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    • NOVA awards
    • Supernova awards
    • become a NOVA Counselor
    • become a Supernova Mentor
  • Events
    • STEMboree
    • STEM Adventure Weekend
    • Cub Outdoor Activity Wknd
    • InnovationDesignChallenge
    • STEM Adventure Day
    • ifly Classes
    • Hour of Code
    • Online Resources
  • Committee
  • Resources
    • Contact
    • Resources for Units
    • Engagement
    • Partners in STEM
  • More
    • Home
    • Nova and supernova
      • NOVA awards
      • Supernova awards
      • become a NOVA Counselor
      • become a Supernova Mentor
    • Events
      • STEMboree
      • STEM Adventure Weekend
      • Cub Outdoor Activity Wknd
      • InnovationDesignChallenge
      • STEM Adventure Day
      • ifly Classes
      • Hour of Code
      • Online Resources
    • Committee
    • Resources
      • Contact
      • Resources for Units
      • Engagement
      • Partners in STEM
  • Home
  • Nova and supernova
    • NOVA awards
    • Supernova awards
    • become a NOVA Counselor
    • become a Supernova Mentor
  • Events
    • STEMboree
    • STEM Adventure Weekend
    • Cub Outdoor Activity Wknd
    • InnovationDesignChallenge
    • STEM Adventure Day
    • ifly Classes
    • Hour of Code
    • Online Resources
  • Committee
  • Resources
    • Contact
    • Resources for Units
    • Engagement
    • Partners in STEM

STEM NOVA - STEM in Scouting

STEM NOVA - STEM in Scouting STEM NOVA - STEM in Scouting STEM NOVA - STEM in Scouting

Capitol Area Council, BSA

Capitol Area Council, BSA Capitol Area Council, BSA

Overview of the NOVA Awards Program

The NOVA awards program began in 2012 with 4 awards for each scouting age level - one for each letter of the STEM acronym. Since then, BSA has expanded the number of NOVA awards available to 9 for Cubs, 9 for Scouts BSA, and 9 for Venturers,  and will continue to add and improve upon the STEM awards in future.


The Awards program is broken down into two different sections:  NOVA and  SUPERNOVA.


  • NOVA Awards
    • Can usually complete most requirements within 2 to 6 hours
    • Designed be taught in a group setting at Pack level, or youth-led group at Troop and Crew
    • Completed and awarded at the unit level
    • NOVA patch and pins may be purchased at the Scout Shop with an advancement report
    • NOVA Counselor may be any adult current with YPT and who has and interest in STEM. Fill out a adult leader application with position code 58 and turn it in to council.
    • There are 9 NOVAs available for Cub Scouts (Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and Arrow of Light),  9 NOVAs available for Scouts BSA, and 9 NOVAs available for Venturers.


  • Cub Scout NOVA Awards
    • Science Everywhere
    • Down and Dirty
    • NOVA Wild
    • Out of this World
    • Tech Talk
    • Swing
    • 1-2-3-GO!
    • Fearful Summetry
    • Uncovering the Past


  • Scouts BSA NOVA Awards
    • Shoot!
    • Let It Grow!
    • Splash!
    • Mendel's Minions
    • Start your Engines!
    • Hello World
    • Whoosh!
    • Up and Away
    • Next Big Thing
    • Designed to Crunch


  • Venturing NOVA Awards
    • Launch!
    • Wade!
    • What a Life
    • Power Up
    • Execute
    • Something from Nothing
    • Hang On!
    • Up and Away
    • Numbers Don't Lie

Scroll down from more information.

Cub Scout NOVA Awards

Science Everywhere

Short Review of Requirements

  • 1 hour of learning about Science (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of Cub Adventure or alternate activity
  • Complete an experiment using the Scientific method 
  • Visiting a location where science is done and talking to a scientist
  • Discussing how Science affects your life

A full list of requirements can be found here

Down and Dirty

 Short Review of Requirements

  • 1 hour of learning about Earth Science (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of Cub Adventure or alternate activity
  • Complete experiments/demonstrations about an earth science subject, such as volcanoes, weather, rocks, or habitats
  • Visiting a location where Earth Science is done or learn about careers in Earth Science
  • Discussing how Earth Science affects your life

A full list of requirements can be found  here

NOVA Wild

  Short Review of Requirements

  • 1 hour of learning about Natural Science (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of Cub Adventure or alternate activity
  • Learn about the basics of wildlife and food webs
  • Complete experiments/demonstrations about an earth science subject, such as endangered species, invasive species, a local species or a habitat near you 
  • Earn the Cub Scout Conservation Award
  • Visit a place were you can observe animals
  • Discussing how Natural Science affects your life

A full list of requirements can be found  here

Out of this World

   Short Review of Requirements

  • 1 hour of learning about Space Science (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of Cub Adventure or alternate activity
  • Learn about and complete an activity about two of the following: stars, orbits, Mars, a Moon base, asteroids, or eclipses.
  • Visit a place where Space Science is being done and talk to a Space Scientist
  • Discussing how Space Science affects your life

A full list of requirements can be found  here.

