diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/check-cluster b/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/check-cluster
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..7e0194657
--- /dev/null
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/check-cluster
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
+set -euxo pipefail
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
+export KUBECONFIG=/etc/rancher/k3s/k3s.yaml
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/check-shell b/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/check-shell
index 24bfaa353..09e24c7e3 100755
--- a/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/check-shell
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/check-shell
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 # This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
 set -euxo pipefail
+HOME_DIR=/home/replicant
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
 
 # save the entire session to check user inputs and outputs
 tmux capture-pane -t shell -S -
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/cleanup-cluster b/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/cleanup-cluster
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..7e0194657
--- /dev/null
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/cleanup-cluster
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
+set -euxo pipefail
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
+export KUBECONFIG=/etc/rancher/k3s/k3s.yaml
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/cleanup-shell b/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/cleanup-shell
index a64c34234..52a8d3cff 100755
--- a/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/cleanup-shell
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/cleanup-shell
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 # This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
 set -euxo pipefail
+HOME_DIR=/home/replicant
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
 
 # clear the tmux pane and scrollback to look like a fresh shell
 tmux clear-history -t shell 
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/setup-cluster b/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/setup-cluster
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..7e0194657
--- /dev/null
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/setup-cluster
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
+set -euxo pipefail
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
+export KUBECONFIG=/etc/rancher/k3s/k3s.yaml
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/setup-shell b/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/setup-shell
index dbb6df308..b38967550 100755
--- a/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/setup-shell
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/setup-shell
@@ -2,8 +2,19 @@
 
 # This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
 set -euxo pipefail
-
 HOME_DIR=/home/replicant
+source /etc/profile.d/header.sh
+
+### Assure the tmux session exists
+#
+# In a test scenario Instuqt does not run the user shell for the
+# challenge, which means the tmux session is never established. We
+# need to session for the solve scripts for other challenges to 
+# succeed, so let's create it here.
+#
+if ! tmux has-session -t shell ; then
+  tmux new-session -d -s shell su - replicant
+fi
 
 # Wait for Instruqt bootstrap to be complete
 while [ ! -f /opt/instruqt/bootstrap/host-bootstrap-completed ]
@@ -11,14 +22,3 @@ do
   echo "Waiting for Instruqt to finish booting the VM"
   sleep 1
 done
-
-# Display PARTICIPANT_ID info for Vendor Portal
-cat<<SCRIPT >> ${HOME_DIR}/.bashrc
-show_credentials () {
-  echo Credentials for https://vendor.replicated.com
-  echo Username: $INSTRUQT_PARTICIPANT_ID@replicated-labs.com
-  echo Password: $INSTRUQT_PARTICIPANT_ID
-}
-
-show_credentials
-SCRIPT
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/solve-cluster b/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/solve-cluster
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..7e0194657
--- /dev/null
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/solve-cluster
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
+set -euxo pipefail
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
+export KUBECONFIG=/etc/rancher/k3s/k3s.yaml
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/solve-shell b/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/solve-shell
index f766b6c75..ce6403be0 100755
--- a/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/solve-shell
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/01-getting-to-know-the-template/solve-shell
@@ -2,17 +2,8 @@
 
 # This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
 set -euxo pipefail
+HOME_DIR=/home/replicant
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
 
-### Assure the tmux session exists
-#
-# In a test scenario Instuqt does not run the user shell for the
-# challenge, which means the tmux session is never established. We
-# need to session for the solve scripts for other challenges to 
-# succeed, so let's create it here.
-#
-
-if ! tmux has-session -t shell ; then
-  tmux new-session -d -s shell su - replicant
-fi
-
+# set the variable into the shell
 tmux send-keys -t shell export SPACE 'THIS="the way"' ENTER
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/check-cluster b/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/check-cluster
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..7e0194657
--- /dev/null
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/check-cluster
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
+set -euxo pipefail
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
+export KUBECONFIG=/etc/rancher/k3s/k3s.yaml
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/check-shell b/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/check-shell
index d2c48f794..a1431be4d 100755
--- a/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/check-shell
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/check-shell
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@
 
 # This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
 set -euxo pipefail
+HOME_DIR=/home/replicant
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
 
 # save the entire session to check user inputs and outputs
 tmux capture-pane -t shell -S -
 SESSION=$(tmux save-buffer -)
 
-# check for disconnection
+# check that the variable has been set
 if ! grep -qE 'echo' <(echo ${SESSION}) ; then
   fail-message 'Please make sure you can still access `$THIS`'
   exit 1
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/cleanup-cluster b/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/cleanup-cluster
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..7e0194657
--- /dev/null
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/cleanup-cluster
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
+set -euxo pipefail
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
+export KUBECONFIG=/etc/rancher/k3s/k3s.yaml
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/cleanup-shell b/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/cleanup-shell
index 3fab24155..1ae57e550 100755
--- a/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/cleanup-shell
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/cleanup-shell
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-#
-# This script runs when the platform cleanup the challenge.
-#
-# The platform determines if the script was successful using the exit code of this
-# script. If the exit code is not 0, the script fails. 
-#
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
 
