December 2023: Please note that the Cub program will be changing as of June 1, 2024. Some of these items may be able to still be used, but they will not follow the program exactly. Perhaps they can be a spring board for those who are planning their Cub years.

After running the NOVA program for my Pack for one year, I realized that I need to move away from expecting everyone to work independently and run this as an actual den. Therefore, I’ve restructured my entire NOVA program to follow the same modules and structures as I’ve done for my yearly den plans. As BSA added two more NOVA awards in April 2018 and another in February 2019, my program has been updated to add a third year to allow for ample completion of all, including both Supernova awards. (Full awards list and requirements available here. )

Year 1 Science Everywhere Down and Dirty Nova WILD! Tech Talk

Year 2 Swing 1-2-3 Go! Uncovering the Past Supernova

Year 3 Fearful Symmetry Cubs Can Code Out of this World Supernova

Programs and Workbooks for Download

Year 1 Plan | Year 1 Workbook
Year 2 Plan | Year 2 Workbook
Year 3 Plan | Year 3 Workbook

In June 2019, BSA published the Up and Away NOVA award, meant to be used by attending an iFly indoor skydiving STEM program. Alternative requirements are also available, however, due to the amount of prep work and actual materials needed, I recommend this be done as a NOVA in a day program on a weekend.

Tracking Guides

One of the things I have come to love are my tracking pages. I use the ones for my rank dens that are on the Akela’s Council leader training site. Since there wasn’t one for NOVA, I modified one of theirs to create one for my use. Additionally, I wanted a poster to put up in my classroom that charted the progress just like I do for ranks. Again, not one available online, so I spent about three hours on a Saturday night making one in Photoshop. So feel free to download and use my guides in your program, too. (Click the image for your PDF download.)

Award tracker and poster updated October 14, 2019 to include the most recent awards added this year.
Poster printed size is 30″ x 17″ for 10 Cubs and includes three openings in the event more NOVA awards are added.

Information for Leaders

Adding this program to your Pack is relatively easy. You are required to register with your local council as a NOVA Counselor and/or Supernova Mentor for the awards program. Information on that is available here.

Self-study training and mentor guides are available through the BSA online here.

Created June 3, 2018 | Modified April 3, 2019