Scout Merit Badge Activities

HomeScout Merit Badge Activities

(QUICK LINK: http://nescitech.org/scouts)

New England Sci-Tech offers activities for Girl Scouts, Scout BSA, and Cub Scouts that align with STEM focused merit badges.

Led by an experienced teacher, we can work with you to design projects that meet badge requirements as well as accommodate the size of your troop or length of visit.

Activities combine instruction with hands-on learning, and can be combined with scout-required curricula as needed to fulfill badge requirements.

Our space science programs are the most popular since we have telescopes, a planetarium, and a space science lab for activities involving moon phases, spectroscopy, chemistry, electricity, and robotics.

Private groups that are not scout-based may also book activities from the list below.

SCOUT LEADER INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1 - Read the Scout Activities information below and choose a potential program.
- Most programs can be adjusted to your group size and time constraints.
STEP 2 - Go to the Events Calendar, find an available date/time block, and register your group.
- Yes, you can lock in your preferred date and then contact us to work out the details.
STEP 3 - Fill out the Scout Activities Inquiry Form.
- Do this as soon as you lock in a date so we have info to prepare your program.
STEP 4 - Email or call us to discuss any details and/or schedule a pre-visit tour.
- You should come visit our facility and see what your scouts will use for their program.

Space Science Investigator Scouts use the big telescope to view the 1st Quarter Moon in the late-afternoon sky.

GENERAL INFORMATION AND PRICING

Pricing / Timing: Listed pricing is typically for up to a 2-hour visit, appropriate for most activities and groups of about 6 to 10 scouts. Larger groups take more time for each task, so groups larger than 10 may need to split into two or more separate meetings.

Dates / Times: Our schedule is very tight, so we reserve certain 2-hour blocks specifically for scouts on most Saturdays from 3:00-5:00 PM and alternate Sundays 3:00-5:00 PM. We can occasionally do Wednesdays 3:30-5:30 PM and Fridays 1:30-3:30 and 3:30-5:30 PM. Please choose from those options, if possible. We can sometimes time-shift these plus or minus 30 minutes if needed. You can view and reserve scout blocks in our Calendar of Events.

Repeat Customer Savings: For repeat bookings within a 12-month period, you may request a 20% discount.

Minimum / Maximum: We understand there are some troops with only a few scouts and some with many. We would prefer that you have at least 6 scouts but no more than 12. Call to discuss exceptions. We can split large groups over multiple days, and small groups could bring non-scout friends to share the experience and create a larger group.

Badges / Awards: Scout leaders must handle badge ordering and distribution. We have a New England Sci-Tech patch available free for scouts upon request.

Supervision: From previous experience we need to be clear that our program is only for scouts and their parents. Siblings tagging along become distractions and sometimes a safety issue. We kindly request that every child is a paid participant and no other children are brought along for the ride.

Safety: Adult instructors have had regular CORI/SORI checks done through Sterling Volunteers. The building site is a fully compliant commercial building. Download our BSA Meeting Place Inspection Checklist.

Woodworking is a popular activity that can include building bird houses (save the Blue Birds), bat houses (mosquito control), gifts for a holiday, or pinewood racers.

Special Scout Event - FREE
Int'l Observe the Moon Night
FRI Sep 13 and SAT Sep 14
View the Moon through the BIG telescope and view a planetarium show. Intended for new troops to try us out, but any troop may sign up. Limit 12 scouts per time slot. Leader must REGISTER to reserve the time slot.
50-min sessions Friday 6:00 and 7:00 pm, Saturday 6:00 and 7:00 pm. (FULL)

Special Scout Event - FREE
Take Action: Light Pollution!
FRI Oct 18 and SAT Oct 19
Learn how you can help save the night sky. View a planetarium show about light pollution. Intended for new troops to try us out, but any troop may sign up. Limit 12 scouts per time slot. Leader must REGISTER to reserve the time slot.
50-min sessions Friday 6:00 and 7:00 pm, Saturday 6:00 and 7:00 pm. (FULL)

