JOTA-JOTI Content Guidelines for National Scout Organizations

Overview

JOTA-JOTI is the world’s largest digital Scout event taking place online and over the airwaves. The educational event brings together more than 2 million Scouts every year in October for three days of Scouting activities and friendship where participants can learn about communications technology and create meaningful  connections with fellow Scouts from over 174 countries.

JOTA-JOTI is open to Scouts around the world, and engages young people in educational activities that build teamwork, cross-cultural understanding, and skills for the future using the Internet and amateur radio.

Theme

The theme for JOTA-JOTI 2024 is “Scouts for a Greener World” and is centred on the idea of supporting young people to connect to each other and to nature throughout the event while making a commitment to sustainability. The theme underscores the importance of collective action and youth leadership in addressing pressing environmental challenges, and serves as a call to action for Scouts to to champion sustainability and strive towards creating a healthier and more resilient planet for future generations.

The theme "Scouts for a Greener World" aligns closely with Sustainable Development Goals  2 (Zero Hunger), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities),  12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water), 15 (Life on Land), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

During JOTA-JOTI, Scouts will learn how they can contribute to the preservation of biodiversity and fight climate change, while also developing the skills necessary to take action to protect our planet. The event will provide a space through online and offline activities for Scouts to enhance their environmental consciousness, exchange ideas about eco-friendly  and sustainable practices, become empowered to develop green skills, and learn ways they can become advocates for greening communities.

In line with the theme, the objectives of this year’s JOTA-JOTI are to:

  • Promote environmental awareness among Scouts through interactive activities, encouraging them to take action to promote sustainability and protect the planet.
  • Equip Scouts with practical green skills that will empower them to connect with nature, take action towards making  impact, and become advocates for a greener world.
  • Instil a sense of responsibility towards the environment among Scouts, encouraging them to actively adopt daily habits towards a sustainable and healthy lifestyle.
  • Foster a sense of global unity and collaboration among Scouts in the fight against environmental degradation and climate change, encouraging young people to implement projects and actions in their communities to create a more sustainable future.

Guidelines to Submit Programme Content

This year for the first time, National Scout Organizations are invited to create content and activities as part of the programme design and related to the theme “Scouts for a Greener World.”

Through this approach, we aim to create a diverse programme of activities that reflect the richness of Scouting worldwide, and which can be run within local communities and regions. This collaborative effort will both highlight the transformative educational experiences offered by National Scout Organizations, while also fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose among Scouts.

National Scout Organizations that contribute content to this year’s JOTA-JOTI programme will be recognised by displaying your organisation's name on our JOTA-JOTI website related to each activity. By being part of the programme design, National Scout Organizations can be an integral part of the world’s largest digital Scouting event to inspire young people globally.

National Scout Organizations that are interested to submit content and activities for this year’s JOTA-JOTI programme are encourage to consider the following criteria when proposing activities.

Campsite Designation

Activities created by National Scout Organizations should fall into one of the designated areas of the JOTA-JOTI campsite. These include:

Innovation Lab
The Innovation Lab is a space for inspiration and discovery! It is targeted towards young people who are curious about community development, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the powerful role they can play as a young person to shape the future. Inside the Innovation Lab we have activities related to four main areas: environment and sustainability, peace and community engagement, life skills, and health and well-being.
Fun Zone
Activities in the Fun Zone will test young people’s imagination in a fun environment. This area incorporate everything that is about creating new friendships, connections and discovering the world.
Adult Leader’s Corner
The Adult Leader’s Corner is dedicated to equipping Adult Leaders with information and resources to help them keep up with technology, well-being, personal growth, and more.
Campfires
Campfires are a special place for Scouts! Around the campfire, we share inspirational stories and exciting opportunities while we connect with ourselves and others! Campfire activities and sessions are to engage in meaningful conversations and social action, making ourselves, Scouting and our world better for all.
Celebration Arena
The Celebration Arena is a space where Scouts gather to celebrate the work they are doing across the globe! Here we celebrate people in our Movement, some unique milestones, and more.
Faith and Beliefs Zone
This area is dedicated to explore what different faiths, beliefs and practices meaningful to people around the world. While we may come from different backgrounds and beliefs, we can always come together to work towards peace, justice and healing in our world.

Type of Activities

JOTA-JOTI is an educational event designed to enable young people to learn while also having fun too. The type of activities suggested by National Scout Organizations may be done either online or offline, and can include live webinars or sessions. Activities should be developed to be run in under an hour and fall into one of the following categories.

Offline Activities

Offline activities are those that do not involve online engagement which can be done at any time during the event and independently at home by participants. These activities should take between 15 to 60 minutes to complete.

