BSA joins with NCMEC to teach Scouts Internet safety

Boy Scouts Of America Joins With the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to Teach Scouts Internet Safety

Free Online Educational Resource, NetSmartz®, Made Available to Scout Leaders

ALEXANDRIA, VA - June 1, 2011 - The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children® (NCMEC) today announced it is making available its Internet safety program, NetSmartz®, to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to teach Scouts and their families how to make responsible decisions both online and in real life. The BSA is asking all Scout leaders to incorporate the NetSmartz materials into their programs and to distribute information directly to parents.

While the Internet provides vast educational and informational resources, it has also given predators a new opportunity to prey on children - even in their own homes. Talking to children so they understand the dangers is vital to their safety. Prevention is key. NCMEC offers a free Internet safety program called NetSmartz at www.netsmartz.org. It uses interactive resources such as animated characters, games, and videos to empower children of all ages to make responsible decisions both online and in real life.

"Today children have more access to the Internet than ever before in history," said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC. "The majority of all households today have at least one computer, and we know that most teens access the Internet from multiple locations. Kids already know that the Internet is a wonderful resource. They also need to understand the potential risks and the simple things that they can do that will help them stay safe. We applaud the BSA for making this resource available to members and its focus on adapting to the evolving dangers facing children today."

With a click of the mouse, parents can also get answers to their questions at www.netsmartz411.org about the Internet, computers, and emerging technology. Among the most frequently asked: What is a mash-up? How do I find my child's MySpace URL? What do online abbreviations mean? Not only can they review answers already provided, but they can call 1-888-NETS411 and talk to an expert.

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