Special Scout Event - FREE
First Quarter "Cold" Moon!
FRI Dec 6 and SAT Dec 7
Learn about the phases of the Moon. View a planetarium show about the night sky. Intended for new troops to try us out, but any troop may sign up. Limit 12 scouts per time slot. Leader must REGISTER to reserve the time slot.
50-min sessions Friday 6:00 and 7:00 pm, Saturday 6:00 and 7:00 pm. (FULL)

Special Scout Event - FREE
Winter Field Day Radio Event
SAT January 25
Learn about wireless communications and the speed of light. View a planetarium show about the night sky. Intended for new troops to try us out, but any troop may sign up. Limit 12 scouts per time slot. Leader must REGISTER to reserve the time slot.
1-hour sessions starting at 2:00 pm, 3:30 pm, 5:00 pm, 6:30 pm. (FULL)

Another FREE Offering for Scouts - Invitation to the NorthEast HamXposition, Marlborough, the largest amateur radio convention in New England.

YOUTH FORUM, FLEA MARKET, EDUCATIONAL TALKS, VENDORS, EXHIBITORS

- For any Scouts in grades 4-12 interested in Wireless Tech, Radio, Electronics, Satellites.
- Saturday, August 23, 2025, 9:00 AM. Stay for part of the day or all day.
- We will pay the admissions and meal tickets for any scouts who want to attend.
- Youth scouts must be accompanied by a parent or scout leader.
- Scouts and their parents may take one of our Technician License courses for free.
- Scouts will receive a free VHF/UHF radio transceiver if they pass the radio license exam.

- Learn more on our NorthEast HamXposition Web Page.

GIRL SCOUT MERIT BADGE ACTIVITIES (Also see more activities below the BSA scouts sections)

Space Science Investigator: (Junior 4-5) Learn about the celestial universe as we view stars, planets, the moon, and constellations through a large telescope. Explore the size of planets and scale of the solar system. Learn about constellations. Hold a rock from outer space and learn about meteorites and comets. Program concludes with a planetarium show about telescopes, Galileo, and journey through the solar system. $24/scout

Space Science Adventurer: (Brownie 2-3) Investigate the complexities of the sky as we view stars, planets, the moon, and constellations through a large telescope, weather permitting. Explore the planets and scale of the solar system. Learn about constellations. Hold a rock from outer space and learn about meteorites and comets. Learn about current events in space exploration and famous astronauts who are women. Program concludes with a planetarium show. $24/scout

Space Science Explorer: (Daisy K-1) Learn to explore and observe the sky like a real space scientist. Activities will help you learn about the sun, Earth’s rotation, shadows, eclipses, the moon, moon phases, craters, stars, star patterns, constellations, North Star, and telescopes. Hold a rock from outer space and learn about meteorites and comets. If weather permits, we will look through a telescope to see the moon. Program concludes with a short planetarium show. $24/scout

Rocketry Explorer: We make paper rockets that launch with air pressure in the parking lot safely, and we talk about current events in space science and the plan to send astronauts to the moon and Mars. We talk about gravity and demonstrate propulsion (using air power), and examine several models of the current rockets being launched (NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, etc.) as well as the historic Apollo-era Saturn V and Space Shuttle. At the end of the workshop scouts launch their rockets and take them home. These are safe for younger children. $22/scout

Space Exploration: Learn about acceleration, propulsion, and gravity. Build, design, and paint a model rocket. Join us for a launch at a future scheduled event (usually on a Saturday in Acton). $33/scout (Price includes a take-home model rocket and credit for one rocket motor if you fly it at one of our events.) (Note the Rocketry Explorer paper rocket alternative listed above.)

First Contact: Get on the radio waves and talk to people all over the world! Learn about radio frequencies, electronic concepts, and communication protocols. Explore how amateur radio supports severe weather spotting, public service, and emergencies. Make contact over amateur radio and participate in amateur radio direction finding. $20/scout. (FREE until Feb 15, 2025 for scouts and a free radio for those who follow through with a license course and get their FCC radio license.)

