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Are We Pushing a Pull Door?... continued from previous page
Here is a collection of current programs:

Get Kids Into Survey
Get Kids Into Survey was established in 2017 and uses comics and other age-appropriate content to connect
children with the world of surveying.
Brand ambassadors can get involved with Get Kids Into Survey in order to support their local communities.
Anyone can become a Brand Ambassador – all you need is a passion for the industry and for educating the next
generation.
Find out more about GkiS or become a brand ambassador at: https://getkidsintosurvey.com/

GeoBus
Pioneered by the University of Central Florida, the GeoBus is a 40 foot
retrofitted city bus with a solar-powered learning lab meanest to inspire
science’s next generation in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math
(STEAM). The mobile laboratory is focused on maps, apps, and drones and
visits K-12 schools, community centers, and events.

While UCF’s GeoBus operates only within the state of Florida, the concept is
an exciting one. The program could easily be expanded or replicated in other
areas of the country. Be sure to follow the GeoBus at: https://storymaps.
arcgis.com/stories/a9790220342b45b18e89ad306f780b74
Trig-Star

Sponsored by the National Society of Professional Surveyors, Trig-Star is a math-based competition that
recognizes and rewards high school students who excel in mathematics, particularly Trigonometry, and their
teachers. The program’s goal is to demonstrate practical uses for mathematics and bring greater awareness to
the surveying profession. Current surveying professionals can get involved by administering a Trig-Star Exam.
During the WRS conference roundtable, an important point was raised: math students are likely to be
interested in the surveying profession, but so are history students. Developing a history-based survey program
that targets a new subject area could prove valuable. Find our more about Trig-Start at: https://trig-star.com/

Scout troops

Boy and Girl Scout troops are a natural target for surveying outreach because of their love of the great outdoors
and hands-on activities.
Currently, there is a Surveying Merit Badge that Boy Scouts can earn. However, it is presently one of the least-
awarded merit badges and is at risk of being sunsetted. One issue is that the badge takes a full day to complete,
which is less tempting for scouts who can earn multiple badges in a day for different activities. The badge is in
need of revision and funding if it is going to make a continued impact. Scoutmasters often don’t know who to
ask to guide scouts through earning the badge. This is where surveyor volunteers could help tremendously.
On the Girl Scout side, STEM badges help girls build valuable technology skills while exploring scientific topics.
One of the best ones to start with would be either the Junior Geocacher Badge or the Cadette STEM Career
Exploration Badge. These badges could be used to promote from a surveying standpoint.

• Naturalist badges invite girls to explore the outdoors.
• Digital Art badges help girls build valuable technology and computer skills.
• Science and Technology badges connect girls to favorite science topics like video game
development, the physics of roller coasters, and the technology used to create new fabrics.
• Innovation badges encourage problem solving using scientific methods from fields like
anthropology, engineering, graphic design, and business.
• Financial Literacy badges prepare girls for a financially sound future.

Annual events like the Boy Scout National Jamboree also lend themselves to opportunities for
presentations, activities, and earning badges related to surveying. NSPS is currently seeking volunteers to attend the next Jamboree and
offer the Surveying Merit Badge. Similar events likely exist where Girl Scouts and the STEM badges can be targeted.
https://jamboree.scouting.org/ & https://www.girlscouts.org/en/footer/press-room/2017/23-new-stem-outdoor-badges-enrich-
programming.html

6 The Nevada Traverse Vol.49, No.2, 2022