What is NOVA?

Some people have asked me "What is the NOVA program?" and why is your camp focused around it? Well paraphrasing the words of my good friend Gilligan, just sit right back and you'll hear a tale.

NOVA is a fairly new initiative that incorporates learning with cool activities using STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). The aims of the STEM/NOVA program are to entice Scouts into these fields, as well as showcase how our world revolves around these principles. Don't worry, it's not all just classroom. Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts have an assortment of belt loops and merit badges they can earn, and may not even realize how STEM plays into them. There are a lot of fun experiments that Scouts can do to make learning about science, technology, engineering and mathematics a ton of fun!

Because this is a Cub Scout blog, here are the listed here:

Astronomy Badminton Baseball

BB Shooting Bicycling Fishing

Geography Geology Map and Compass

Photography Science Softball

Ultimate Weather Wildlife Conservation

There is a lot more to the NOVA awards than simple belt loops and pins though. There are many things a Scout can do to earn his NOVA badge and related pi pins (shown below)

      
I like to think of this award as earning the "Superhero of Science" badge.


I hope this article has been of encouragement to you. Don't forget to register for Cub Camp! Do it today and I promise you, it will be an experience you and your Scout will never forget!