There were some key updates to the world of Scouting in 2024, and one of the biggest was the retirement of the Cyber Chip. As of January 1st, the BSA officially retired the Cyber Chip program, but don’t worry! Replacing it is a comprehensive new youth training called Personal Safety Awareness.
If you’re wondering what this change means for you, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly why the Cyber Chip was phased out. Along the way, we’ll explore what the new Personal Safety Awareness training covers and how you can complete the relevant new requirements for your Scout and Star ranks.
By the end, you’ll understand how this updated program will help keep you and your fellow Scouts safer, both online and in your daily activities. Let’s get started! 😀
Why Did the BSA Retire the Cyber Chip?
The Cyber Chip, introduced in the 2010s, served well for many years, teaching online safety, internet etiquette, cyberbullying awareness, and responsible smartphone use. However, the BSA regularly updates its Youth Protection training to address new challenges and ensure Scouts are well-prepared.
By 2023, the BSA realized that youth safety education needed to be more comprehensive than just internet tips. The digital landscape continues to evolve with new social media platforms and cyber threats, alongside a greater understanding of issues like abuse and bullying. Because of all this, the BSA decided to broaden its youth training to cover these vital areas more thoroughly.
This led to the creation of the Personal Safety Awareness video series. This new program expands on the Cyber Chip’s foundation, offering current advice to keep Scouts safe. It includes online safety and also addresses important topics like bullying, recognizing abuse, and personal protection in various situations.
Another significant reason for the update was to make the training more engaging. The Personal Safety Awareness training is primarily video-based, featuring high-quality, professionally produced modules. The BSA collaborated with experts, including the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center Foundation and NetSmartz, to ensure the content is accurate and impactful.
What is the Personal Safety Awareness Training Program?
Personal Safety Awareness is a series of concise, informative videos. To meet specific rank requirements, Scouts need to watch these videos with their parents’ permission and guidance. There are two sets of videos: one for the Scout rank and an additional set for the Star rank, all accessible on the Scouts BSA Personal Safety Awareness training page.
These videos address real-life topics essential for every Scout. They cover navigating online environments safely, dealing with cyberbullying, recognizing different forms of abuse, and knowing what to do if you or a friend face a dangerous situation. For any parents out there who may concerned about the sensitive topic nature, while some subjects, like grooming or sexual abuse, are serious, they are handled in an age-appropriate manner.
It’s important to understand that the examples in these trainings are based on real situations where young people were harmed. Learning about these now is intended to help prevent such incidents from happening to you or your loved ones.
Before Scouts watch these videos, the BSA also strongly encourages them to review the “How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide” with a parent or guardian. This booklet is in the front of the Scout Handbook. Completing the exercises in this guide with a parent is part of the requirement (I’ll go through the requirements for each rank in a sec 😉 ). This ensures an open conversation about personal safety, making the video content even more helpful.
Personal Safety Awareness Requirements for Scout Rank
For new Scouts working on the Scout rank (requirement 6), here’s what you must do:
- Parent Pamphlet Exercises: First, with your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet “How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide.” This is the booklet located at the front of your Scout Handbook. (If you don’t have your handbook handy, you can download the Parent’s Guide as a PDF here.) Take your time to discuss the scenarios and questions; it’s designed to spark important conversations.
- Watch the Four Scout Safety Videos: With your parent/guardian’s permission (and ideally with them involved), watch the four designated Personal Safety Awareness videos for Scout rank. These videos can be found on the official BSA website. To access them, go to the Scouts BSA Personal Safety Awareness training page on Scouting.org and scroll to the “Personal Safety Awareness Videos – Scout Rank” section.
- Digital Safety: How to navigate the internet, social media, and texting safely and smartly.
- Bullying: How to handle bullying (both in-person and online) and stand up for yourself or others.
- Abuse: Recognizing different forms of abuse and knowing that it’s never a Scout’s fault if they’re abused. This video emphasizes telling a trusted adult.
- Youth Protection Policies: An overview of BSA’s rules (like two-deep leadership, no one-on-one contact) that protect youth. This helps you understand safeguards and encourages speaking up if policies aren’t followed.
These four videos are typically a few minutes each, totaling about an hour to complete. You don’t have to watch them all at once. Feel free to take breaks and discuss the information with your parent. Pausing to ask questions is encouraged and will help the information to sink in even better!
The key is to watch all videos attentively. Once you’ve finished the videos and the pamphlet exercises, you’ve fulfilled the Scout rank’s Personal Safety Awareness requirement! Inform your Scoutmaster or advancement chair so they can sign off on requirement 6 in your handbook. There’s no physical card or patch for this, unlike the Cyber Chip, and it’s recorded in your advancement record.
