Engineering Program Ideas: Engineering Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA

The title "Engineering Program Feature" over a background of lightbulbs to represent creativity and problem solving.

BSA has created updated versions of the Troop Program features for Scouts BSA. The Engineering program feature is available in digital format on the BSA website or can be purchased as a publication from you local Scout Shop.

Engineering program ideas for Scouts BSA troops

The Engineering program feature teaches Scouts helps Scouts understand how problem solving and design can be used to help meet the challenges found in our society. These engineering program ideas include some general information and some more specific ideas for meetings:

Learn about different types of engineers
- Chemical engineering
- Mechanical engineering
- Civil engineering
- Electrical engineering
Explore sub-disciplines and specialties

Engineering program ideas: Troop meetings

Suggested troop meeting ideas are grouped by levels of essential, challenging, or advanced. Here are a few you can see in the guide.

Instruction: Essential

Build a water filtration system
Experiment with different materials to filter water
Learn how a water treatment facility cleans water
Make some goo
Discuss polymers
Build string telephones
Learn about flashlights by taking one apart
Make a homemade LED flashlight

Instruction: Challenging

Build a model dam
Learn how dams are used to provide water and electricity to communities
Build pop rockets and learn about the chemical reactions which power them
Design and build a Rube Goldberg machine
Take apart broken electronics to learn about the components
Try to diagnose a problem in an broken piece of electronic equipment

Instruction: Advanced

Build and test a small cable bridge
Discuss how the length and spacing of the cables affect the integrity of the bridge
Build a model rocket
Discuss the chemical reaction which powers a model rocket
Calculate the advantage of a pulley
Learn about levers
Make a homemade USB charger

Games and other resources

There are also several games suggested to keep things interesting at your troop meetings

Sky high
Parachute races
Geocache scavenger hunt
Balloon blowup

The plan even provides Scoutmaster’s minutes and ceremonies for meetings.

Main Event for the engineering program

Then there is the “Main Event”. Once again, there are suggestions for essential, challenging, or advanced. Details and planning aids can be found in the online guide.

Go on a day trip to an amusement park and try to find as many examples of the different disciplines of engineering (mechanical, chemical, electrical, and civil) as you can (essential)
Think of design improvements which could be made to the amusement park (challenging)
Visit an amusement park for a physics day and record observations and results (advanced)

Find some related helps and achievements for the Camping Troop Program Feature below. Also check my STEM page for more hands on ideas related to engineering.