Members of the Naval Academy Eagle Scout Association helped Maryland scouts, ages 11-17, earn merit badges at a one-day science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) event at Aberdeen Proving Ground Oct. 15.
The event focused on STEM topics such as explosive ordnance disposal, detection dog demonstrations and lessons on space exploration, aviation, computer programming and robotics. The midshipmen were in charge of teaching the scouts as well as the logistics of moving them from place to place.
“It was a great chance to do some outreach with the scouts, to show them where your skills can lead you and give them a goal,” said Midshipman 2nd Class Daniel Roberts, who organized and led the group of midshipmen during the event. “It was a great community service project to help them with their merit badge day but also gave our midshipmen some practical leadership experience.”
Each mid was given a group of approximately 70 scouts to instruct and lead and would often teach alongside Army officers and researchers working at Aberdeen.
“We had three midshipmen teaching programming and the operational functions of robots,” said Roberts. “They were helping the scouts create their robotic projects and develop them into a working robot that did what they wanted it to do.”
The goal of the merit badge program is to provide scouts with real-life experience, said Roberts.
“It goes way beyond camping and wilderness survival. The program expands into a lot of professional areas such as public speaking and law,” he said. The idea is to teach practical skills, something they can use for a lifetime.
The event also served as a STEM outreach project for Aberdeen Proving Grounds, to encourage interest in sciences in the country’s youth.
Maj. Gen. Nick Justice, commanding general of Aberdeen Proving Ground, spent time talking to the midshipmen along with the Army officers and enlisted who were working at the event.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Roberts. “It gave us a good opportunity to see where they come from since we mostly only see the Navy side.”
