Training for Leaders

The training materials here were developed locally in Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council.  These are not official BSA trainings.  A few elements of the training are local to SVMBC, but most of the material is applicable across all councils.  In most cases, the original files are available for download, so you can modify them to fit your council and local resources.  

We used to do two separate trainings - one for Nova Counselors and one for Supernova Mentors - and this ended up being problematic for various reasons.  We've now combined both into one training that lasts 2-2.5 hours.  

Nova Counselor/Supernova Mentor Information Page (fillable .pdf)

Fast Start STEM Orientation (some elements local to SVMBC, last revised 4/25/14)
YouTube narrated slide show (~8 minutes) 
Fast Start STEM Orientation handout (2 pages)  (.doc   .pdf)
Original powerpoint with script (.ppt   .pdf)

Note, these materials below are for in-person trainings, not online trainings. Even the best online trainings can't replace the invaluable give and take among participants that occurs in face-to-face trainings.  If you are from SVMBC, please consider coming to an in-person training.  If you are from outside SVMBC, please feel free to borrow and adapt whatever you might find useful here.      

Combined Nova Counselor + Supernova Mentor Training
(some elements local to SVMBC, last revised 7/13/2016)
Original powerpoint with script (.pptx)
     Training Task 1: What Comes First, Next, Last? (.doc   .pdf)
     Training Task 2: Lift Off! (Testing Type 1 Levers - Sample CS Activity) (.docx   .pdf)  
     Training Task 3: Pull! (Testing Single and Double Pulleys - Sample BS Activity) (,docx   .pdf)
     Training Task 4: Risk Mitigation: Mixed Up Q & A
          Directions and Demo pages (.docx   .pdf)
          Cub Scout version (.docx  .pdf)
          Boy Scout version (.docx   .pdf)
          Venturer version (.docx   .pdf)

Tips for Guiding Youth in the STEM Awards 
Tips for Guiding Youth in the STEM Awards (2 pages) 
Notes for the Trainer - to come
     Training Task 1: Youth Protection 
     Training Task 2: Just Right
     Training Tasks 3, 4, 5: More Basics
     Training Task 6: Different Backgrounds
     Training Task 7: Positive Framing (materials   directions)
     Training Task 8: Listening Via Questioning
     Training Tasks 9, 10: Many Paths
     Training Task 11: How Do I Do THAT?
     Training Task 12: I'd Rather Do THIS
     Training Task 13: Making Friends with Failure (materials   directions)
     Training Task 14: What Were We Trying to Do?
     Training Task 15: STEM Mythbusters - At Your Service

The Quick and Dirty Lowdown
If you are from SVMBC and you're dying to learn about the STEM program and don't want to wait for the next training, read the following documents, purchase a Nova Guidebook, and dive on in.  You'll still need to complete the training(s) and you'll still need to register for whichever position(s) you wish to take on, but this will get you started.