STEM

About the Nova Awards Program

Nova awards are designed to be worked through by the scout with the help of a counselor.  Supernova awards are designed to be worked through by the scout with the assistance of a mentor.  Currently the only counselor and mentor in the pack is Marvin Allen.  He can be reached at 618-210-8522 or by email at marvin.h.allen@gmail.com.  Please give Marvin a call or send an email if your scout is interested in the Nova Awards Program.

The Nova Awards

There are seven Nova awards for Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts. Each award at each program level covers one component of STEM – science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. The additional Cub awards covering Earth Science, Wildlife and the natural world around you, and Space Exploration, were added in 2015.

  • Cub Scout and Webelos Scout Nova awards:
    • Science Everywhere,
    • Tech Talk,
    • Swing!
    • 1-2-3 Go!,
    • Down and Dirty,
    • Nova Wild!, and
    • Out of This World
Pi pin-on device For their first Nova award, Scouts earn the distinctive Nova award patch. After that, a Cub Scout can earn three more Nova awards, each one recognized with a separate pi (π) pin-on device, shown to the left, that attaches to the patch . The patch and the three devices represent each of the four STEM topics – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The Supernova Awards

The Supernova awards have more rigorous requirements than the Nova awards. The requirements and activities were designed to motivate youth and recognize more in-depth, advanced achievement in STEM-related activities.

  • For Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts:
    • Dr. Louis Alvarez Supernova Award
  • For Webelos Scouts:
    • Dr. Charles H. Townes Supernova Award

For earning the Supernova award, Scouts receive a certificate and a medal, a sample of which is shown above.

 

US Scouting Service Project created workbooks for use in documenting progress toward earning the various Nova and Supernova awards. There are links to the workbooks at the bottom of the web pages for each award. (workbooks courtesy of US Scouting Service Project)