We are a great group of high school students with interests in computers, robotics, rockets, drones and engineering. We meet at the Rockville Science Center facilities in downtown Rockville Maryland. We are developing our experience in engineering projects to see if we want to make it our career. We have a lot of fun!

We build things, have technical presentations, go on tours, and sometimes play games, all with the objective of getting hands-on experiences in engineering disciplines. We are engaged in four student engineering projects -American Rocketry Challenge, FIRST Tech Challenge, Botball Educational Robotics, and the UAS4STEM Drone Challenge.

The members get opportunities to develop both leadership and teamwork skills. Projects, and teams within projects, define their structures, select their leadership, and plan their activities. We also participate in service projects at the Rockville Science Center and in the community. We have many opportunities to earn Student Service-Learning hours.

We enroll about 40 teens every fall and run the program through the next summer. Most members are involved for three or four years. This post has been active since 1997. We were at Lockheed Martin for 17 years, spent five years at Johns Hopkins University in Montgomery County, moved to the Rockville Memorial Library, and then the Science Center storefront. We’ve had over 700 teens participate through the years.

Meetings

The Post projects meet on weekday evenings, 7:00 to 9:00 pm. The project membership decides on the day of the week. Project teams meet at other times determined by the teams usually Saturdays. Tournaments and flying rockets and drones are on Saturdays and Sundays. We go on field trips usually on days when schools are off. We meet at the Science Center Storefront at 36C Maryland Ave, Rockville, Maryland, 20850. We maintain a calendar on our web site which is a good source for meeting information.

Staffing and Funding

The post is staffed by volunteers, parents, and others interested in helping shape the next generation of engineers. We need help from parents with chaperoning, driving to events, and providing snacks. Parents are also needed to help with the programs and learn along with the teams. Project costs are funded through dues, contributions, grants, and fund raisers. Dues are $300 annually, collected by November. A membership form and a national application form, signed by a parent or guardian is required. Project/team membership may require additional registration forms. Costs associated with travel, special activities and some items are covered by members.

We are sponsored by the Rockville Science Center. They help us find qualified adults to mentor our teams and work with the Center to provide meeting space. We help the Center with staffing their outreach events which allows our student members to earn Student Service Learning hours. We hope that Post families will financially support the Center and participate in other Center programs.
We are organized under the national Exploring Program (https://www.exploring.org/), and supported by the National Capital Area Council of the Scouts BSA.

Meeting Locations Rockville Science Center 36C Maryland Ave Rockville, MD 20850 (map) Rockville Makerspace 33F Maryland Ave Rockville, MD 20850

Contacts   Bob Ekman, 301-512-1278   info@post1010.org   Follow Post 1010 on Facebook