STEM
Nova
Counselor
Training
(unofficial)
Trisha Bergthold
Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council
Learning Objectives
By the end of this training, you will
 Know the overall structure of BSA’s STEM Initiative,
 Understand the role of Nova Counselor
 Gain a general sense of the Nova Award requirements,
 Learn key strategies for guiding youth in the Nova awards,
 Have suggestions for bringing the STEM Awards to your unit.
 Know how to become a registered Nova Counselor.
Purpose of the STEM Initiative
• Enhance interest in the STEM fields
• Bring a Scouting focus to STEM
• Increase the value of Scouting
Overall Structure
• Optional awards in each program
• Two tiers of awards
Nova (fun STEM activities)
Supernova (high achievement)
Nova Awards
Cub Scouts
Boy Scouts
Venturers
S: Science Everywhere
S: Shoot!
S: Launch!
T: Tech Talk
T: Start Your Engines
T: Power Up
E: Swing!
E: Whoosh!
E: Hang On!
M: 1, 2, 3, Go!
M: Designed to Crunch
M: Numbers Don’t Lie
(More in development)
(More in development)
(More in development)
Each includes a STEM Belt
Loop or Pin
Each includes a STEM
Merit Badge
Each includes a STEM
Exploration
Structure Across Programs
Structure Across Programs
Dr. Luis W.
Alvarez
Dr. Charles
Townes
Dr. Bernard
Harris
Dr. Sally
Ride
Thomas Alva
Edison
Wright
Brothers
Dr. Albert
Einstein
Adult Guidance
Nova Counselors
Supernova Mentors
•
•
•
•
Guide youth through requirements
Verify award requirements are met
Ensure safety and youth protection
Approved by Council
•
•
•
•
Commitment:
Methods:
Expertise:
Parent?
weeks
vs
teach/coach vs
0/minimal vs
yes
vs
months
facilitate/guide
experienced
no
Who Can Be a Nova Counselor?
Have you ever played soccer, golf, or bowling?
–You understand motion of objects.
Have you ever cooked, built things, worked in the garden?
–You know how to measure and calculate.
Have you ever gone fishing, dug a hole, or hit a baseball?
–You understand simple machines.
Have you ever ridden a bike, driven a car, or sailed a boat?
–You understand energy production and use.
Have you ever read a book or researched on the internet?
–You understand how to prepare to guide learning.
Anyone who understands the material and
can guide learning can be a Nova Counselor
General Characteristics of Nova Awards
Build on
• Existing badges (for CS & BS)
Involve
•
•
•
•
Familiarization
Exploration and Application
Relevance
Communication
Major Parts
STEM Entertainment
STEM Badge
STEM Activities
STEM in Everyday Life
Major Theme
STEM Discussions
Cub Scout Nova – Swing!
(Engineering)
Complete:
1. One hour of STEM entertainment and discuss.
2. One belt loop or pin (from a list):
badminton, fishing, ultimate,… (eight more choices)
3. Three activities on levers
(a) drawings, (b) types, (c) connection to BL
4. Field trip: visit a place that uses levers, discuss.
5. Design something that uses a lever, discuss.
6. Discuss how levers affect your everyday life.
Boy Scout Nova – Shoot!
(Science)
Complete:
1. Three hours of STEM entertainment and discuss.
2. One merit badge (from a list):
astronomy, aviation, weather,… (six more choices)
3. Choose A or B
(A) projectile simulation, (B) velocity discovery
4. Choose A or B
(A) field trip, (B) satellite observation
5. Choose A or B or C
(A) catapult, (B) pitching machine, (C) marble run
6. Discuss how science affects your everyday life.
Venturing Nova – Launch!
Complete:
(Science)
1. Three hours of STEM entertainment and discuss.
2. One Venturing STEM Exploration (from a list):
astronomy, aviation, weather,… (six more choices)
3. Choose A or B
(A) projectile simulation, (B) velocity discovery
4. Choose A or B
(A) field trip, (B) satellite observation
5. Choose A or B or C
(A) catapult, (B) pitching machine, (C) marble run
6. Discuss how science affects your everyday life.
Venturing STEM Explorations
Safety
What are the hazards and safety protocols in this field?
