Accolades
Webby Award
The Webby Awards, the leading international honor for web sites, recognized the NetSmartz Workshop as an Official Honoree, a distinction that recognizes sites exhibiting remarkable achievement. Hailed as the "Online Oscars" by Time Magazine, the Webby Awards are determined by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences. "The Webby Awards honors the outstanding web sites that are setting the standards for the Internet," said Tiffany Shlain, founder and ambassador of the Webby Awards. "The NetSmartz Workshop's Official Honoree selection is a testament to the skill, ingenuity, and vision of its creators." The 10th Annual Webby Awards received a record number of entries from over 40 countries and all 50 states. More than 5,500 entries were submitted, and fewer than 20% were deemed Official Honorees.
Weekly Link Award
NetSmartz.org was selected as the Linksgiving.com "Weekly Link Award" winner for the week of October 23-29, 2005. The Weekly Link Award has been given every Sunday, since January 2002, to outstanding web sites of Linksgiving.com's collection that display originality of concept, ease of navigation, pleasant design, and clarity and completeness of information. The sites selected also must give visitors the information they are seeking, make them feel at home and want to come back again, and give a considerable contribution to the Internet community.
Site of the Month
"Site of the Month" Award August 2005 presented by the Missing and Exploited Children Site at BellaOnline.com
Family Safe Award
NetSmartz has received the "Family Safe Award" from ContentWatch, an organization dedicated to delivering Internet protection solutions.
Adult Quotes
NetSmartzKids.org received an A+ from Washington Times, Family Times reporter Joseph Szadkowski who stated,
Visitors will be mesmerized by a site boasting 3-D computer animation techniques, a bevy of colorful characters and tons of rhyming musical
lessons…the web site mixes a consistent level of professional design with an engaging variety of experiences that do not preach but deliver
a fun and safe online destination for children.
Joseph Szadlkowski reviews web sites based on content, ease of use, and overall experience for families.
The potential dangers on the Internet are very real for today's
children who are spending more and more time online. Law-enforcement agencies are working around the clock to combat
Internet crime, but we will never arrest our way out of this problem. Education
is the key to prevention and NetSmartz provides parents and guardians with
the resources they need to talk to their children to help prevent online
victimization.
John Walsh, host of America's Most Wanted
I
have been a big NetSmartz fan, supporter and presenter for almost three years
now. The kids LOVE NetSmartz and especially the 'Live' shows! Members
at the Clubs I teach at are not allowed in the computer lab at all until they
have successfully completed the NetSmartz program appropriate for their age
and skill level. Many members have even participated in NetSmartz two or three
times because they enjoy it so much. It is also not unusual for members to ask
me if they can 'do NetSmartz' even when they have earned free time online.
I believe that kids can never hear too much about Internet safety and they can
never hear it too often either, so my students always have access to NetSmartz
any time they want!
Cherie McMurray, Technology Instructor, Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County, Florida
The Web site mixes a consistent level of professional
design with an engaging variety of experiences that do not preach
but deliver a fun and safe online destination for children." Overall
Grade: A+
Joseph Szadkowski, The Washington Times
I have done a review of your site and believe it to be one of
the best on the net. Your site is a great resource for parents to
help teach their families about Internet dangers, and what to do
and not to do while on the web. Not only do your resources deserve
recognition but also the layout of your site. NetSmartz is easy
to navigate. Children, teens, and parents can all easily find an
area suited for them without confusion.
Dannie McClain, BellaOnline
"Protecting our children from Internet predators and scam artists
is a very serious issue. With Internet usage increasing among youth
it is vital for kids to learn the best ways to avoid becoming a victim
of an Internet crime, and who to go to if they are in trouble. NetSmartz
works because not only is the entertainment format appealing to kids
but it's also cost effective and proven. NetSmartz and the National
Center for Missing & Exploited Children have been extremely helpful
to us in the development of an Internet Safety Initiative. In fact,
NetSmartz was the impetus for the development of our own Attorney
General's Kid's Web Page which promotes Internet safety.
