Operation Covert-19 Scout at home challenge
Operation Covert-19 (a play on words) is a Scouting from home challenge themed around the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Scouting at home. About 80% of the tasks are directly linked to advancement requirements, allowing Scouts so get badges while stuck at home.
The first edition was launched in early 2020 during South Africa's first lockdown. So far, the Operation Covert-19 challenge has been used by over 40 troops across 7 different countries (including UK, UAE, Germany, Kuwait, Australia and Papau New Guinea).
Many thanks to Jóhann Harzon and the ATSs of 1st Stellenbosch for this exciting programme.
Part 1 (2020)
How to run Operation Covert-19
Below are the steps to amend the current document to suit your troop:
- Add your contact details on Page 2 and 26 of file Operation Covert-19 (Challenges).docx.
- Distribute the document to your scouts.
It's that simple!
Document to send to scouts
- Operation Covert-19 (Challenges).docx (this is the document to go to the Scouts).
Documents for you, the TS, only
(Note, if you are a Scout who wants to try out the challenge, do not download the below files. This will be a spoiler for you.) The Covert-19 challenge - Troop Scouter documents.zip file contains:
- Readme First - How to run Operation Covert-19.docx
- Operation Covert-19 Scoring Matrix.xlsx (for your convenience to keep scores)
- Operation Covert-19 Advancement Sheet.docx (links tasks to the Scout Advancement Programme)
Contact Jóhann Harzon or Ryan for the password.
You can edit the documents to suit your own requirements. If you have any related questions on how to go about executing this challenge, then feel free to email Jóhann Harzon.
Part 2 (2021)
2021's edition sees a massive focus on the new scoutcraft and sustainable development badges introduced into the scout programme at the end of 2020. Thanks to the 6th Rondebosch Rover Crew for assisting Jóhann with edition 2.0.
Below are the steps to amend the current document to suit your troop:
- Add your contact details on Page 3.
- Distribute the document to your Scouts.
It's that simple!
The narrative follows on from the first one and will make little sense if the scouts had not participated in the first Operation Covert-19. If you are interested in running this programme but have not run the first one, it is strongly encouraged to run the first one in your troop as either a personal or inter-patrol competition over the course of 6 weeks (the average time troops gave their scouts).
Documents to Receive:
- A brief how-to document
- OP CVT-19 2.0 The Resurgence (this is a word doc that you will need to add your contact details to)
- OP CVT-19 2.0 The Resurgence Scoring Matrix (for your convenience to keep scores)
All of the above packed in a single password protected zip file. Contact Jóhann Harzon or Ryan for the password.
We are looking to generate a universal certificate for scouts / patrols to be awarded for achieving either top 3 individuals in their respective troop or as the top patrol in a troop (depends how each troop decides to go about running the programme). If anyone has the resources to develop such a certificate – please get in contact with Jóhann Harzon.