STEM Nova Award

On March 27, 2018, Cub Scout Pack 3006 in Lockport, NY became the first unit ever in Iroquois Trail Council to present Nova patches to 8 of its Cub Scouts.  The Nova patch is the first part of a new, four-part initiative focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). After receiving their Nova patch, scouts will earn a pin for each of the remaining 3 modules. The pin is a Pi shape, the mathematical symbol for a never ending number (3.1415…).

Council dignitaries present for the patch presentation included John Beiter, Council Training Chair, Dave Ebersole, Council STEM Coordinator and Bob Pugh, District Commissioner for the Towpath District, one of three Districts in the Iroquois Trail Council.

Cubmaster Steve Allore, who received his STEM Counselor/Mentor training last November, worked superbly with his scouts on their first module and made the patch presentation to 7 scouts. (One was absent and will be given the award at the next Pack meeting).

When Allore first heard about the NOVA program, he was curious as to how it worked, but had no idea what he was in for.  Very quickly he realized there was an opportunity to expand the program for the boys and then took charge.  Working alongside some of the requirements, Allore was able to work with Iroquois Trail Council Training Chair John Beiter and STEM Coordinator Dave Ebersole to expand the program to give a richer experience.  We gave the boys a little homework, took a field trip to a local diner, and tried to make it fun for each boy.  Allore highly recommend this program and can't wait to do even more next year.

Beiter offered a congratulatory message on behalf of the Council and expressed how wonderful it was to see such a historic moment and shared in the pride of the Pack's accomplishment in achieving their first step. Ebersole praised the unit for their accomplishment and did a presentation showing a rock with ugliness on one side while the underside displayed gem-like lattices – a scientific evolution.   Next was a demonstration of a smoke ring cannon, made from a 55 gallon garbage filled with smoke from a smoke generator, produces smoke rings as a practical application of science and technology.  The Cub Scouts got a thrill out seeing ring smokes flying at a Boy Scout with a plastic cup on his head, some of the smoke rings even came their way! Pugh echoed similar sentiments and wished the scouts success on the path to full completion of their STEM Nova patch.

Allore would be happy to share insights and answer questions any Cub Scout leaders might have.  He can be reached at steve.allore@gmail.com.

For anyone working in one of the STEM disciplines with an interest in becoming STEM Counselors or Mentors, please contact Beiter, jrbeiter@rochester.rr.com, for more information.  Upcoming training dates are Saturday October 27, 2018 and 2019 University of Scouting March 9, 2019, both at Genesee Community College in Batavia, NY.

April is a crucial month for Family Scouting designation

If your chartered organization has not yet submitted their "yea", "nay" or "later" letter about Family Scouting to the Council office, please encourage them to do so by the end of this month. We need to know so we can line up the appropriate resources for everyone (training, marketing materials, support, etc) and post unit designations on Be a Scout and other places. For cub leaders who did not attend the Family Scouting town hall or University of Scouting earlier this year, we will have it as a discussion item at this month's roundtables. At those meetings we will also be handing out extra copies of the charter approval documents so you can nudge the charter reps into making a decision.