Cub Scouting at the Thomas Edison Center

The Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park has programs specifically tailored to meet Adventure Requirements. These programs offer scouts an exclusive opportunity to engage, experience, and learn. The Thomas Edison Center has the distinct advantage of allowing scouts to fully experience a history and science related program in the setting where that history actually happened. The unique collection of original Edison inventions in the museum, along with our seasoned enthusiastic museum educators, bring history to life in a fun and educational way. All programs include a hands-on component that further allows scouts to not only hear and see, but also touch history!

Nestled within the 36 acre Edison State Park, the Thomas Edison Center offers a one of a kind opportunity for scouts to explore the world of nature, and learn about the amazing life of Thomas Edison. The park contains some of the oldest trees located in Middlesex County and contains unique specimens of plants that provide a habitat for an abundance of native animals and birds. Several of our programs highlight the carefully planned and maintained grounds of the Thomas Edison Center and offers scouts a chance to explore, experience and learn about the natural world.

Programs

  • 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!


Program Details

  • Programs are designed to assist cub scouts in completing the requirements of elective adventures. Each program is approximately 90 minutes long.

  • Programs must be scheduled a minimum of two weeks in advance, and require a minimum of 12 participants. When a pack has fewer than 12 members, scouts may invite non-scout peers to participate in programs. Groups of less than 12 scouts will be charged at the 12 scout minimum.

  • Program fee: $12.00 per scout/non-scout.

  • Up to 2 Den Leaders may attend at no charge. Other participating adults will be charged a fee of $6.00. A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking. Balance is due two weeks prior to the scheduled date.

  • Programs are available during the day on Wednesdays, as well as Thursday and Friday evenings throughout the year, dependent upon staff availability.

  • Payment: Cash, Credit Card, Check accepted (CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO: TECMP)

For more information about scheduling, please call us at (732) 549-3299 or email us at tecmp1879@gmail.com.