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[Name of Organization]
Scouts Earn Merit Badge at the Green Bank Science Center
[Location] - Scouts from [institution] traveled to Green Bank, W.Va.,
and explored the Universe while completing activities to earn their [badge name] badge. While on site they visited the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, or GBT. The GBT is the world's largest fully steerable radio telescope.
Taller than the Statue of Liberty with a dish larger than a football
field, the GBT also is the most massive moving structure on land and is
used by scientists from around the world to study objects such as
planets in our own solar system to quasars billions of light-years away.
In addition to taking the public tour of the Observatory and GBT, the diligent scouts observed the sun and other cosmic objects with optical and radio telescopes, and learned to identify constellations in the NRAO StarLab. "[Quote from scout or leader.]"
"I especially enjoy conducting badge programs for boy and girl scout troops," said Sue Ann Heatherly, the NRAO's education officer in Green Bank. "Scouts are really motivated. That makes them fun to work with, and we do work hard to accomplish all of the tasks for the merit badge."
The scouts also enjoyed the hands-on experience of the NRAO's new
multimillion dollar Science Center.
A centerpiece of the new Science Center is the 4,000 square foot exhibit
hall. The exhibits are based around the theme "Catch the Wave!" which
highlights both the physics of radio waves, and the fun of being swept
along by the interactive displays. Among
the exhibits are a model of a pulsar that visitors can "take for a
spin," wavelength demonstrations of various stripes, a 3-D model of the
Constellation of Orion, and a working scale model of the GBT.
"The science center makes programs like this possible. Not
only can students or scouts do more and have more fun
while they are here, but we have the space now to accommodate larger
groups. In fact we have a brand-new very affordable 60-unit bunkhouse so that youth groups can stay longer and do other activities in the area. We know we're in the boonies! It takes a long time to get here; we want scouts to have the option to extend their stay," said Heatherly.
The NRAO has full-time science educators on staff to guide students
through the experience here, and to answer general and technical
questions from visitors. The site is located in Pocahontas County, West
Virginia, on Routes 92/28, approximately 25 miles north of the city of
Marlinton. For more information about programs for scouts and youth groups, contact the Observatory at 304-456-2209 or gbt-tours@nrao.edu