef ecology. This is a six-night, seven-day adventure. Registration for the 2022 STEM Laboratory 0991 – sponsored Sea Base Eco STEM Sailing adventure is now open, and spaces are limited, so don’t miss out!

Photo from: https://www.facebook.com/seabase.st.thomas/

DATES: Tuesday 07-26-2022 1:00 PM ET to
Monday 08-01-2022 10:00 AM ET

LOCATION: Sea Base – St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands (USVI)

CREW SIZE: A Sea Base crew has a minimum of six and a maximum number of eight participants with at least two adults, and a majority of youth participants.

 

AGE REQUIREMENT: Every participant must be at least 13 years of age by their date of arrival at Sea Base. No exceptions can or will be made.

Photo from: https://www.facebook.com/seabase.st.thomas/

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT:

The total estimated cost for each participant is $1,655 to $1,700. This includes the Sea Base fee plus airfare, taxi, meals and tours. The trip cost consists of following items: Sea Base fee is $1025 for the ship, captain and food. Meals will be prepared by the scouts. Airfare from Ronald Regan, Washington National Airport (DCA) to Cyril E. King (STT) Airport is estimated to be $450-$550; round trip person taxi fare between the Sea Base Sapphire Beach Resort Marina is estimated to be $80 (the taxi cost each way is $40). Meals will be prepared by the scouts.

Payment Amount Due Date
Initial (deposit) $100 With request
Incremental $450* April 30, 2022
Final (estimate) $475 June 30, 2022

If interested to register, please contact Mark Gray, STEM 0991 Associate Lab Manager, at 78548b@Gmail.com. This trip is available on a first-come, first-served basis. All NCAC STEM Scouts who meet the Sea Base age, medical, weight, training and fitness requirements are welcome to participate!

There is one trip available for the STEM 0991 Laboratory which will include provisional crew members from other NCAC STEM units. Sign up for this this trip is “first come first serve” basis.

 

Training: 

Several STEM 0991 – sponsored training sessions will be held during the Spring 2022 timeframe. These will (tentatively) include sailing skills, snorkeling, and preliminary marine ecology studies. Attendance by the entire crew is required. STEM Scouts co-registered in a BSA Troop can earn Oceanography Merit Badge over the course of this trip if interested. Direct questions to Mark Gray, STEM 0991 Associate Lab Manager, at 78548b@Gmail.com or Burt Wagner, STEM 0991 Lab Manager, at bwagner3@gmail.com

Welding and Composite Materials

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On April 23 and May 21, 2022, Building Momentum in Alexandria, VA will host Welding and Composite Materials merit badge sessions, packed with hands-on experiences. Each merit badge class is a half-day session. Scouts BSA (and friends, same age friends are invited to join too!) may elect to only attend one class, or both classes.

All of the classes balance instruction with hands-on shop time so the youth can gain practical experience with Welding and Composite Materials. In order to maximize their workshop experience and project time, youth are asked to come prepared with a few pre-requisites.

Welding Pre-requisites

  • Requirements: 1a-b
    o We recommend that scouts earn the First Aid MB in advance, but at a minimum, please come prepared to demonstrate first aid knowledge as it requires to Welding MB requirements 1a-b.
  • Requirement: 5a
    o One of the processes that scouts research should be MIG welding.

Composite Materials Pre-requisites

  • Requirement: 1a-c

For more detail about the event, please visit the event page and register here: https://scoutingevent.com/082-buildMoSTEM

 

Building Momentum is a problem-solving organization based in Alexandria, Virginia. Their Innovation Academy empowers youth and adults in 21st Century technology, to become a creative problem solver, and work in a hands-on environment! NCAC is thrilled to introduce our scouting merit badges with BuildMo!

Akela Chess Classic – Join the Tournament!

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Take on the fun and challenge of playing chess!

After a brief hiatus in 2020, the NCAC BSA Chess Tournaments are back.

The tournaments will be held on Feb 5 & 12, 2022 at the Marriott Scout Service Center in Bethesda, MD.

Brackets

The Feb 5th Akela Chess Classic is a five-round chess tournament open to all Cub Scouts from Lions through Arrow of Light and STEM Scouts in Junior Labs.  Tournament play is in two brackets: Lions/Tigers/Wolves and Bears/Webelos/Arrow of Light/Junior STEM.

The Feb 12th Akela Chess Classic is a five-round chess tournament open to all Scouts BSA, Venturers, STEM Scouts in Technology Labs, and Sea Scouts from age 10 to 20. Tournament play is in three brackets: age 10-12, age 13-15, and age 16 and up.

Registrations

Cub Scout Tournament on Feb 5, 2022: https://scoutingevent.com/082-ChessCubs

SBSA Tournament on Feb 12, 2022: https://scoutingevent.com/082-ChessClassic

Background

In this video, NCAC BSA Tournament Director Roger Claff talks about the origin of the tournament in a broadcast with BSA’s Scouting Magazine! Life Scout KL also shares his tips for a game of chess – be sure to check it out!

Prior to the pandemic, the Chess tournament has been held at Trinity Church in Herndon, VA and at the Microsoft Technology Center in Reston, VA. Photos are from February 2020, pre-pandemic tournament. This year’s tournament will look different – following county guidelines, participants will be wearing masks.

To see more STEM events check out the NCAC STEM page.