Venturers and Sea Scouts are able to learn about STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and receive awards for performing experiments and reporting on what they've done. These awards are fun activities for your unit to perform together or as an independent weekend activity.

These Nova awards closely mirror the ones for Scouts BSA, but these will require STEM explorations instead of merit badges.

Science

  • Launch! - Explore how science affects your life each day.
  • Wade! - Explore how water affects your life every day.
  • What a Life! - Explore different facets of the biological life and living systems around you.

Technology

  • Execute! - Explore how programming affects everyday life.
  • Power Up - Explore how technology affects their life each day.
  • Something from Nothing - Explore 3D printing and how it is becoming prevalent in everyday life.

Engineering

  • Hang On! - Explore how engineering affects their life each day.
  • Up and Away - Explores the world of fluid dynamics, and how it affects your everyday life.

Math

Earning Nova Awards

Completion of requirements needs to be confirmed by a registered Nova award counselor. When everything's been accomplished, the Nova counselor will use Advancement Report, form 34403 to record the advancement. This form should be given to the unit's advancement chair to be recorded.

If this is the Scout's first Nova award in any program, they should be awarded with the Venturing / Sea Scouts Nova patch, which has a green border as shown above. Subsequent Nova awards are recognized with a Pi device (the pin), which should be pinned to a point on the patch. This means if a Scout has earned the Nova patch in any other program, continue to use that patch and keep adding Pi devices.

Supernova Awards

Ready to take your STEM adventures to the next level? Want to wear a medal to your formal events? Then the Supernova awards are for you! These awards are designed to be more challenging and more rewarding than the Nova awards. The medals that are awarded are rarely seen and are amazing to wear.

Learn more about the Supernova awards and the award progression.

Dr. Sally Ride Supernova Award
Wright Brothers Supernova Award
Dr. Albert Einstein Supernova Award

Related Explorations

Nova awards for Venturers and Sea Scouts require a STEM exploration. If your activities already align with one of these topics, it would be an ideal time to also earn a Nova award.

Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math