This is an introduction to the BSA Cyber Chip Award
Parents, Leaders and Scouts, the Cyber Chip Award is part of the Cub and Boy Scout Programs.
The BSA has partnered with the NetSmartz organization to present the Cyber Chip requirements
To view the ‘Cyber Chip Requirements’ you have to go to www.netsmartz.org/scouting.
Click on grades 1-3 or grades 4-5 or grades 6-8, or grades 9-12.
Grades 1-3 and 4-5 are for Cub Scouts
Tiger Handbook, 2016 printing, page 7, Requirement # 3, Earn the Cyber Chip award for your age (Tigers are 1st Grade).
Wolf Handbook, 2015 printing, page 7, Requirement # 3, Earn the Cyber Chip award for your age (Wolfs are 2nd Grade).
Bear Handbook, 2015 printing, page 7, Requirement # 3, Earn the Cyber Chip award for your age (Bears are 3rd Grade).
Webelos Handbook, 2015 printing, page 34, ‘Webelos Badge Req. # 4’, Earn the Cyber Chip award for your age (4th Grade).
Webelos Handbook, 2015 printing, page 35, ‘Arrow of Light Req. # 4’, Earn the Cyber Chip award for your age (5th Grade).
Boy Scouts are Grades 6-8 and 9-12
The Boy Scout Handbook (13th edition, dated 2016) has earning the Cyber Chip Award part of the
‘Scout Rank’, page 439 and the Star Rank, page 448 as the 2nd part of requirement 6.
The Cyber Chip requirements are presented on page 407 of the handbook, but not in detail.
While earning this award, a scout is required to interact with a) his parents; b) his scout leaders;
c) his patrol or den; d) his troop or pack. In fact, his effort involves everyone in his scout community.
Step 1 for all is to obtain a ‘BSA CYBER CHIP CARD’ from the scout unit or scout store.
Cub Scouts use a Level I card (Blue #615437).
Boy Scouts use a Level II card (Green # 615438)
The tasks that the boys do at each grade level are geared for their age.
The steps are identified and contain instructions on what is to be done.
They all read and sign the Internet Safety Pledge. Watching videos and talking with their parents/guardians and scout leaders about internet safety are required at all levels.
Older scouts will be required to teach internet safety to their peers.
The Cyber Chip expires after one year and is to be renewed.
The Cub Scout program requires a valid Cyber Chip for each of its 5 ranks.
The Boy Scout program requires a valid Cyber Chip for the Scout & Star Ranks & some merit badges.
The Twin Lakes District of the PathwaytoAdventure Council, BSA has made four Tracking Sheets which the scouts
and their families can use to log and keep track of their progress while working on this award.
Tracking Sheets for Grades 1-3, Grades 4-5, Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12 are available.
They are in M/S Word & each is one page. They can be obtained online from the Twin Lakes web page.
They contain detail instructions which match the NetSmartz and BSA requirements.
The above information compiled from the web sites of the BSA and NetSmartz by Dennis Wolfe, Twin Lakes District, PathwaytoAdventure Council, BSA
Cyber Chip Introduction January 8, 2017