Sea Scouts win STEM awards

National Finalists, the Toxic Chloro Fighters team members Riley Campbell, Becket Tumney, and Addison Graham speak with Dr. Travis King, Army Research and Technology. The fourth member of the team, Orion Riddell, was absent due to illness.

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During the winter when the Sea Scouts cannot be in the water, we focus on STEM projects. This year Bay Sea Scout Inc. sponsored winners in the eCyberMission STEM competition. Altogether our students took home $63,500 in awards and many trophies.

The competition is part of the U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) for students in the sixth through ninth grades. This year 7,320 students participated on teams located in 45 states and territories. U.S. Army scientists and engineers judge each team's STEM project write-up and presentation. Among the winners were:

Our sixth-grade team of Liam, Amy and Danica were Ohio State Runners-up with their project evaluating the health of Porter Creek and correlating rainfall in the creek with beach closure at the Huntington Metroparks. 

Another sixth-grade team, MISSing Monarchs, with team members Elizabeth, Olivia, April and Annie, went to Baltimore as National Finalists. MISSing Monarchs, with their presentation to the judges on the endangered monarch butterfly, were declared National Champions. Elizabeth, speaking for the team said, “We were surprised and thrilled, and excited that we could highlight the butterfly and the need to plant more native flowers and milkweed.”

Our seventh-grade team, Toxic Chloro Fighters, with Addison, Orion, Riley and Becket, also went to Baltimore as National Finalists. The Toxic Chloro Fighters presented a paper on preventing algae growth in Lake Erie by assessing which native plants would absorb nitrogen and phosphorus in a creek's riparian zone. Through selection by Zoom presentations, our seventh-grade team was crowned Midwest Regional Champions.

Our eighth-grade team of Jason and Michael were Ohio State Champions with their project testing various formulae to find the best natural weed killer. 

The ninth-grade Sea Scouts, Peter, Zach and Trey, reached the level of Regional Finalists with their project related to the Spotted Lantern Flies. An additional ninth-grade team of Paul, Jacob, Thomas and Ian, known as the Flocculators, were Ohio State Runners-up with their project of successfully finding a natural coagulant to remove plastic particles from drinking water.

Congratulations to all the teams for their awards and concern for our environment. 

Bay Sea Scouts Inc. sponsors Sea Scout Ship 41 and Explorer Club 360. During the spring and summer months, the scouts learn to sail and have fun with paddle craft at Bay Boat Club.