Example
International Scavenger Hunt List - Join this digital journey that unites Scouts, cultures and traditions from every corner of the globe. It's time to dive into the heart of JOTA-JOTI and create unforgettable connections through fun and exciting challenges!

Online Activities

Online activities are those that involve online engagement in real-time and should take between 30 to 60 minutes to complete.

Example
Recyclable Beads - It's time to put sustainability and tolerance together! Let's create recyclable beads with paper and glue, and we'll use them as prayer or gratitude beads.

Virtual or Augmented Reality Activities

Virtual or augmented reality activities are those that integrate virtual or augmented reality into the experience where participants need to use mobile devices to interact with digital overlays in their physical environment. These activities should be limited to 10-15 minutes at a time.

Example
JOTI Geoguessr - “In this exciting digital expedition, you'll become a master of maps as you attempt to identify and locate famous scouting sites from across the globe. Think you know your way around international Scout Centers, Jamboree locations, and iconic Scout landmarks? It's time to prove it!”
Example
Scouts in the Metaforest - The Metaforest invites scouts and all young people to a very special world in Decentraland where they can create an avatar, learn about conservation, plant a tree & more. Once they plant a tree, the can can redeem a code for an exclusive digital Metaforest Explorer badge in the ScoutPass.

Collaborative Activities

Collaborative activities are those that encourage National Scout Organizaitons to collaborate on larger-scale projects that span multiple regions or countries.

Example
Become and Environmental Reporter - In this activity, you will become a reporter who raises issues of biodiversity loss and pollution in your immediate environment. We can't wait to see your experience! This activity is offered by our friends at Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE).

Live Performances and Cultural Exchanges

Live performance and cultural exchanges are activities such as musical numbers, dances, storytelling sessions, cooking tutorials or virtual campfire sessions that celebrate the diverse talents, cultures and traditions of participating National Scout Organizations

Example
SDG Dance Party - Scouts have contributed nearly 3 billion volunteer hours towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)! That's worth celebrating, so let's have an SDG party!! For this party, wear something with the colour of your favourite SDG. Check out sdgs.scout.org to see them all and make your choice! Let's get together for an amazing time!”

Languages

All activities run during JOTA-JOTI should be developed in WOSM’s working languages of English, French, Arabic or Spanish. Below are some tips for write a text that can be easily translated by machine translation:

  • Use simple sentences, with a subject-verb-complement structure. Write several sentences instead of adding more detail into the same sentence
  • Try to write one verb for one sentence. Avoid sentences such as: “Prepare your sleeping bag and mat, build your tent and a fire.” Instead, write: “Prepare your sleeping bag and prepare your sleeping mat. Build your tent and build a fire.”
  • Avoid vague verbs, try to use specific verbs. For example, avoid: “make a meal”, and instead write: “cook a meal”. Avoid “do sport” and write “practice sport” instead.
  • Avoid abbreviations and acronyms
  • Use appropriate connectors at the beginning of each sentence: “because”, “however”, “since”, “so”, “but”, “therefore”, “when”, “before”, “consequently”, “besides”, “after”, “also”, “in addition”, “finally”, “nonetheless”.
  • Do not worry too much about “difficult” words. Do not try to replace them by another word that is less specific, or to replace them by a longer clause. This could result in a more complex structure that will be more difficult for a machine to translate, or more difficult for the brain to decipher.

Age Groups

Activities submitted by National Scout Organizations should be aimed at engaging one or more of the age group categories:

  • Young people between 7 and 10 years old
  • Young people between 11 and 13 years old
  • Young people between 14 and 17 years old
  • Adult in Scouting (18 years of age and older)

Submission Details

The deadline to submit activities for the 2024 JOTA-JOTI programme is Sunday, 21 July. Activities can be submitted to the programme team using the online form available through this link.

A template outlining the details of the activity must be submitted as an attachment with the online form. All activities must be submitted by the deadline for consideration.

Download Activity Submission Template

The following considerations must be met for an activity to be included in this year’s JOTA-JOTI programme and uploaded to the JOTA-JOTI website:

  • The activity is unique, dynamic and innovative in nature
  • The activity follows the guidelines in the document.
  • The activity has a clear method for implementation and delivery outlined in the template submitted with the form.
  • The activity meets the guidelines for Safe From Harm.
  • The activity does not infringe on the personal space of participants (e.g asking for their contact information or address)

For more support or additional information about submitting content and activities for this year’s JOTA-JOTI programme, please contact Ivy Murugi, Co-Lead of the JOTA-JOTI Programme Team by email.