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Introducing Astronomy to Cub Scouts |
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Scout groups often ask Rappahannock Astronomy Club to help them learn astronomy or to complete Scouting awards in astronomy. This Web page is notes about helping Cub Scout groups complete awards that are specific to that organization. I also have some resources for Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups.
This reference is for amateur astronomers who wish to help Cub Scout groups. Most of this material assumes you have some knowledge of astronomy. Cub Scout leaders, please see my notes for Cub Scout leaders. I want to eventually add more background so that non-experts can use these pages as a reference. I welcome comments and feedback.
Cub Scouts are boys 6 to 10 years old. Their program offers three opportunities for learning astronomy and earning advancements for doing astronomy activities. This page contains notes and an observing plan to help present information at a Cub Scout event that will help the boys earn these three recognitions:
In addition, the Astronomy belt loop may be used to satisfy one of the requirements of the Scientist activity badge, which is part of the program for the oldest Cub Scouts, the Webelos rank. Although the Astronomy belt loop is available to all Cub Scouts, I often recommend pitching it more to the older boys. The Astronomy belt loop requires learning a good amount of book knowledge about astronomy. In my experience, younger boys don't stick with it unless they have a high interest in astronomy or a leader who spends a lot of time working through the list of terms to learn.
In passing, Cub Scouts include on their own Web pages this image of a Scout doing astronomy.