Included in the Space Science programs and activities are planetarium shows and exploration of meteorites.

Wooden Race Car Building: We can help your scouts design and build a wooden race car (based on Pinewood Derby standards). Bring your own car kit or buy one from us. Use hand tools to mold and shape the car. Older scouts may use a scroll saw and drum sander with supervision. Try out your cars on our test track. $28/scout. For girl scouts, the race car kit is included in the price.

Woodworking: Learn the basics of hand tools for measuring, sawing, and building things out of wood. Choose from projects such as bird house, bat house, foot stool, or toy boat. Must book a 2-hr block. $34/scout.

Wonders of Water: Learn about the importance of water, how the water cycle works, and how water is used in your community and around the world. Learn about how you can Take Action to conserve water, protect resources, and prevent water pollution. Program includes hands-on experiments with an aquifer simulation. $20/scout

Think Like a Programmer - Coding: Explore what it is like to program a computer. Depending on available instructors, we may offer a variety of programming languages including Scratch, C, Java and Python. $22/scout

Think Like an Engineer - Electronics: Build and take home a cool light-up gadget as you explore the basic components and functions of electronics and direct current circuitry. Topics covered include soldering safety, basic electronics parts and their functions, and elementary DC circuitry. Non-soldering kits are available for younger scouts. $24/scout

Think Like an Engineer - Robotics: A real engineering activity, build “Battlin’ Bots using motors, wood, metal, and found materials. Work in teams of two to brainstorm a design, solve problems, hook up power, and remote control your bot in a safety-shielded arena. When bots are ready, they can battle each other, two at a time. Repair your bot and battle again. This activity may need an extra half hour. $26/scout

Battlin' Bots, Part 2: Take your “Battlin’ Bots to the next level. Bring your scouts back to improve their Battlin'Bots, add an extra motor for an offense or defense mechanism, and continue to brainstorm designs, solve problems, and battle the bots in a safety-shielded arena. Repair your bot and battle again. $50% off Part 1 fee when booked within 4 months of Part 1 above.

Orienteering: Learn the skills of direction finding and map reading. we will cover the various types of orienteering: foot, mountain bike, ski, trail, canoe, etc., and variations such as geocaching, competitions, and amateur radio “fox hunting.” We will learn how to read a topographic map and use a compass for direction finding. Key concepts include triangulation, magnetic vs geographic north, declination, map symbols, elevation, terrain, GPS, etc. We will also learn how to make a map of an area, including proper labeling, for setting up an orienteering course. In case you get thoroughly lost, we will also cover how to find your way by reading the sun by day and the stars by night. $21/scout. If scouts would like to keep the map and compass we train with, add $12/scout.

Introduction to Robotics: Learn about robots, algorithms, coding, and programs. Learn how to program a virtual robot on a grid and make it drive around in a virtual world, respond to its environment, detect distance, draw geometric designs, or follow a path. $22/scout.

SCOUT BSA and CUB SCOUT MERIT BADGE ACTIVITIES (Also see more activities below this section)

Pinewood Derby Car Building: We can help your scouts design and build a Pinewood Derby race car. Bring your own derby car kit or buy one from us. Use hand tools to mold and shape the car. Older scouts may use a scroll saw and drum sander with supervision. Try out your cars on our derby test track. $28/scout. If you want us to supply the Pinewood Derby cars, add $5 per scout.

Woodworking: Learn the basics of hand tools for measuring, sawing, and building things out of wood. Choose from list of small projects. Must book a 2-hr block. $32/scout. Bird house, bat house, and large items may require extra time.

