Troop 35 enters the 21st century…

cyberchipDepending on your source, Troop 35 was founded in 1912 or 1923 – long before all of today’s scouts. Regardless, Troop 35 is one of the oldest continuously chartered scout troops in Illinois. The troop is fortunate to have been sponsored the entire time by Gary United Methodist Church and beginning Tuesday night, the troop will beginning making steps into the 21st century…….

A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.

The Scout Law. The Boy Scouts were founded on these principles and they endure today. Scouting’s founders could never fully imagine how technology would change scouting. But today, scouting continues to grow and change. In 2012, to meet the challenges of today’s technology, the BSA developed the CyberChip.

Beginning with Tuesday’s (3/10) scout meeting, the troop will begin training all scouts on the Cyber Chip, a modern day tool for scouts of all ages. It accompanies the Totin’ Chip and Firem’n Chit as essentials for a modern boy scout.

Tuesday’s training will begin with internet safety awareness and conclude, at the end of March, with the troop working to develop a troop wide phone and electronic device policy that is in step with the 21st century. The troop policy will include the point that all scouts earn and maintain a Cyber Chip to use technology at scout functions – troop meetings and outings.

The troop recognizes that in order for this to be successful all scouts need to be present at the scout meetings in March. The troop also recognizes that parents need to be involved to support the program in all parts of a scout’s life – at scout functions, at home, at school, and in the community – because a scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent in every way.

Tuesday night, March 10th,

  • All scouts will be provided a copy of The Scout Law and Cybersafety\Cyberbullying to take home and discuss with their parents. Please take time to discuss what the policy means and how it applies in your home and family.
  • Also, scouts and their parents will be asked to develop a family policy about appropriate uses for technology in your home – the troop is not asking for copies of your agreement, but simply acknowledgement that the scout and the family have discussed and come to agreement – a scout is trustworthy.
  • Scouts will be required to watch videos on internet safety that are appropriate for their age and level of development and discuss them with their parents. The troop will use the ideas presented in these video presentations in the following meeting – Tuesday, March 17th – Happy St. Patrick’s Day in advance.

Below are the requirements for the Cyber Chip. The troop is using the grades that scouts will be in the fall to divide scouts.

As always, parents are welcome to attend the meeting – the troop appreciates and encourages your support, scouting is impossible without the support of our parent community.

Upcoming Events

  • March 20-22: Lakota Campout – Cabin Camping – campout planning will be a part of 3/10 and 3/17 meetings!
  • March 26: Troop Committee Meeting – all parents welcome
  • March 30: April 3: Spring Break DuPage County schools
  • March 31: Scout function TBA – it’ll good! Stay tuned.
  • April 11: Annual Planning meeting 9AM – 2PM
  • April 11: Flaming Arrows Campout – Winfield Church
  • April 24-26: Troop Campout – Starved Rock State Park! (tent camping)
  • April 30: Troop Committee Meeting – all parents welcome
  • May 3: Green and Gold Ceremony

Photos from our recent campout to the USS Silversides in Muskegon, MI.

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