Developing Knowledge
Visit a workplace in this field ~OR~ do research to learn about this field.
Hands-On Experiences
Identify 4 hands-on activities in this field that you could do yourself.
Each activity should take about three hours.
Carry out all 4 activities and discuss each with your counselor.
Career Exploration
Find out about three career opportunities in this field.
Communicate the training, education, and experience for each.
Value and Impact
Find out the importance of this field is in our modern world.
How can this field bring about positive change?
Create an oral or written report and present it to your counselor.
Key Strategies for Guiding Youth
in the Nova Awards
• Know the sequence of events, start to end.
• Develop strategies for each Nova Award element.
–
–
–
–
–
STEM Entertainment
STEM Badges
STEM Activities
STEM in Everyday Life
STEM Discussions
• Create Nova Award roadmaps.
• Understand safety issues and risk mitigation.
What Comes First, Next, Last?
Activity
1. Take one printed action item.
2. When in a counseling assignment does your action
item occur?
3. Find and stand with your group.
Getting
Started
Working Through
the Requirements
Handling the
Admin of Getting
the Award
STEM Entertainment
Full-Spectrum Science with Ron
Hipschman: The Science of Sound
(The Exploratorium)
Under the Sea
(Tech Museum of Innovation)
Donald Duck in Mathmagic Land
(STEM Movie Night)
STEM Badges
Chabot Space and Science Center
Astronomy BL, Pin, MB
Council Merit Badge Workshop
Sustainability MB
Camp Hi-Sierra
Archery MB
STEM Activities – Fun with a Purpose
YOU are the fun-gineer!
Games & challenges
with freedom to fail
Hands-on
engagement
Team work
and creativity
Where’s the FUN???
A.
B.
Cub Scout Nova Swing!
Requirement 3
Make a list or drawing of the
three types of levers
Tell your counselor
(1) the class of each
(2) how each works
C.
Discuss
(1) type of lever in your Belt Loop
(2) what you learned about
levers in doing your BL
(3) why we use levers
Fun-gineering Levers Activities
A.
B.
Cub Scout Nova Swing!
Requirement 3
Make a list or drawing of the
three types of levers
Tell your counselor
Lift Off!
Make a Type 1 Lever.
+
(1) the class of each
(2) how each works
C.
Discuss
(1) type of lever in BL
(2) what you learned about
levers in doing your BL
(3) why we use levers
Lift a box.
Try different fulcrum spots.
Fun-gineering Simple Machines Activities
BS Whoosh! & V Hang On!
Requirement 3
A. Make a list or drawing of the
six simple machines
B. Tell your counselor the name
of each and how it works
C. Discuss
(1) the simple machines involved
in your MB/Expl
(2) the energy source behind the
motion in your MB/Expl
(3) what you learned about
motion in your MB/Expl
Pull!
Make a pulley.
+
+
Lift a loaded container.
Try two pulleys!
Shameless Tactics
of a Dedicated Fun-gineer
Adopts a
partner in crime
Sleuths out
great resources
Tries and revises
before showtime
STEM in Everyday Life
Science
Scientists
engage in
systematic
measurement,
observation,
and testing.
They search
for patterns
and
predictability.
Technology
Technology
innovators aim
to solve
problems or
perform specific
functions. They
know about,
use, and make
tools, machines,
crafts,
techniques, and
systems of
organization to
do this.
Engineering
Engineers
invent, design,
and build
things. They
often (a)
deconstruct and
analyze, (b)
build and test,
and (c) design
and re-design.
Mathematics
Mathematicians
do more than
crunch
numbers. They
also observe
patterns, solve
problems, and
utilize logic.
The Well-Prepared
Traveler of the Universe
Activity
1. Open your package.
2. Look at your object and the list of
uses and questions.
3. Brainstorm 1 additional use.
4. Brainstorm 1 additional question
that connects your object to STEM.