Rocketry Explorer: We make paper rockets that launch with air pressure in the parking lot safely, and we talk about current events in space science and the plan to send astronauts to the moon and Mars. We talk about gravity and demonstrate propulsion (using air power), and examine several models of the current rockets being launched (NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, etc.) as well as the historic Apollo-era Saturn V and Space Shuttle. At the end of the workshop scouts launch their rockets and take them home. These are safe for younger children. $22/scout

Space Exploration: Learn about acceleration, propulsion, and gravity. Build, design, and paint a model rocket. Join us for a launch at a future scheduled event (usually on a Saturday in Acton). $33/scout (Price includes a take-home model rocket and credit for one rocket motor if you fly it at one of our events.) (Note the Explore Rocketry paper rocket alternative listed below)

Photography: Learn the basics of a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera and how to take good photos. Concepts covered include lenses, aperture, shutter speed, zoom, flash, focus, landscape, portrait, still shot, movie mode, memory chip, flash, stop motion, slow motion. Scouts will print out some of their best practice photos. $22/scout (Scouts will use our cameras, or they may bring their own at their own risk.) (Contributes toward Scout BSA Photography badge or Cub Scout NOVA “Tech Talk” award)

We can do a thorough NOVA Badge activity of 4 hours spread over two 2-hour visits on separate weekends.

Science Everywhere NOVA, Part 1: “Earth Rocks!” – Learn about planetary exploration of our solar system, including Earth, Moon, Mars, Artemis mission, gravity, planetary geology, space probes, meteorites. Examine rocks and minerals from Earth, including fluorescent minerals, learn how to find micrometeorites in your own yard, learn why you weigh less on the moon and the difference between weight and mass. Build and launch air powered paper rockets in the parking lot, explore Newton’s Laws, learn about current events in space science, and watch a planetarium show. (Curriculum Designed for “Science Everywhere” NOVA #1A planetarium show and two short videos, #2-Adventure – Earth Rocks!, #3-Act like a scientist, #4-Visit a science location, #5-Discuss how science affects everyday life.) Pricing explained after Part 2 below.

Science Everywhere NOVA, Part 2: “Digging in the Past” – explore past historic meteorite impacts, learn what happened to the dinosaurs, examine dinosaur eggs and teeth, meteorites (including Mars and Lunar meteorites), touch a piece of the moon, learn about the elements, the periodic table of elements, line spectra and how we know what distant stars and galaxies are made of, learn about scale, distance, and speed of light and how we can see into the past when we look into space, watch a planetarium show. If weather is clear and moon is up, we will look at the craters on the moon through the big telescope. (Curriculum Designed for “Science Everywhere” NOVA #1A planetarium show and two short videos, #2-Adventure – Digging in the Past, #3-Act like a scientist, #4-Visit a science location, #5-Discuss how science affects everyday life.) $44/scout for 2-visit session. No refunds for scouts that attend only one session.

Our scout programs can include experimenting with superconductors and liquid Nitrogen. We like to freeze Nitrogen to a solid to illustrate what astronomers believe covers the surface of the planet Pluto.

Astronomy: Learn about the celestial universe as we view stars, planets, the moon, and constellations through a large telescope. Explore the size of planets and scale of the solar system. Learn about constellations. Hold a rock from outer space and learn about meteorites and comets. Program concludes with a planetarium show about telescopes, Galileo, and journey through the solar system. $26/scout (Contributes toward Scout BSA Astronomy badge or Cub Scout NOVA “Out of this World” award)

We can work with you to align activities with Scout BSA merit badge requirements or the Cub Scouts STEM NOVA Awards. You can book a customized program at a date/time convenient for your troop.

Electronics: Using pre-designed educational kits, learn how to solder circuit boards to make cool electronic gadgets that light up and you can take home. Topics covered include soldering safety, basic electronics parts and their functions, and elementary DC circuitry. For ages 10 up. $28/scout (Price includes the take-home electronics gadget.)

Programming: Explore what it is like to program a computer. We offer a variety of programming languages including Scratch, C, Java and Python. $22/scout

Introduction to Robotics: Learn about robots, algorithms, and programs. Learn how to program a virtual robot on a grid and make it drive around in a virtual world, respond to its environment, detect distance, draw geometric designs, or follow a path. $22/scout

Amateur Radio: Learn about amateur radio, the science of radio electronics and the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Learn about radio frequencies, electronic concepts, and communication protocols. Explore how amateur radio supports severe weather spotting, public service, and emergencies. Make contact over amateur radio and participate in amateur radio direction finding. $20/scout. (FREE until Feb 15, 2025 for scouts and a free radio for those who follow through with a license course and get their FCC radio license.)

