Baloo's bugle volume 22, Number 2 Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES

To get a complete list now, you can go to http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/programupdates.aspx of all the changes. Or you could go to www.usscouts.org and get the changes for a specific award.

STEM SUPERNOVA Awards
for Cub Scouts

• 
  Go back to last month's issue of Baloo's Bugle at http://www.usscouts.org/bbugle/BB1508.pdf
  
• 
  Also, go the July CUBCAST, New STEM Awards Requirements, at http://www.scouting.org/filestore/scoutcast/cubcast/201507_1/CC_July_New_STEM_Req.mp3 and listen to that presentation on STEM and Cub Scouting.
  
• 
  Go to one of the websites listed below the title of this item (I recommend www.usscouts.or/adavncementTOC.asp because of the workbooks found there.) and review the NOVA and Super NOVA Award requirements.
  

The Boy Scouts of America's NOVA Awards program incorporates learning with cool activities and exposure to science, technology, engineering and mathematics for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers. The hope is that the requirements and activities for earning these awards stimulates interest in STEM-related fields and shows how science, technology, engineering and mathematics apply to everyday living and the world around them. Counselors and mentors help bring this engaging, contemporary, and fun program to life for youth members.

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

For their first Nova award, Scouts earn the distinctive Nova award patch. After that, a Scout can earn three more Nova awards, each one recognized with a separate pi (π) pin-on device that attaches to the patch. The patch and the three devices represent each of the four STEM topics—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. (These were featured in last month's issue of Baloo's Bugle)

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.

The awards are:

For Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts:

• 
  Dr. Louis Alvarez Supernova Award
  

• 
  Dr. Charles H. Townes Supernova Award
  

• 
  Dr. Bernard Harris Supernova Bronze Award
  
• 
  Thomas Edison Supernova Silver Award
  

• 
  Dr. Sally Ride Supernova Bronze Award
  
• 
  Wright Brothers Supernova Silver Award
  
• 
  Dr. Albert Einstein Supernova Gold Award
  

All requirements may be found in the Nova awards guidebooks, available through local Scout shops—one for Cub Scouts, one for Boy Scouts, and one for Venturers.

The requirements for each of the Nova and Supernova awards are also available on BSA's official web site, Scouting.org. They are also available on the Advancement pages of the USScouts.org (http://usscouts.org/advancementTOC.asp) site.

The Advancement pages of the USScouts.org, also, have workbooks for use in documenting progress toward earning the various Nova and Supernova awards. There are links to the workbooks at the bottom of the requirements page for each award.

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.

Cub Scout Supernova Awards

The requirements printed in Baloo's Bugle are for information only to give you a taste of the Award Requirements. There are many hints and other supplemental information given on the Advancement pages of the USScouts.org (http://usscouts.org/advancementTOC.asp) and BSA's web site, Scouting.org. Also, the Advancement pages of USScouts.org contain worksheets to assist in completing the requirements.

• 
  To earn the Cub Scout Supernova award, you must be a Wolf or a Bear Cub Scout who is active with a den. With your parent's and unit leader's help, you must select a council-approved mentor who is a registered Scouter. You may NOT choose your parent or your unit leader (unless the mentor is working with more than one youth).
  
• 
  The Cub Scout Supernova award recognizes superior achievement by a Cub Scout in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
  
• 
  All experiments or projects should be conducted using the highest level of safety protocol and always under the supervision of a qualified, responsible adult.
  
• 
  Tigers are not eligible to earn the Cub Scout Supernova award.
  
• 
  Although it is not a requirement, it is recommended that you earn at least two of the four Nova awards for Cub Scouts before earning the Dr. Luis W. Alvarez Supernova Award.
  

1. 
   Complete both of the adventures appropriate for your rank.
   

2. 
   Complete the adventure appropriate for your rank.
   

3. 
   Find interesting facts about Dr. Luis W. Alvarez using resources in your school or local library or on the Internet (with your parent's or guardian's permission and guidance). Then discuss what you learn with your mentor, including answers to the following questions: What very important award did Dr. Alvarez earn? What was his famous theory about dinosaurs?
   
4. 
   Find out about three other famous scientists, technology innovators, engineers, or mathematicians approved by your mentor. Discuss what you learned with your mentor.
   
5. 
   Speak with your teacher(s) at school (or your parents if you are home-schooled) OR one of your Cub Scout leaders about your interest in earning the Cub Scout Supernova award. Ask them why they think math and science are important in your education. Discuss what you learn with your mentor.
   
6. 
   Participate in a science project or experiment in your classroom or school OR do a special science project approved by your teacher. Discuss this activity with your mentor.
   
