Earning Your Cyber Chip

Though no longer required by Scouts, BSA, Troop 279 still STRONGLY encourages scouts to complete the Cyber Chip requirements. There are several resources below that will help you work through the Cyber Chip.

Cyber Chip Requirements – The key to the Cyber Chip is completing the correct requirements, based on your school grade. You can use the Cyber Chip worksheet to help organize your work. NOTE: When first earning your Cyber Chip (not renewing), one of the requirements is to use the E.D.G.E. method to teach internet safety rules, behavior, and “netiquette” to either your patrol or to the troop. Please work with your Patrol Leader or your SPL to schedule this time with your patrol or the troop.
The first, and most important requirement of the Cyber Chip is to read and follow the Internet Safety Pledge, which reads:
- I will think before I post
- I will respect other people online
- I will respect digital media ownership
- I won’t meet face-to-face with anyone I meet in the digital world unless I have my parent’s permission
- I will protect myself online.
One of the Cyber Chip requirements is to write and sign a “contract” that outlines rules for using electronic devices. The Cyber Chip worksheet contains an outline of rules for using the a computer and mobile device. The troop also has made available a good template to create a Digital Technology Contract. There are even more examples of tech contracts that can be found here.
You must review and discuss with one of the scoutmasters, the Troop’s “electronics free” policy. This may be completed during your Scoutmaster Conference when nearing the completion of both the Scout and Star Ranks.

In addition to earning the Cyber Chip for the Scout and Star Ranks, and your Cyber Cyber also needs to be “recharged” yearly. To recharge your Cyber Chip, you will need to go to Netsmartz and complete at least two more, grade-appropriate resources (i.e. watch two new videos) and recommit to net safety and “netiquette”.

Finally, the last step to earning or recharging your Cyber Chip is to meet with one of the scoutmasters to add the date to your Cyber Chip pledge card (example card pictured below).

Rank Advancement & COVID-19

By Scoutmaster | April 28, 2020

One of the most frequently asked question raised at Troop 279 is; “how does the current COVID-19 social distancing requirements affect rank advancement?” Below is an excerpt from National’s COVID-19 FAQ page listing the temporary exceptions to rank requirements, valid through September 1, 2020. This deadline will be re-evaluated as needed.

Tenderfoot rank requirements

1b. – Virtual patrol or troop campouts via video conferencing will be permitted.
2a. – During the same day as your virtual patrol or troop campout, assist in preparing one meal with the help of those with whom you live. Tell your patrol or troop why it was important for each person to share in meal preparation and cleanup.
2b. – During the same day as your virtual campout, demonstrate the appropriate method of safely cleaning items used to prepare, serve and eat a meal.
5a. – Explain the importance of the buddy system as it relates to your personal safety on outings and in your neighborhood. Verbally commit to following the buddy system on your next troop or patrol outing.
7a. – Tell how to display, raise, lower, and fold the U.S. flag.

Second Class rank requirements:

1a & 1c. – Virtual patrol or troop activities via video conferencing will be permitted.
3b. – Using a compass and map together, plan a 5-mile hike approved by your adult leader.
4. – Evidence of wild animals can be demonstrated with information or photos of your local area found online.
5c. – May be completed virtually via video conferencing on dry land.
7c. – Learn about the dangers of using drugs, alcohol and tobacco and other practices that could be harmful to your health. Discuss what you learned with your family and explain the dangers of substance addictions. Report to your Scoutmaster or other adult leader in your troop about which parts of the Scout Oath and Scout Law relate to what you learned.
8a. – May be completed virtually using video conferencing.
8d. – May be completed by comparing costs at three (3) online sites or locations.

First Class rank requirements:

1a – Virtual patrol or troop activities via video conferencing will be permitted.
2e. – On the same day as your virtual campout, serve as the cook. Supervise your assistant(s) in using a stove or building a cooking fire. Prepare the breakfast, lunch, and dinner planned in First Class requirement 2a. Supervise the cleanup.
4a. – By drawing, computer software, or other virtual methods, plan an orienteering course that would cover at least one mile. Explain why measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.) is helpful. Explain how you would complete your course using a real map and compass.
4b. – Scouts do not need to follow their route.
5a. – Evidence of native plants can be demonstrated with information or photos of your local area found online.
6e. – May be completed on dry land.
9a. – Visit may take place virtually or by phone.
9c. – Outings can include past or future plans.
10. – Invite the potential new member to a virtual meeting or future activity using video conferencing.

Social Distancing Merit Badge

By Scoutmaster | April 14, 2020

For a limited time, Troop 279 will be conducting a troop-wide Social Distancing merit badge to have a little fun while we’re unable to meet in-person.

All troop leaders are honorary merit badge councilors for the Social Distancing merit badge. No blue cards are necessary for the Social Distancing merit badge, but all Youth Protection guidelines must still be followed while working with a councilor. To learn more about merit badges, please visit the Merit Badge page on the Troop’s website.

Upon successful completion, scouts will receive the Social Distancing merit badge patch to commemorate the activities, sacrifices and personal perseverance during these unique times.

