Troop 111

Kayaks and canoes on the Shenandoah River

Resources

Merit Badge Counselors

Scouts can earn more than 100 merit badges, including the newest merit badges—Game Design, Programming, and Sustainability. Earning merit badges gives Scouts the opportunity to participate in activities and study subjects that prepare them for life.

Scouts be sure to coordinate Merit Badges with the Scoutmaster prior to starting them. In most cases the SM or ASM’s will assign merit badge counselors.

Below is a list of Merit Badges that Troop 111 has counselors for:

  • American Business
  • American Heritage
  • Architecture and Landscape Architecture
  • Art
  • Astronomy
  • Aviation
  • Backpacking
  • Bird Study
  • Camping
  • Canoeing
  • Chemistry
  • Citizenship in the Community
  • Citizenship in the Nation
  • Citizenship in the World
  • Climbing
  • Coin Collecting
  • Communication
  • Computer/Digital Technology
  • Cooking
  • Crime Prevention
  • Dentistry
  • Disabilities Awareness
  • Electricity
  • Electronics
  • Emergency Preparedness
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Science
  • Family Life
  • First Aid
  • Fish and Wildlife Management
  • Fishing
  • Fly-Fishing
  • Forestry
  • Gardening
  • Geo caching
  • Genealogy
  • Hiking
  • Home Repairs
  • Mammal Study
  • Medicine
  • Music and Bugling
  • Nature
  • Orienteering
  • Personal Fitness
  • Personal Management
  • Pioneering
  • Public Health
  • Public Speaking
  • Pulp and Paper
  • Railroading
  • Reading
  • Reptile and Amphibian Study
  • Rifle Shooting
  • Robotics
  • Safety
  • Scholarship
  • Shotgun Shooting
  • Small-Boat Sailing
  • Soil and Water Conservation
  • Sports
  • Sustainability
  • Textile
  • Wilderness Survival

STEM

STEM is a not just an initiative but a way of life.  STEM has become an important focus of both scouting and America.  This is a huge initiative to foster and cultivate this country’s future leadership in the world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.   From Archery to welding there is no reason scouts shouldn’t be able to find applicable programs, merit badges etc.  already built into the Scouting program.

Why STEM?

In a country once known for innovation we need to rebuild an environment that cultivates strength and leadership in STEM related fields. The spirit of innovation can help us overcome challenges and ensure a prosperous and secure future. To seize this opportunity, we must position ourselves at the cutting edge of scientific discovery and technological innovation. Despite and understanding of this, our country is falling behind in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This is why many professionals and educators in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics believe the United States should do more now than ever to encourage students to enter STEM-related fields. These experts say our young people need strong STEM skills to compete in the world market. We must work together to cultivate the next generation of critical thinkers and innovators.

How can I help?

Nova Counselors and Supernova Mentors –With the introduction of the new Nova and Supernova awards comes a fresh opportunity for volunteer positions. A Nova Counselor can be any registered adult age 21 or older should be registered under the new Nova Counselor position code 52. Supernova mentors must be 21 or older and be subject matter experts in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) field and be registered under the new Supernova Mentor position code 58. These are non-unit positions and require no fee. In addition to the BSA Adult Registration form, mentors must complete the Supernova Awards Mentor Information application.  

The NOVA Award Program

What Are the Nova Awards? – The Boy Scouts of America developed the Nova Awards program to excite and expand a sense of wonder in our Scouts. By working with an adult counselor or mentor, the various modules allow them to explore the basic principles of STEM and discover how fun and fascinating STEM can be. The Supernova awards are offered for those who enjoy a super challenge. For more information about STEM and the Nova Awards program, visit the links below. Discover how the Nova Awards program helps youth be “Prepared. For Life.”

The NOVA Award program consists of individual activity elements in various STEM topics structured for Cub Boy Scouts.   These topics, or four NOVA awards for the Boy Scouts level, are designed to encourage participation and to increase interest in STEM by making it relevant and fun.  The NOVA award will be a distinctive pocket patch with a separate pin on device awarded for each individual topic completed by the youth, up to three pins.

There are four NOVA awards for Boy Scouts. Each award covers one component of STEM—science, technology, engineering, or 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 earning the Supernova award, Scouts receive a medal and certificate. All requirements may be found in the Nova awards guidebooks, available in printed versions through our local Scout shops. The requirements can be completed with a parent or an adult leader as the counselor (for the Nova awards) or mentor (for the Supernova awards). The guidebook includes a section for the counselor and mentor.

Eagle Scouts

Eagle Scout is the highest advancement rank in Boy Scouting. Since 1998 Troop 111 has helped 33 Scouts attain the rank of Eagle Scout.

Life to Eagle Resources