STEM SCOUTS
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)
Instead of packs or troops, STEM Scouts are grouped into “laboratories,” which can be shortened to
“labs.”
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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c98k4P94c4
Don't know what STEM Scouts is?
Want to learn more about STEM Scouts??
(STEM = Science-TechnologyEngineering-Mathematics)
STEM Scouts was successfully piloted in East Tennessee for several years. Recently, the BSA’s National
Executive Board approved a plan to expand the STEM Scouts pilot to these 12 additional councils.
(Pending the councils' boards' approval):
Capitol Area Council (Austin, TX)
Catalina Council (Tucson, AZ.)
Circle Ten Council (Dallas, TX)
Connecticut Rivers Council (E Hartford, CT)
Crossroads of America Council (Indianapolis, IN)
Denver Area Council (Denver, CO)
Garden State Council (Westampton Township, NJ) (Commisioner Dave's Council!!!)
Greater St. Louis Area Council (St Louis, MO)
Middle Tennessee Council (Nashville, TN)
Pathway to Adventure Council (Chicago, IL)
Sam Houston Area Council (Houston, TX)
Samoset Council (Weston, WI)
The success of the East Tennessee pilot confirms the BSA’s hypothesis that young people are excited to
experience STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) in a fun setting. The STEM Scouts
program blends Scouting’s time-tested character-building traits with hands-on STEM modules that’ll
prepare boys and girls for careers in STEM fields.
April McMillan and Trent Nichols (pictured) serve as national directors of STEM programs. On the
STEM Scouts site, (https://stemscouts.org/ )they shared their vision for this new BSA program. A few
highlights:
The key for the entire offered curriculum is that it will be fast-paced, thought-provoking and fun. Adult
volunteers and STEM professionals will have the opportunity to engage interested girls and boys with
hands-on activities in the labs divided by the age divisions. Throughout the year, students will be
involved in experiential activities that encourage natural curiosity and insights in STEM fields.
This new program represents a bit of a paradigm shift for parents from the traditional outdoor-oriented
Scouting. The children will receive important character building and learning through field trips and
weekly interactions with STEM professionals as well as learning citizenship. This up close and
personal insight into how STEM skills are used in business and industry is critical to enable girls and
boys to visualize themselves succeeding in STEM fields
More Info on STEM Scouts??
 Go
to https://stemscouts.org/
 Go Bryans Blog -(http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/) and read the following
articles
STEM Scouts pilot expanding to 12 more councils
The BSA's National Executive Board approved a plan to expand STEM Scouts, a
new program of the Boy Scouts of America, to 12 additional councils.
STEM Scouts ready for prime time with NASCAR Truck Series debut
The STEM Scouts logo will feature prominently on Scott Lagasse Jr.'s #31
truck in tonight's Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, KS.
Understanding the difference between STEM in Scouting and STEM Scouts
Read about the difference between STEM activities in traditional Scout
units and STEM Scouts, the new BSA program expanding to 12 councils this fall.
Video: Inside the Vortex, the STEM Scouts mobile lab
I got to check out the Vortex, the STEM Scouts mobile lab. It's a whole lot
of awesomeness on four wheels.
(NOTE from Commissioner Dave – I had a great time with the VORTEX at BSA's National Annual
Meeting. And I am very excited Garden State Council was selected for a pilot!!)
.