Stars, planets and rockets were on the agenda when 21^st  Harlow Cubs Scouts came to Stewards Academy to study for their Astronomy badge.  Stewards Academy was one of twelve schools nationwide to be awarded the Gold Standard Quality Mark earlier in the year for their work as a Leading Space Education Academy.  Part of this work involved working with the community so 21st Harlow Cubs came for two weeks to listen to Andy Gannon, Stewards resident astronomer, talk about the Sun, the Earth, phases of the Moon and the seasons. Stewards Chief Technician Andrew Young, made a comet from water, soil, Worcestershire sauce and Dry Ice and the cubs were encouraged to touch it.  The second week the cubs learnt about the planets, they landed on Mars and viewed the landscape with 3D glasses then they made paper rockets and had a pressurised air rocket competition. The rocket that flew the furthest was made by Matthew Brough and his prize was a genuine NASA cap and t-shirt. 

Cub Scout Thomas Cubitt:  “Thank you Mr Gannon for teaching us about Space. You have encouraged me to continue my interest in astronomy.”

Cub Scout Benjamin Holmes: “ Can we come back next week!”

 Cub Scout Leader, Ann-Marie Cann: “The science team at stewards gave us an excellent two weeks with lots of wows and oohs from the cubs. They got crafty making moon phases flipping books, planispheres and the zooming rockets. Lots of information passed to them and hopefully an insight of the world beyond ours. Great fun was had by all.”

Photo: Cub Scout Roshan Patel watching his rocket fly.