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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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).