7. 
   Do ONE of the following:
   
   1. 
      Visit with someone who works in a STEM-related career. Discuss what you learned with your mentor.
      
   2. 
      Learn about a career that depends on knowledge about science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Discuss what you learned with your mentor.
      
8. 
   Learn about the scientific method (or scientific process). Discuss this with your mentor, and include a simple demonstration to show what you learned.
   
9. 
   Participate in a Nova- or other STEM-related activity in your Cub Scout den or pack meeting that is conducted by a Boy Scout or Venturer who is working on his or her Supernova award. If this is not possible, participate in another Nova- or STEM-related activity in your den or pack meeting.
   
10. 
    Submit an application for the Cub Scout Supernova award to the district Nova or advancement committee for approval.
    

• 
  To earn the Webelos Scout Supernova award, you must be a Webelos Scout who is active with a den. With your parent's and unit leader's help, you must select a council-approved mentor who is a registered Scouter. You may NOT choose your parent or your unit leader (unless the mentor is working with more than one youth).
  
• 
  The Webelos Scout Supernova award recognizes superior achievement by a Webelos Scout in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
  
• 
  If you earned the Cub Scout Supernova award, you must repeat similar requirements while you are a Webelos Scout.
  
• 
  Although it is not a requirement, it is recommended that you earn at least two of the four Nova awards for Cub Scouts before earning the Dr. Charles H. Townes Supernova Award.
  

1. 
   Complete the following Webelos adventures: Adventures in Science, Engineer, and Scouting Adventure.
   
2. 
   Complete three of the following adventures: Build It, Building a Better World, Castaway, First Responder, Into the Wild, and Into the Woods.
   
3. 
   Find interesting facts about Dr. Charles H. Townes using resources in your school or local library or on the Internet (with your parent's or guardian's permission and guidance). Then discuss what you learned with your mentor, including answers to the following questions: What very important award did Dr. Townes earn? What was Dr. Townes' most famous invention?
   
4. 
   Find out about five other famous scientists, technology innovators, engineers, or mathematicians approved by your mentor. Discuss what you learned with your mentor.
   
5. 
   Speak with your teacher(s) at school (or your parents if you are home-schooled) OR one of your Cub Scout leaders about your interest in earning the Webelos Scout Supernova award. Ask them why they think math and science are important in your education. Discuss what you learn with your mentor.
   
6. 
   Participate in a science project or experiment in your classroom or school. Discuss this activity with your mentor.
   
7. 
   Do ONE of the following:
   
   1. 
      Visit with someone who works in a STEM-related career. Discuss what you learned with your mentor.
      
   2. 
      Learn about a career that depends on knowledge about science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Discuss what you learned with your mentor.
      
8. 
   Under the direct supervision of your mentor, do an experiment that shows how the scientific method (or scientific process) is used. Prepare a short report on the results of your experiment for your mentor.
   
9. 
   Participate in a Nova- or other STEM-related activity in your Webelos Scout den or pack meeting that is conducted by a Boy Scout or Venturer who is working on his or her Supernova award. If this is not possible, participate in Nova- or STEM-related activity in your den or pack meeting.
   
10. 
    Submit an application for the Webelos Scout Ssupernova award to the district STEM or advancement committee for approval.
    

For additional information and the latest on the changes to these Special Opportunities for Cub Scouts, head to:

The Advancement pages on USScouts (http://usscouts.org/advancementTOC.asp ). Paul has already posted all the new requirements and, where appropriate, workbooks for the Scouts to use.

or

On National's Site got to www.scouting.org/programupdates and look for the link to "Updated Requirements for Cub Scout Awards."

And on another front -

STEM SCOUTS

STEM Scouts start at 3^rd Grade – so if your council is a trial council, some of your Cub Scouts could register for STEM Scouts, too!!!

What are those?

STEM Scouts are boys and girls in third through 12th grade. They’re split into three divisions:

• 
  Elementary school (third through fifth grade)
  
• 
  Middle school (sixth through eighth grade)
  
• 
  High school (ninth through 12th grade)
  

They meet weekly, after school, for hands-on, fun activities organized into four- to six-week modules that cover a ton of fun STEM topics.

Inside the Vortex, the STEM Scouts Mobile Lab

• 
  Go to https://stemscouts.org/
  
• 
  Go Bryans Blog -(http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/) and read the following articles
  

STEM Scouts ready for prime time with NASCAR Truck Series debut

Understanding the difference between STEM in Scouting and STEM Scouts

Video: Inside the Vortex, the STEM Scouts mobile lab