Connecting STEM to Everyday Life
Think in terms of times past, present, and future.
 What did people do before ______ was invented or
discovered?
 What kinds of knowledge and capabilities do we
have today that make it possible for us to use
_________?
 How might this _________ be improved in the
future? Would it be cheaper? Could it be more
environmentally friendly?
STEM Discussions
Aim
for
Collaborative
Dialog
Starting Point
Talk
about
Doing
Feeling
Thinking
STEM Discussions
Low Gain Question
A closed-form call for a brief
answer, such as
Yes/No
True/False
Good/Bad
Choice A/Choice B
High Gain Question
An open-ended call for explanation,
description, reflection, or speculation;
often begins with, “Who, What, When,
How, Tell me more about..., Give me
an example of….”
Too Open-Ended: What
did you learn?
Better: What did you learn
about safety protocols on the
archery range?
Great Options
• How might we do this or think of this another way?
• What if we try to do it a wrong way? What could we learn?
• Oooh, I don’t know the answer to that question! Let’s find out.
Boy Scout Nova Award Shoot!
Sample Roadmap
1. Watch/read
www.catapults.info
Nova:
Medieval Siege
The Art of
the Catapult
2. Aviation MB program at the USS Hornet
3. Option A: projectile simulation applet
4. Option A: visit USS Hornet (see the catapult launchers!)
5. Option A: design and build a catapult
6. Science in everyday life
Venturer Nova Award Hang On!
Sample Roadmap
1. Watch/read
Amusement learner.org/interactives/ Thrill Ride:
Park Physics
The Science
parkphysics/
of Fun
2. Model Design and Building STEM Exploration
3. Explore simple machines
4. Option A: visit Great America
5. Option to design an amusement park ride
6. Engineering in everyday life
Cub Scout Nova 1, 2, 3 Go!
Sample Roadmap (very young Cubs)
1. Watch/read
The Magic School Bus:
Lost in the Solar System
Cyberchase (PBS)
1-7: Codename Icky
2. Mathematics Pin
3. Option A: Weight on other planets (Using slide rules)
+ Option C: Volume
4. Secret Codes
5. Mathematics in everyday life
Safety Issues
Baking Soda & Vinegar
Experiment
College Chemistry
Experiment
Risk Mitigation – Mixed Up Q & A
Activity
1. Find the Answer to your Question.
2. Find the Question that has your Answer.
3. Form a circle with the Qs and As in order, clockwise.
Just Say
STOP!
Start with BSA’s
Guide to Safe
Scouting!
Follow BSA’s
Youth Protection
Policies
Accommodate
Academic
Differences
Risk Mitigation
Bring in a Consultant
with Safety Expertise
Ensure
Internet
Safety
Use Safety Gear
& Practices
Bringing the STEM Awards to Your Unit
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Start with the Guidebooks.
Visit a great STEM destination.
Develop Nova Award roadmaps.
Fun-gineer great STEM activities.
Look towards the Supernova Award.
Manage the forces of GLOPP (Great Lovers of Pushing Paper)
Capitalize on ideas from other units.
Recruit a unit STEM coordinator
Keep up on local STEM news and events.
Becoming a Nova Counselor
 Be at least 21 years old
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
Turn these in!
Be of good character
Be able and willing to work with Scout age youth
Be comfortable with high school math and science
Be willing to research STEM topics unfamiliar to you
Provide current certification in Youth Protection Training
Complete BSA adult registration form (no charge, position code 58)
Submit Nova Counselor Information Page
Be approved by the council
Summary
At this point, you should
 Know the overall structure of BSA’s STEM Initiative,
 Understand the role of Nova Counselor
 Have a general sense of the Nova requirements,
 Know key strategies for guiding youth in the Nova
Awards,
 Know suggestions for bringing the STEM Awards to
your unit.
 Know how to become a registered Nova Counselor.
In Conclusion
• HAVE FUN with the Nova Award activities.
• We so appreciate your time and efforts.
• THANK YOU for bringing this great program to
BSA’s youth.