Morse Code Interpreter Strip: Earning this strip involves lots of time and practice, but we can help by providing either an introductory session or on-going classes to groups of scouts. To pass, scouts will need to carry on a five-minute conversation in Morse code at a speed of at least five words per minute, copy correctly a two-minute message sent in Morse code at a minimum of five words per minute, and send a 25-word written document in Morse code at a minimum of five words per minute. $15/scout/first session. (This activity can be given remotely over Zoom. Ask us for details.)

Orienteering: Learn the skills of direction finding and map reading. we will cover the various types of orienteering: foot, mountain bike, ski, trail, canoe, etc., and variations such as geocaching, competitions, and amateur radio “fox hunting.” We will learn how to read a topographic map and use a compass for direction finding. Key concepts include triangulation, magnetic vs geographic north, declination, map symbols, elevation, terrain, GPS, etc. We will also learn how to make a map of an area, including proper labeling, for setting up an orienteering course. In case you get thoroughly lost, we will also cover how to find your way by reading the sun by day and the stars by night. $22/scout. If scouts would like to keep the map and compass we train with, add $12/scout. (Contributes toward Scout BSA Orienteering badge or Cub Scout NOVA “Science Everywhere!” award

OTHER SCOUT ACTIVITIES

We can work with you to align activities with your scout merit badge requirements. You can book directly with us for a customized program at a date/time convenient for your troop.

Battlin’ Bots: A real engineering activity, build “Battlin’ Bots using motors, wood, metal, and found materials. Work in teams of two to brainstorm a design, solve problems, hook up power, and remote control your bot in a safety-shielded arena. When bots are ready, they can battle each other, two at a time. Repair your bot and battle again. This activity may need an extra half hour. $26/scout

Kites and the Atmosphere: Learn about the atmosphere, how the wind and air currents work, and how kites have been used historically for weather forecasting. Program includes hands-on building and decorating a take-home kite. Weather permitting we may try flying them before you leave. $20/scout

Electronics Explorer: Scouts will learn about electricity and magnetism to understand basic DC electronics concepts such as circuits, current and voltage, resistance, inductance, capacitance, and the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves). They will explore ways that electronics and radio waves affect our lives and are used for communication, space science, medicine, entertainment, etc. Students will use the Elenco Electronics Playground kit, model EP-50, to build several beginner circuits to light up LEDs and make various frequencies of sound. Scouts may keep the electronics kits at end of the activity. $22/scout (Limited time, until Feb 15, 2025, this course and the Elenco kit is free to scouts and youth groups.)

Advanced Radio Electronics Build: Build and take home an FM music radio as you explore the basic components and functions of radio electronics and direct current circuitry. Topics covered include soldering safety, basic electronics parts and their functions, and elementary radio circuitry. Price includes an Elenco FM radio kit and 14-page instructional booklet. For ages 12 and up who have already taken a basic soldering electronics course. Allow 3 hours. $44/scout
Electronics Playground activity

Amateur Radio License Course: This ONLINE ham radio class will get older scouts ready to take the Ham Radio TECHNICIAN license exam, the FIRST of three radio certification levels. We give online and in-person FCC radio exams, too! Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Amateur radio (or “ham radio”) is used by people all over the world to communicate over radio waves. Some people use ham radio for emergency preparedness, to provide communications support for community events, also to report on severe weather and natural disasters. They can even use ham radio to contact crew members on the International Space Station! For ages 12 and up who have already taken the basic radio activity or “First Contact” activity. Allow 12 hours over multiple days. We can schedule a scouts-only course for 8 or more, in-person or online, or individual scouts may enroll in any of the online Ham Radio courses at a discount. $45/scout (FREE until Feb 15, 2025 for scouts and a free radio for those who follow through with a license course and get their FCC radio license.)