2014-2015 Council STEM Events

GREATER ST. LOUIS AREA COUNCIL, BSA STEM PROGRAMS 2015-2016

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Boy Scouts of America has created a new NOVA program which emphasizes STEM and gives Scouts an opportunity to explore these skills and be recognized for their achievements.

2014-2015 Council STEM Events: July 5-11, 2015 STEM Venturing Week at Swift Explorer Base Special Venturing week focusing on the Science and Engineering NOVA awards. STEM programs every day –‘Past, Present, & Future’

July 26-Aug. 1, ’15 STEM Boy Scout Summer Camp Week at Camp May, BSR July 24-30, 2016 210 Scouts can take advantage of this great week at Beaumont Scout Reservation of STEM based merit badges during the day and other unique activities into the afternoon/evening hours.

July 27-30, 2015 STEM Twilight Cub Scout Camp at Cub World, BSR July 25-28, 2016 For four evenings at Cub World, 200 Cub Scouts will have a real treat where each night a different STEM based corporation will host the program. Science and engineering projects will be offered to help the Scouts earn two NOVA awards.

December 19, 2015 STEM University – Universities at UMSL and SEMO & January 9, 2016 The return of this program helps 1,200 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, & Venturers, at two locations no less, have a great day of adventures on STEM advancement badges and NOVA awards.

Sat., November 7 Radical Robotics!! Returning event! 9-Noon at Maryville University. Hosted by Mad Science, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, and siblings ages 6-13 are welcome to attend this STEMtastic event. The youth will learn about a variety of robots, build one, program it, and take it home. Registration will open up early September.

Sat., September 26 Cub Scout NOVA Day – Saint Louis Science Center 160 Cub Scouts will work on the Mathematics NOVA award and make the most of the Science Center resources.

Sat., October 24 Cub Scout STEM Day – Webster University, 9-Noon Separate morning and afternoon sessions. 125 Cub Scouts per session to learn hands-on STEM programs on science based belt loops and advancement adventures.

Scouting is a perfect fit for STEM. The Greater St. Louis Area Council, BSA is committed to making America No. 1 in these disciplines and creating a future workforce that is not only technically superb, but exemplifies the Scout Oath and Scout Law. http://stem.stlbsa.org NEW STEM PROGRAM INITIATIVES FOR GREATER ST. LOUIS AREA COUNCIL, BSA

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These disciplines are considered by many to be the foundation of an advanced society. A STEM trained workforce is viewed as an indicator of a nation's ability to sustain itself.

The Boy Scouts of America has created a new NOVA program which emphasizes STEM and gives Scouts an opportunity to explore these skills and be recognized for their achievements.

The Greater St. Louis Area Council, BSA is recognized nationally for its lead on this new STEM program. Many leaders from across the country are traveling to St. Louis to see how we have deployed this exciting new program. Our Council organized a STEM Committee in May 2012 to push forward this National Initiative.

2014-2015 Accomplishments:

 STEM Activity Village at the September Venturing ‘Fall Fun Rally’ to 1,500 teenagers

 STEM fun station at ‘Cub Scout Day One’ to 1,400 new Cub Scout recruits and their parents

 Trained over 400 adult volunteers on the NOVA program with over 3,200 Scouts earning a NOVA award and 126 Scouts earning a Supernova Award in the last 2 years

 Great partner sponsors with the Microsoft Store and Pole Position Raceway offering STEM workshops to Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts throughout the program year.

 Over 1,500 Cub Scouts have participated at the Cub Scout STEM Day events at Monsanto, Fabick/CAT, Lindenwood University, and Webster University earning STEM based academic belt loops.

 And conducted two ‘STEM Universities’ at the end of December 2014. STEM University brought all three Scout programs together on two days – one at UMSL and one at SEMO and helped 836 youth earn a NOVA award and other STEM related badges.

Events for 2015-2016 include: two new Cub Scout STEM Day events serving 300 Cub Scouts; and also three special STEM summer camp weeks for 600 youth to experience aimed at Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers. Five STEM summer day camps in different parts of the Council. Cub Scout and Boy Scout NOVA Days will take place at the Saint Louis Science Center. Radical Robotics in November and the Einstein Recognition Dinner in March. STEM University will be back in December in the St. Louis area at UMSL and at SEMO in the southern part of the Council to impact over 1,200 Scouts combined.

The Greater St. Louis Area Council serves 44,000 youth in 37 Counties of Missouri and Illinois. Since starting this new effort in mid-2012, our Council quickly raised $83,000 to support our new STEM programs and reached over 6,000 youths. Our goal is to raise $125,000 for each of the next three years, enabling us to fully implement this important initiative.

Scouting is a perfect fit for STEM. The Greater St. Louis Area Council, BSA is committed to making America No. 1 in these disciplines and creating a future workforce that is not only technically superb, but exemplifies the Scout Oath and Scout Law. http://stem.stlbsa.org

HOW TO GET STEM STARTED IN YOUR UNIT - Get in on the FUN!

1. Make sure you get a copy of the NOVA award book (Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing books) for your unit or per youth - sold in the local Scout shop or at scoutstuff.org

2. Any adult in the unit can help "Counsel" the youth on the NOVA level awards / approved by unit committee and following Youth Protection Guidelines

3. Review the Award worksheets at this LINK

4. Recruit an adult to be the Unit STEM Chairman (STEM professional background optional)

5. Get familiar about the NOVA program resources on this website and at scouting.org/stem

6. Recruit adults with a STEM background to be Supernova Mentors. They will need to apply thru the District STEM Chairman or District Advancement Chairman with this FORM. Forms are turned in to the Scout office.

7. Find online training for STEM Counselors, Mentors, and for general information at this LINK

8. Supernova Mentors nearby can be found on the Merit Badge Directory

9. Turn in awards timely at the Scout Shops - Advancement Report form

10. Catch up with your District STEM Chairman to find out more about local resources (see list at bottom of page)

11. Attend Roundtables to learn about STEM resources and be a fan of the local STEM Facebook page

12. and lastly check out the cool STEM events taking place around the Council http://stem.stlbsa.org

DISTRICT STEM CHAIRMEN

Look for these folks at your monthly Roundtable for STEM help:

Boone Trails - Craig Alexander North Star – Jenny Fortner Cherokee – Frank Masterson Osage - Ward Hanneken Egyptian – Michael Hoane Ozark Trailblazers – Chad Majeske Grand Towers – LaShonda Griffin Pathfinder - Steve Masaki Gravois Trail - Brad Johnson River Trails - Rich Simpson Kaskaskia - Gary Kinsel Shawnee - Kevin McMeel New Horizons - Ron Colletti Thunderbird – Jason Dill http://stem.stlbsa.org