Personal Safety Awareness Requirements for Star Rank
For Star rank (requirement 6), the Personal Safety Awareness requirement expands. As an older Scout working on Star, you’ll explore some additional mature topics. Here’s what Star Scouts need to do:
- Review the Scout Videos: If you completed the Scout rank requirement earlier, you’ve likely watched the four base videos. The BSA expects you to view these four videos again as a refresher for Star rank. This repetition is intentional, as the messages may resonate differently as you get older, reinforcing foundational knowledge. So, plan to re-watch Digital Safety, Bullying, Abuse, and Youth Protection Policies. If you are going directly to Star, ensure you’ve watched these four, as they are required.
- Watch the Four Star Safety Videos: In addition to the base modules, Star rank adds four new video lessons on tougher teen topics. On the BSA Personal Safety Awareness page, scroll to the “Personal Safety Awareness Videos – Star Rank” section. The four Star-level videos are:
- Persistence for Pictures: Teaches about the dangers of sharing inappropriate photos (“sexting”), emphasizing loss of control once an image is sent, and offering guidance.
- Grooming & Sexual Abuse: Explains how predators might “groom” young people, teaching warning signs and reinforcing that no one should make you uncomfortable or ask you to break safety rules.
- Sexual Abuse in the Family: Discusses the difficult reality that abuse can occur within a family, encouraging Scouts to understand abuse is never okay and to seek help.
- Friends Should Never Look the Other Way: Focuses on being an upstander, teaching how to safely help a friend in trouble by involving trusted adults.
The Star rank videos take about an additional 30 minutes total to watch. Pausing to discuss each module is a good idea. Some subjects are serious, so debriefing with a parent or Scoutmaster afterward is a good idea. Once you’ve completed the four Star videos (and re-watched the Scout ones), you’ve finished the Star rank Personal Safety Awareness requirement! Inform your unit leader to mark it complete. 🙂
How to Complete the Personal Safety Awareness Training (Step-by-Step)
Now that you know what’s involved, here’s an efficient way to complete the training:
- Talk with Your Parent or Guardian: Inform them about this requirement. Explain that you need to watch safety videos covering sensitive topics. Schedule a focused time. It’s recommended a parent watches with you or is nearby for discussion.
- Do the Handbook Exercises Together: Before videos, sit with your parent and complete the exercises in the “How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide” pamphlet (in your Scout Handbook or download the PDF). Discuss scenarios and questions honestly.
- Access the BSA Training Videos Online: Go to the official Scouts BSA Personal Safety Awareness training page on Scouting.org. Scroll to your rank section.
- Watch the Required Videos: Click and watch each video. Consider taking notes. Pay close attention and take breaks if needed.
- Discuss and Reflect: After watching, talk with your parent or another trusted adult. Discuss what stood out, anything surprising, and how you’d handle similar situations.
- Inform Your Scout Leaders: Once done, tell your Scoutmaster or advancement coordinator. A brief conversation is often sufficient. They’ll then sign off your handbook!
Following these steps will help you complete the training confidently. Many Scouts find the videos serious, yet feel more confident and safe afterwards. Remember, if anything in Scouting makes you uncomfortable, speak to a trusted adult. The BSA’s Youth Protection page offers more on safety policies. Congratulations on completing this important step!
The Cyber Chip Legacy – Still Useful?
You might ask: what about the Cyber Chip? While no longer an official requirement, its lessons are still important. Many troops still use Cyber Chip content as supplemental instruction to reinforce good online habits.
Personal Safety Awareness covers broad safety topics, including internet safety. The Cyber Chip curriculum, however, focused specifically on digital citizenship. Skills like creating a family internet contract, understanding phishing scams, and not sharing personal info online remain valuable.
Your troop might host a Cyber Chip refresher, possibly using old NetSmartz videos or having Scouts teach netiquette. This can be an engaging way to keep digital safety in mind. The Cyber Chip patch, while not required, can still be earned or worn for the educational experience.
Even without the advancement requirement, exploring Cyber Chip content is beneficial. The internet’s challenges persist, so more knowledge is better. Many resources are still available on NetSmartz.org or through archived BSA materials. Consider discussing a “Cyber Safety” presentation for your troop with your leaders. It’s a great way for older Scouts to mentor younger ones, embodying “Be Prepared” in the digital world!
In Conclusion
By completing the Personal Safety Awareness training, Scouts take an important step in protecting themselves and others. Keeping yourself “physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight” includes knowing how to avoid dangers and act rightly, and this new training reinforces the BSA’s commitment to your well-being. While change can be an adjustment, this update ensures every Scout and family has current tools for today’s challenges!
Take these safety principles seriously. Continue discussing them with parents and leaders. If you face a tough situation, remember: You’re not alone, and help is available! Courage means doing the right thing, like reporting concerns or seeking help. Completing this training shows your courage and preparedness. Well done! 🙂
I’m wishing you nothing but the best on your Scouting journey! Whether on social media, camping, at school, or elsewhere, stay alert and live by Scout values. With the knowledge and support you gain from the Personal Safety Awareness training, you’re prepared for success. Good luck on your path to Eagle and beyond. Stay safe and Scout on!