Most Cub Scouts celebrate Scouting Anniversary Week in February with a "birthday party" called the blue and gold banquet. In nearly all packs, the blue and gold banquet is the highlight of the year. It brings families together for an evening of fun and cheer. It's often the pack meeting for February.

The purpose of the blue and gold banquet is to celebrate the pack's anniversary, thank pack leaders and other adults who have helped the pack, and inspire the leaders, Scouts, and parents. Packs often like to invite former members and other Scouting or community leaders to take part in their blue and gold banquet.

Cub Scout Derbies

Racing in a Cub Scout derby is great fun. You'll get to design your racing vehicle, work with a parent to build it, and see it perform on race day. Win or lose, you'll take pride in having done your best. When you race in a Cub Scout derby, you learn craft skills, the rules of fair play, and good sportsmanship—things you will remember all your life.

Types of Derbies

The main types of derbies are the pinewood derby, raingutter regatta, space derby, and Cubmobile derby.

Pinewood Derby

The pinewood derby is one of the most popular and successful family activities in Cub Scouting. Pinewood derby cars are small wooden models that Cub Scouts make with help from their families. Then they race the cars in competition. The cars are powered by gravity and run down a track. Our pack holds a pinewood derby race in January or February each year. Winners of that race, advance to the district race, which is held in March.

Rain Gutter Regatta

In the rain gutter regatta, boats race down a narrow channel. There are two versions. The wind-powered version uses sailboat designs, and the boats are blown down the channel. The propeller-powered version uses motorboats driven by propeller.

Space Derby

Another popular family-son project is the space derby. It's like the pinewood derby except the models are miniature rockets. The rockets "fly" along a heavy line that hangs in the air. They're driven by propellers powered by rubber bands.

Cubmobile Derby

Each den works together to build a "Cubmobile," a pint-sized racing vehicle. Each den has one racer, and each Cub Scout in the den races in the car once. Usually, a ramp helps start the cars, and they roll downhill to the finish line. The race is held on a smooth street that slopes downhill.

Competition and Prizes

Each family that competes in a Cub Scout derby follows a set of simple, easy rules. The winners get prizes, and every boy is recognized for taking part. Always remember that in Cub Scouting, it's more important to "Do Your Best" than to come in first. The big thing about a derby isn't the competition or the prizes. It's the fun you and your family will have.

Cub Scouts promise to help other people when they recite the Cub Scout Promise. One way they can keep their promise is by participating in den or pack service projects. While a Scout should do his best to help other people every day, a group service project is a bigger way to help people. While you are giving service, you are learning to work together with others to do something that is good for your community.

Service projects may help the natural world, the community, or the chartered organization. Here are some service activities Cub Scouts can do.

1. Helping the natural world
   • Pick up litter around your neighborhood.
   • Clean up trash by a stream.
   • Plant seedlings or flowers.
   • Recycle glass, paper, aluminum, or plastic.
   • Make bird feeders.
2. Helping the community
   • Give a flag ceremony for a school.
   • Collect food for food banks.
   • Make cards for a care center.
   • Clean up a church parking lot.
   • Shovel snow or rake leaves for seniors.
   • Hand out voting reminders.
   • Hand out emergency procedure brochures.
   • Recycle family newspapers.
3. Helping the chartered organization
   • Do a cleanup project.
   • Plant and care for trees.
   • Conduct a flag ceremony.
   • Help set up for a special event.
   • Hand out programs or bulletins at a meeting of the organization.
     

STEM

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

STEM is part of an initiative the Boy Scouts of America has taken on to encourage the natural curiosity of youth members and their sense of wonder about these fields through existing programs. From archery to welding, Scouts cannot help but enjoy the wide range of STEM-related activities. To support this initiative, the BSA developed the Nova Awards program so that youth members have fun and receive recognition for their efforts.

Why STEM?

We live in a time of great opportunity. 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.

Yet 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.

STEM is the future

Fostering a strong STEM education is our best opportunity to boost the spirit of innovation. It's what we need to help ensure this country continues on a prosperous and secure journey. STEM literacy is also critical because it has a profound and growing impact on our day-to-day lives. Nature, space exploration, and any STEM-related interest reveal to us the beauty and power of the world we inhabit.

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.

The Boy Scouts of America's NOVA Awards program incorporates learning with cool activities and exposure to science, technology, engineering and mathematics for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.

The hope is that the requirements and activities for earning these awards stimulates interest in STEM-related fields and shows how science, technology, engineering and mathematics apply to everyday living and the world around them. Counselors and mentors help bring this engaging, contemporary, and fun program to life for youth members.

The Nova Awards

There are four Nova awards for Cub Scouts, Webelos Scouts, and Boy Scouts. Each award covers one component of STEM—science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.

• Cub Scout Nova awards: Science Everywhere, Tech Talk, Swing!, and 1-2-3 Go!
• Boy Scout Nova awards: Shoot!, Start Your Engines, Whoosh!, and Designed to Crunch

For their first Nova award, Scouts earn the distinctive Nova award patch. After that, a Scout can earn three more Nova awards, each one recognized with a separate pi (p) pin-on device 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 earning the Supernova award, Scouts receive a medal and certificate.