Doodads and Thingamajigs
Lion Elective Adventure: Gizmos and Gadgets

Find, explore, and discover 10,000 ways that will not work, just as Thomas Edison did during the creation of over 400 inventions at his Menlo Park laboratory. Scouts will experience Edison’s original inventions, learn about Thomas’ journey to New Jersey, and even create their own invention from a “pile of junk” and a little bit of imagination.

Lion Pride
Lion Elective Adventure: Mountain Lion

Experience nature first-hand, search for plants, animals, and trees that flourish in the park that surrounds the Thomas Edison Center. Scouts will practice the SAW principle, “S” rules, and Leave NO Trace during a beautiful guided walk on the nature trail in the 36 acre state park. Scouts will discuss their findings, learn about Thomas Edison’s work with plants, and even create their own set of binoculars to take home to continue finding wildlife in their neighborhood.
* WEATHER DEPENDENT *

Nature of Invention
Tiger Elective Adventure: Tigers in the Wild

The nature park that surrounds the Thomas Edison Center provides a perfect setting for scouts to learn about the types of plants, trees, and animals that live and thrive in New Jersey’s temperate climate. We will discuss Thomas Edison’s work with plants, locate and record the plants, animals, and animal traces here and share their findings with the Den. Finally, they will conclude the day by making and taking home an eco-friendly bird feeder.
* WEATHER DEPENDENT *

Secrets & Spies: How Code Changed the World
Wolf Elective Adventure: Code of the Wolf

Known as the ‘Wizard of Menlo Park’, Thomas Edison was a successful telegrapher, experienced with Morse Code. This exciting program will allow scouts to learn how Civil War spies used codes and ciphers to convey military intelligence. Scouts will learn about Morse Code, have a hands-on experience with the telegraph, and learn the impact that both had on the Civil War. Scouts will make an origami code book and send invisible secret messages with lemon juice. The Scouts will practice using the pig-pen code and translate secret messages hidden along our Nature trail.
* WEATHER DEPENDENT *

Compass Scouts with Magnets
Wolf Elective Adventure: Finding Your Way

Scouts will search and discover with magnets along the Edison State Park Nature Trail, participating in activities with electromagnets and model iron ore separators. They will refine their compass skills and map orienteering by guided hiking through our state park. In the museum, Scouts will learn about magnetism’s influence on Edison’s work at Menlo Park. They will complete their adventure with a scavenger hunt.
* WEATHER DEPENDENT *

Silly Science and Nutty Experiments
Bear Elective Adventure: Super Science

Thomas Edison self explored the principles of Chemistry and Physics through reading and conducting experiments. Inventors like Thomas Edison follow a structured process called the ‘scientific method’ to formulate ideas and analyze their experiments. Scouts will describe and summarize the process of scientific method, scientific law of action and reaction, beginning their understanding of scientific method through experimentation.

Engineering Escapade
Elective Adventure: Engineer

An opportunity to explore the field of electrical engineering, what electrical engineers do, and electrical engineering made Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park era accomplishments possible. Scouts will conduct their own research into electrical engineering online or at their local library, discovering three things that electrical engineers do. Scouts will then examine sets of blueprints and specifications, using inspiration from these to draft their own. Using their drafted plans, scouts will then complete their own unique electrical engineering project to share at their next pack meeting!