Tech Talk

  Short Review of Requirements

  • 1 hour of learning about Technology (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of Cub Adventure or alternate activity
  • Complete research about how technology is present in many aspects of your daily life, such as in communication, sports, business, entertainment and buildings. 
  • Visiting a location where Technology is use or made and talk to someone who works with Technology
  • Discussing how Technology affects your life

A full list of requirements can be found   here

Swing

   Short Review of Requirements

  • 1 hour of learning about Engineering (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of Cub Adventure or alternate activity
  • Learn about and complete experiments/activities using Levers
  • Visiting a location where Engineering is being done and talk to someone who works with Engineering 
  • Discussing how Engineering affects your life

A full list of requirements can be found    here.

1-2-3-Go!

 Short Review of Requirements

  • 1 hour of learning about Math (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of Cub Adventure or alternate activity
  • Complete how to complete different kinds of calculations
  • Develop and share messages with cryptography 
  • Discussing how Math affects your life

A full list of requirements can be found here

Fearful Symmetry

  Short Review of Requirements

  • 1 hour of learning about Symmetry (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of Cub Adventure or alternate activity
  • Learn about and create two examples of symmetry in international artforms
  • Visit a place where symmetry is important
  • Discussing how Symmetry affects your life

A full list of requirements can be found here

Uncovering the Past

   Short Review of Requirements

  • 1 hour of learning about Archeology (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of Cub Adventure or alternate activity
  • Learn about what is archeology and what are artifacts
  • Create your own archeological dig to either complete or share with others
  • Discussing how Archeology affects your life

A full list of requirements can be found here.

SCOUTs BSA NOVA Awards

Shoot

    Short Review of Requirements

  • 3 hours of learning about Science (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of one of the listed Merit Badges
  • Visit a flight or space museum or learn about the how satellites above know where you are.
  • Design equipment where you can test velocity and movement
  • Discussing how Science affects your life

A full list of requirements can be found here. 

Let it Grow!

Short Review of Requirements

  • 3 hours of learning about Agriculture or food science (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of one of the listed Merit Badges
  • Learn about or experiment with different forms of Agriscience
  • Visit a place that either produces or processes farm products
  • Discussing how Agriculture affects your life

A full list of requirements can be found here

Splash

Short Review of Requirements

  • 3 hours of learning about Water science (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of one of the listed Merit Badges
  • Learn about the different features of water through either research or experimentation
  • Visit a place where water is processed by humans or nature
  • Discussing how Water affects your life

A full list of requirements can be found here

Mendel's Minions

Short Review of Requirements

  • 3 hours of learning about genetic science (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of one of the listed Merit Badges
  • Learn about the different features of DNA or inheritance through either research or experimentation
  • Present a report of at least 800 words or 10 minutes with visual aids on a selected topic 
  • Visit a place where genomic and genetic information is being used
  • Discussing how Water affects your life

A full list of requirements can be found here

Start Your Engines

 Short Review of Requirements

  • 3 hours of learning about Technology (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of one of the listed Merit Badges
  • Discuss energy sources used in various aspects of life
  • Design and build a working vehicle model 
  • Discussing how Technology affects your life

A full list of requirements can be found here 

Hello World

 Short Review of Requirements

  • 3 hours of learning about coding or computer programming (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of one of the listed Merit Badges
  • Explore concepts in computer programming
  • Write a program that performs a specified task
  • Write another program that performs  a different specified task
  • Explain to your counselor your approach for the programs you created
  • Visit a place where computers are being developed
  • Discuss how coding affects your life

A full list of requirements can be found here 

Whoosh!

Short Review of Requirements

  • 3 hours of learning about Engineering (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of one of the listed Merit Badges
  • Learn about simple machines and motion
  • Visit a place kids play and study the simple machines at work there
  • Design your own play equipment or amusement park ride
  • Discussing how Engineering affects your life

A full list of requirements can be found here

Up and Away

Short Review of Requirements

  • 3 hours of learning about fluid dynamics (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of one of the listed Merit Badges
  • Conduct an investigation from the selected activities
  • Visit a place that highlights human flight, tour a wind tunnel, or visit iFLY
  • Discussing how fluid dynamics affects your life

A full list of requirements can be found here

Next Big Thing

Short Review of Requirements

  • 3 hours of learning about product design/creation of new products (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of one of the listed Merit Badges
  • Complete four exercises in the design process
  • Design and create a model of a new product
  • Visit a place where new products are being developed
  • Reflect on experiences from these requirements

A full list of requirements can be found here

Designed to Crunch

 Short Review of Requirements

  • 3 hours of learning about Math (via reading, watching or attending)
  • Completion of one of the listed Merit Badges
  • Use different calculations to learn about speed, power, probability and estimating numbers
  • Learn about all the processes different types of calculators and programs can help us do
  • Discussing how Math affects your life

A full list of requirements can be found here 


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