Stem Nova Program

STEM— (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Initiative

STEM/Nova Cool Videos from BSA! Check them out!

Click HERE to follow us on Facebook

STEM is part of an initiative the Boy Scouts of America has taken on to encourage the natural curiosity of youth members and their sense of wonder about these fields through existing programs. From archery to welding, Scouts can’t help but enjoy the wide range of STEM-related activities. To support this initiative, the BSA developed the Nova Awards program so that youth members have fun and receive recognition for their efforts.

We at the Dan Beard Council are committed to leveraging the NOVA program to help engage and excite our scouts about STEM. If you are interested in participating or being a part of this committee please send us and email. Below is a lot of great material for those getting started in STEM and be sure to look for more to come as we deploy and grow our NOVA program.

Nova Counselors and Supernova Mentors –With the introduction of the new Nova and Supernova awards comes a fresh opportunity for volunteer positions. A Nova counselor can be any registered adult age 21 or older and is registered under the NOVA Counselor position code 58 using the regular leader application.  Supernova mentors must be 21 or older and be subject matter experts in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) field and be registered under the new Supernova Mentor position code 52. These are nonunit positions and requires no fee. In addition to the standard BSA Adult Registration form and Youth Protection Training, mentors must complete the Supernova Awards Mentor Information application.  These documents should be turned in together to the Scout Achievement Center, Attn: Lisa Jones. Learn more about these opportunities by clicking on Volunteer Support.

Why STEM? – We live in a time of great opportunity. The spirit of innovation can help us overcome challenges and ensure a prosperous and secure future. To seize this opportunity, we must position ourselves at the cutting edge of scientific discovery and technological innovation. Yet our country is falling behind in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This is why many professionals and educators in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics believe the United States should do more now than ever to encourage students to enter STEM-related fields. These experts say our young people need strong STEM skills to compete in the world market. We must work together to cultivate the next generation of critical thinkers and innovators.

What Are the Nova Awards? – The Boy Scouts of America developed the Nova Awards program to excite and expand a sense of wonder in our Scouts. By working with an adult counselor or mentor, the various modules allow them to explore the basic principles of STEM and discover how fun and fascinating STEM can be. The Supernova awards are offered for those who enjoy a super challenge. For more information about STEM and the Nova Awards program, visit the links below. Discover how the Nova Awards program helps youth be “Prepared. For Life.”

About the STEM/NOVA Program

NOVA Award Tracking Tools
Here are some helpful tracking forms to help counselors with the Nova Award.

CUB SCOUT NOVA TRACKING FORMS

• 1-2-3 Go! Tracking Form
• Science Everywhere Tracking Form
• Swing! Tracking Form
• Tech Talk – Tracking Form

BOY SCOUT NOVA TRACKING FORMS

• Designed to Crunch Tracking Form
• Shoot! Tracking Form
• Start Your Engines Tracking Form
• Whoosh! Tracking Form

VENTURING NOVA TRACKING FORMS

• Hang On! Tracking Form
• Launch! Tracking Form
• Numbers Don’t Lie Tracking Form
• Power Up Tracking Form

Attached is a list of PBS Nova online programs that apply to Shoot!, Start Your Engines! and Designed to Crunch.  You can click on the title to take you to the web page.   PBS Nova Online Programs

NEW STEM AWARDS – NOVA AND SUPERNOVA – NOW AVAILABLE!!!
The NOVA and SUPERNOVA award programs are now available and can be downloaded through the links below.

• StemNova Cub Scout Workbook
  
• StemNova Boy Scout Workbook
  
• StemNova Venturing Workbook

The NOVA  Award program consists of individual activity elements in various STEM topics structured for Cub Scouts,  Boy Scouts, & Venturers. These topics, or four NOVA awards for each program level, are designed to encourage participation and to increase interest in STEM by making it relevant and fun.  The NOVA award will be a distinctive pocket patch with a separate pin on device awarded for each individual topic completed by the youth, up to three pins.

There are four Nova awards for Cub Scouts, Webelos Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers. Each award covers one component of STEM—science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.

• Cub Scout Nova awards: Science Everywhere, Tech Talk, Swing!, and 1-2-3 Go!   /   
  
• Boy Scout Nova awards: Shoot!, Start Your Engines, Whoosh!, and Designed to Crunch    /   
  
• Venturer Scout Nova awards: Launch!, Power Up, Hang On!, and Numbers Don’t Lie   /  
  

The SUPERNOVA Awards

The Supernova awards have more rigorous requirements than the Nova awards. The requirements and activities were designed to motivate youth and recognize more in-depth, advanced achievement in STEM-related activities.

• For Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts: Dr. Louis Alvarez Supernova Award
• For Webelos Scouts: Dr. Charles H. Townes Supernova Award
• For Boy Scouts: Dr. Bernard Harris Supernova Bronze Award / Thomas Edison Supernova Silver Award
  
• For Venturers: Dr. Sally Ride Supernova Bronze Award / Wright Brothers Supernova Silver Award / Dr. Albert Einstein Supernova Gold Award

SUPERNOVA Award Tracking Forms

• Thomas Edison Supernova Award Tracking Form
• Bernard Harris Supernova Award Tracking Form
• Dr. Albert Einstein Supernova Award Tracking Form
• Dr. Charles H. Townes Supernova Award Tracking Form
• Dr. Sally Ride Supernova Award Tracking Form
• Dr. Luis W. Alvarez Supernova Award Tracking Form
• Wright Brothers Supernova Award Tracking Form

For earning the Supernova award, Scouts receive a medal and certificate. All requirements may be found in the Nova awards guidebooks, available in printed versions through our local Scout shops—one for Cub Scouts, one for Boy Scouts, and one for Venturers. The requirements can be completed with a parent or an adult leader as the counselor (for the Nova awards) or mentor (for the Supernova awards). Each guidebook includes a section for the counselor and mentor.

Download the Cub Scout NOVA booklet 
Download the Boy Scout NOVA booklet 
Download the Venturing NOVA booklet 

CUB SCOUT STEM RELATED AWARDS
Cub Scout Academic and Sports Belt Loops and Pins, with STEM related requirements: Astronomy, Computers, Fishing, Geology, Horseback Riding, Mathematics,Photography, Science, Weather, and Wildlife Conservation.

Webelos Scout Activity Badges with STEM related requirements:Communicator, Engineer, Forester, Geologist, Naturalist, and Scientist.

BOY SCOUT STEM RELATED MERIT BADGES
The National BSA office has designated the following as STEM related merit badges: Animal Science, Astronomy, Bird Study, Chemistry, Computers, Drafting, Electricity,Electronics, Energy, Engineering, Environmental Science, Forestry, Geology, Insect Study,Inventing, Mammal Study, Medicine, Model design and Building, Nature, Nuclear Science,Oceanography, Personal Management, Photography, Plant Science, Reptile and Amphibian Study, Robotics, Soil and Water Conservation, Space Exploration, Surveying, Veterinary Medicine, andWeather.   There are 21 other badges that have fewer STEM related requirements involved.

Share on Facebook

Tweet