Requirements

Do the following:
1. Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter when practicing Social Distancing, and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards.
2. Tell what you can do to prevent or reduce the occurrence of the following injuries or illnesses:
  - Irritability
  - Lethargy
  - Gaining weight
  - Cabin fever
3. Define the following Social Distancing terms:
  - Flatten the curve
  - Self-quarantine
  - Incubation
  - R₀ (pronounced “R-naught”)
  - Binge-watching
  - Slow the spread
  - Do the five
List and explain at least 5 different ways to estimate a 6-foot distance. For example, “6 feet equals one Ryan Reynolds” or “the span between potholes in PA”.
Rank the following 20 popular sports from Best to Worst for Social Distancing appropriateness:
- Football
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Hockey
- Tennis
- Golf
- Boxing
- car racing
- wrestling
- volleyball
- swimming
- skiing
- bowling
- horse racing
- martial arts
- weight lifting
- ultimate
- bicycling
- speed skating
Do the following:
1. Create a list of at least 5 common Social Distancing hashtags, for example #StayHome. Your list may not include #StayHome.
2. Create a list of at least 5 new hashtags that you feel would help people understand, remember, or implement proper Social Distancing.
3. Share your two lists with your counselor. Be prepared to explain your new hashtags to your counselor.
Using Discord (https://discordapp.com/), Zoom (https://zoom.us/) or other remote conferencing software approved by your counselor, do the following:
1. Install and configure the conferencing software on your computer or handheld electronic device.
2. Help another person install and configure the conferencing software.
3. Schedule and run a meeting that lasts at least 5 minutes and includes at least 5 people. The people must include yourself, your counselor, and at least one other adult.
Demonstrate to your counselor your ability to socially distance yourself by doing at least 4 of the following Social Distancing activities:
1. Wash your hands correctly
2. Cough into your elbow
3. Wave to another person
4. Pass someone on a walking path
5. Correctly put on and take off nitrile gloves
6. Sew a face mask (https://boyslife.org/hobbies-projects/projects/168194/neckerchief-face-mask/)
7. Order a take-out meal for your family using a phone or the internet. You or your parent may pay for the meal.
Simulate Social Distancing by doing the following:
1. Live in a simulated quarantine environment by not leaving your house or physically interacting with any other humans except your immediate family for 4 days. During this simulation, complete at least three of these tasks:
  - Complete 1 jigsaw puzzle of at least 500 pieces
  - Memorize lyrics to 3 songs
  - Play 12 games of solitaire
  - Play 10 games of Pandemic 2 (https://cdn2.addictinggames.com/addictinggames-content/ag-assets/content-items/html5-games/pandemic2/index.html) or similar symptoms simulator.
  - Watch 1 full season of any video series, totaling at least 6 hours and approved by your parent or guardian
  - Read 1 book of at least 300 pages
  - Watch at least 4 movies starring Tom Hanks (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000158/)
  - Make a Bucket List of at least 12 things you want to do once your quarantine is over
2. Document what you did and present your accomplishments to your counselor, patrol, or troop in a 2-minute presentation
List two types of germs. Briefly describe each one, and tell how they differ, what they do and how you can protect yourself from these germs.
Find out about three career opportunities in the global health industry. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor and explain why this profession might interest you.
Do TWO of the following. Take pictures of your activities. Send or share your images with your counselor and scoutmaster.
1. Take a family walk or hike
2. Camp outside in your back yard
3. Cook a meal for your family
4. Take a bike ride
5. Sew a patch on your uniform or merit badge sash
6. Use lashings to make a useful gadget or structure
Show your counselor your current, up-to-date Cyber Chip.
- Earn the Cyber Chip: Earning the Cyber Chip can help you learn how to stay safe while you are online and using social networks or the latest electronic gadgets. Topics include cell phone use, texting, blogging, gaming, cyberbullying, and identity theft. Find out more about the Cyber Chip at https://troop279.us/earning-your-cyber-chip/

Click here to download a copy of the Social Distancing merit badge pamphlet.

Adventure BINGO

By Scoutmaster | March 26, 2020

Try a little Adventure BINGO while we’re all practicing social distancing.

Complete the adventures with help from family members as needed. Take pictures as you go! When you get a BINGO (vertical, horizontal, diagonal only), send your pictures and completed BINGO sheet to ScoutTroop279@yahoo.com.

Click on the image below to download a PDF copy of the BINGO sheet.

Citizenship in the Community

By Scoutmaster | March 26, 2020

Mr. O’Neill is an approved Merit Badge Counselor for “Citizenship in the Community” for Troop 279 and has suggested the following during this time of social distancing.

If anyone wants to get started on their Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge, you can complete the following items while still maintaining social distancing. Mr. O’Neill can set up video chats with the scouts, but their parents will need to be included!

Requirement Notes:

5. With the approval of your counselor and a parent, watch a movie that shows how the actions of one individual or group of individuals can have a positive effect on a community. Discuss with your counselor what you learned from the movie about what it means to be a valuable and concerned member of the community.