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard
Law enforcement will never arrest its way out of this problem,
we must therefore take steps to harden the target. The NetSmartz
program provides a wonderful opportunity for law enforcement and school
officials to collaborate on this important child protection issue
utilizing the many resources associated with this comprehensive approach
to Internet safety.
Brad Russ, Director of Training & Technical Assistance for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program
Our members are excited about the NetSmartz program. They
can't wait to tell their parents what they have learned about Internet
safety. Our parents are happy that Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern
Arizona is committed to providing safe youth development programs,
like NetSmartz, to our members.
Angela Biermann, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Arizona
The Utah Attorney General's Office is aggressively prosecuting
online predators, but it will never be enough. Education is still
the best way to protect children. Utah joined with the NetSmartz Workshop
to make sure every child learns about online dangers. The program
is fun and has proved to be the most effective way to teach Internet
safety in the classroom.
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff
The NetSmartz Workshop has allowed us to educate our members
about the dangers of the Internet in an entertaining way. This
has really helped us to bridge a gap that existed in our programming.
I would recommend this program highly to anyone that deals with children
and has access to the Internet.
Jon Farr, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Topeka (KS)
I reference materials from NetSmartz and the National Center
for Missing & Exploited Children at many of my presentations to
school and community groups. The excellent web site provides information
and materials geared to various age groups and provides an important
community service. Thanks for a great resource and a supportive staff.
Sergeant Frank Kardasz, Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force/Phoenix Arizona Police Department
NetSmartz is an interactive and user-friendly tool to help
us educate our members about Internet safety. The content covers all
the age groups at the Club from the six year olds to the teens. I
have watched all of them use it and they seem to connect with the
material. The teens talk to each other while viewing the site. Their
discussion helps to reinforce the messages from the site. The younger
members retain the information well because they use what they learn
about the characters and what makes them who they are to play the
games on NetSmartz. A local news station interviewed staff and members
about online safety and we showed them how our members use NetSmartz
before getting Internet privileges. Afterwards, non-Club parents called
and visited the Club to find out how they could get the software.
They were thrilled that they only had to go to the web site to access
the content and that the site was open to the community. It is a wonderful
tool to help us keep our kids safe and can be used at the Club, school
and at home.
Nancy Williams, Technology Director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Omaha (NE)
The Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force supports
the NetSmartz Workshop program, which was developed through private
and public partnerships with the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children (NCMEC). The interactive educational program promotes
Internet safety awareness lessons to children of all ages to prevent
on-line victimization by sexual predators. The creative efforts
incorporated in the NetSmartz Workshop will serve in safeguarding
the children in our community by promoting safe and positive on-line
activities. Our thanks go out to all of the parties responsible for
creating this effective educational program that will assist in safeguarding
our children.
Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
NetSmartz has been a great addition to all our Clubs. It is
a very positive way to teach our members about some very important
issues.
Tim Sheehan, Executive Vice President, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (DC)
A major responsibility of every Internet Crimes Against Children
(ICAC) Task Force is to educate families about online dangers. The
NetSmartz Workshop has been the single most valuable tool we've found
in raising public awareness, which is why ICAC Task Forces around
the country have integrated the program into their community presentations.
Ken Hansen, Director, Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
The safety of our youth should be America's number one priority. We place
our confidence in NetSmartz because it is the cutting edge for Internet
safety for youth.
Jim Jenson, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Great Salt Lake (UT)
Kid Quotes
I like NetSmartz. I play it at the Club and
it helps me to learn about Internet safety. I really like the characters
and the games.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Omaha member, age 6
...learning about Internet safety helps to keep us safe from
people on the Internet who want to hurt us.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Omaha member, age 12
...We learn not to give out our name and our
address on the Internet.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Omaha member, age 7
