Many Scout groups already know how much fun a weekend at Whitewater Challengers can be. What they may not know is that Whitewater Challengers offers a variety of ways for Scouts to pursue Nova Awards and STEM related GSUSA badges during their stay. Here are 5 of the most popular STEM learning activities Whitewater Challengers has to offer. 

1. The “Planet Earth” Documentary Series on Friday Nights

On every Camp-O-Ree and Raft-O-Ree weekend, Whitewater Challengers presents 4 hours of continuous programming from the BBC’s 11-part “Planet Earth” series. Once you’ve settled in, bring the troop down to our dining pavilion, where Scouts can enjoy complete installments from the series (specific installments can be requested on a first-come, first-serve basis). Those installments can, in turn, be used to satisfy the “programming” criteria for several Nova Awards and GSUSA badges. Please Note: “Planet Earth” covers a range of topics, including: The North and South Poles, mountains, caves, deserts, the Ice Age, the Great Plains, forests and jungles, worldwide bodies of water, wildlife, and more. 

2. Eckley Miners’ Village Tour

Spend a morning or afternoon revisiting the legacy of coal mining in Northeastern Pennsylvania at this historic landmark. The preserved mining village offers Scouts an opportunity to learn about the living conditions of 19th-century workers. Scouts can document – and discuss – the experience with pack leaders to qualify for STEM learning badges and awards. A tour of Eckley Miners’ Village is included with the Camp-O-Ree package or you can set up your own tour. 

3. Whitewater Rafting

Everyone knows that whitewater rafting is fun! But it also provides an ideal chance to learn about the basic science behind water flow. At Whitewater Challengers, Scouts can feel free to ask our experienced river guides about anything from the mechanic of paddling to the cfs (I.e., cubic feet per second – a precise measurement of the volume of water that is flowing in the river). In addition, Scouts can use their actual trip down the river to satisfy requirements for certain STEM-related awards.      

4. Campground Mining Sluice

Directly beyond the dining pavilion at the Whitewater Challengers Campground, there is an old-fashioned mining sluice. The operational sluice is available for sifting minerals out of sand (purchase bags of mineral sand in the campground store). Learning how to operate a mineral sluice – and to identify specific minerals – is part of earning the Cub Scouts’ Down and Dirty Nova Award, along with a handful of other STEM-related awards.                  

5. Boulder Field

A short ride from Whitewater Challengers, you can find Boulder Field – a national natural landmark formed over 2,000 years ago. The placards along this 1,800-ft expanse of surface boulders tell the story of how large rocks – void of dirt and vegetation – came to form and settle over time. Scouts can also learn the impact that certain geological events can have on the earth, above and beneath the surface. 

To learn more about our different Scout rafting options and the STEM learning activities that Whatever Challengers has available please visit our Scout webpage for more details. With professional river guides and experienced staff we are ready to make your stay in the Poconos fun and educational!