The following movies are acceptable:

12 Angry Men
Erin Brockovich
Follow Me Boys
It’s a Wonderful Life
Lean on Me
The Man Who Planted Trees
Pay It Forward
Stand and Deliver

7. Do the following:
a. Identify three charitable organizations outside of Scouting that interest you and bring people in your community together to work for the good of your community.
b. Pick ONE of the organizations you chose for requirement 7a. Using a variety of resources (including newspapers, fliers and other literature, the Internet, volunteers, and employees of the organization), find out more about this organization.

Note that there is an additional requirement to volunteer at least 8 hours in the organization you choose in 7b., which will need to be completed later.

8. Develop a public presentation (such as a video, slide show, speech, digital presentation, or photo exhibit) about important and unique aspects of your community. Include information about the history, cultures, and ethnic groups of your community; its best features and popular places where people gather; and the challenges it faces. Stage your pres-entation in front of your merit badge counselor or a group, such as your patrol or a class at school.

Presentations over the past year have included Mechanicsburg and Enola as the “community”. There is also the broader idea of the “Harrisburg Area”, or the “Cumberland Valley” that can be used as your “community”.

Also, there is a requirement to choose an issue that is important to the citizens of your community and find out which branch of local government is responsible for this issue.

You will eventually have to interview someone from that branch of government, but for now, you can start to think about “your issue”. Examples of issue address by previous scouts include:

Cars speeding on Wertzville Rd.
The need for a traffic signal at Orr’s Bridge Road and Mountainview Road
The Township’s need for a new municipal building (being built now on Sporting Hill Road).

Think about the functions a local government serves, and come up with an issue that you feel is important. Local government (Township, School District, and County) provides a wide range of services such as emergency services (police, fire, ambulance), trash and recycling, road maintenance and snow plowing, approval of development projects, traffic issues, courts and prisons, recreation, elections, libraries, schools, water and sewer services, and more. When you are choosing an issue, think about how it is funded and how that relates to its importance.

Remember, to start a merit, please email the Scoutmasters at ScoutTroop279@yahoo.com before starting. The Scoutmaster will be able to start a virtual blue card for you online through Scoutbook. The next time the Troop meets, you’ll be given your paper blue card.

Also, any communication with leaders or merit badge counselors, online or over the phone, must include a second leader or the parent of the scout.

Please visit the Troop’s website (troop279.us/for-scouts/merit-badges/) to learn more about merit badges.

Scouting at Home

By Scoutmaster | March 26, 2020

To help keep your scout skills strong, below is a list of rank requirements and merit badges you can do at home and/or with your family. Older scouts, use this time to “brush-up” on your skills.

Record everything you do. TAKE & SHARE PICTURES! Please send pictures to scouttroop279@yahoo.com and lets show everyone that this virus isn’t going to slow down Troop 279!!

When troop gatherings resume, Scouts can be tested on rank requirements by their Patrol Leader, Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters or any member of the troop that holds the First Class rank or higher.

More information on rank advancement can be found on the troop’s website (troop279.us/for-scouts/advancement/), including handy worksheets for each rank.

Scout Rank
- Complete, review and/or practice requirements #1-6

Tenderfoot Rank
- Complete, review and/or practice requirements #3, 4a-c, 5, 7a, 8, 9
- Build a personal first aid kit, req. #4d
- Fitness requirements #6a,b
  - YouTube demo of sit-and-reach
  - Adventure Park has a 1-mile trail loop
  - Fitness requirement #6b – use sample tracking sheet

Second Class Rank
- Complete, review and/or practice requirements #1b, 2a,d,f,g, 3, 4, 5a, 6, 8b,c,d, 10
- Fitness requirement #7a – use sample tracking sheet
- Review the three R’s of personal safety and protection – req. #9a
- Describe bullying – req #9b

First Class Rank
- Complete, review and/or practice requirements #1b, 2d, 3, 4b, 5, 6c-d, 7, 9b, 10, 11
- Complete an orienteering course (ex. Pine Grove Furnace) – req. #4
- Fitness requirement #8a – use sample tracking sheet

Get Outside
Though common-areas (pavilions, restrooms, etc.) at state parks and recreational areas are closed, trails and nature hikes are still available. A quick google search of hiking trails in central PA returns numerous results, including:

Back-Yard Camping
Pitch a tent in your back yard! Take pictures and record your outing!

Merit Badges:
There are several merit badges that can be completed almost entirely at home. “Bryan on Scouting” posted a great article on “Merit badges for social distancing.”

In short, many merit badges have numerous requirements that can be researched, studied and/or completed at home. Scoutbook has a full listing of all current merit badge requirements. When working on merit badges independently, it is recommended that you use a workbook to help capture and organize your work. Merit Badge Wookbooks can be found on USscout.org (scroll 1/3 down on the page).

Please email the Scoutmasters at ScoutTroop279@yahoo.com before starting a merit badge. They will be able to start a virtual blue card for you online through Scoutbook. The next time the Troop meets, you’ll be given your paper blue card.

Remember, any communication with leaders or merit badge counselors, online or over the phone, must include a second leader or the parent of the scout.

Please visit the Troop’s website (troop279.us/for-scouts/merit-badges/) to learn more about merit badges.

Category: Advancement