-echo "This is the cleanup script"
+# This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
+set -euxo pipefail
+HOME_DIR=/home/replicant
+#
+# clear the tmux pane and scrollback to look like a fresh shell
+tmux clear-history -t shell 
+tmux send-keys -t shell clear ENTER
 
 exit 0
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/setup-cluster b/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/setup-cluster
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7e0194657
--- /dev/null
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/setup-cluster
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
+set -euxo pipefail
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
+export KUBECONFIG=/etc/rancher/k3s/k3s.yaml
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/setup-shell b/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/setup-shell
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..33b376016
--- /dev/null
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/setup-shell
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
+set -euxo pipefail
+HOME_DIR=/home/replicant
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
+
+### Assure the tmux session exists
+#
+# In a test scenario Instuqt does not run the user shell for the
+# challenge, which means the tmux session is never established. We
+# need to session for the solve scripts for other challenges to 
+# succeed, so let's create it here.
+#
+if ! tmux has-session -t shell ; then
+  tmux new-session -d -s shell su - replicant
+fi
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/solve-cluster b/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/solve-cluster
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..7e0194657
--- /dev/null
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/solve-cluster
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
+set -euxo pipefail
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
+export KUBECONFIG=/etc/rancher/k3s/k3s.yaml
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/solve-shell b/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/solve-shell
index 26100e7e3..a324bdca8 100755
--- a/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/solve-shell
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/02-using-the-template/solve-shell
@@ -2,17 +2,8 @@
 
 # This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
 set -euxo pipefail
+HOME_DIR=/home/replicant
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
 
-### Assure the tmux session exists
-#
-# In a test scenario Instuqt does not run the user shell for the
-# challenge, which means the tmux session is never established. We
-# need to session for the solve scripts for other challenges to 
-# succeed, so let's create it here.
-#
-
-if ! tmux has-session -t shell ; then
-  tmux new-session -d -s shell su - replicant
-fi
-
+# show the variable in the shell
 tmux send-keys -t shell echo SPACE '$THIS' ENTER
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/check-cluster b/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/check-cluster
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7e0194657
--- /dev/null
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/check-cluster
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
+set -euxo pipefail
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
+export KUBECONFIG=/etc/rancher/k3s/k3s.yaml
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/check-shell b/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/check-shell
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..468ac9d00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/check-shell
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
+set -euxo pipefail
+HOME_DIR=/home/replicant
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/cleanup-cluster b/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/cleanup-cluster
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7e0194657
--- /dev/null
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/cleanup-cluster
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
+set -euxo pipefail
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
+export KUBECONFIG=/etc/rancher/k3s/k3s.yaml
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/cleanup-shell b/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/cleanup-shell
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6420bc869
--- /dev/null
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/cleanup-shell
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
+set -euxo pipefail
+HOME_DIR=/home/replicant
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
+
+exit 0
+
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/setup-cluster b/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/setup-cluster
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7e0194657
--- /dev/null
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/setup-cluster
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
+set -euxo pipefail
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
+export KUBECONFIG=/etc/rancher/k3s/k3s.yaml
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/setup-shell b/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/setup-shell
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..33b376016
--- /dev/null
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/setup-shell
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
+set -euxo pipefail
+HOME_DIR=/home/replicant
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
+
+### Assure the tmux session exists
+#
+# In a test scenario Instuqt does not run the user shell for the
+# challenge, which means the tmux session is never established. We
+# need to session for the solve scripts for other challenges to 
+# succeed, so let's create it here.
+#
+if ! tmux has-session -t shell ; then
+  tmux new-session -d -s shell su - replicant
+fi
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/solve-cluster b/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/solve-cluster
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7e0194657
--- /dev/null
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/solve-cluster
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
+set -euxo pipefail
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
+export KUBECONFIG=/etc/rancher/k3s/k3s.yaml
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/solve-shell b/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/solve-shell
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..468ac9d00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/03-tips-and-tricks/solve-shell
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# This set line ensures that all failures will cause the script to error and exit
+set -euxo pipefail
+HOME_DIR=/home/replicant
+source /etc/profile/header.sh
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/track_scripts/setup-cluster b/instruqt/shared-env-template/track_scripts/setup-cluster
index c3bd98798..7be7dfd4e 100644
--- a/instruqt/shared-env-template/track_scripts/setup-cluster
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/track_scripts/setup-cluster
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ set -euxo pipefail
 
 # use our shared libary in setup scripts
 curl -s -o /etc/profile.d/header.sh https://raw.githubusercontent.com/replicatedhq/kots-field-labs/main/libs/header.sh
+source /etc/profile.d/header.sh
 
 # simple SSH client setup so we can SSH to/from the shell
 cat <<EOF >> "$HOME/.ssh/config"
diff --git a/instruqt/shared-env-template/track_scripts/setup-shell b/instruqt/shared-env-template/track_scripts/setup-shell
index 3ccae5113..165e83c5e 100755
--- a/instruqt/shared-env-template/track_scripts/setup-shell
+++ b/instruqt/shared-env-template/track_scripts/setup-shell
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ HOME_DIR=/home/replicant
 
 # use our shared libary in setup scripts
 curl -s -o /etc/profile.d/header.sh https://raw.githubusercontent.com/replicatedhq/kots-field-labs/main/libs/header.sh
+source /etc/profile.d/header.sh
 
 # simple SSH client setup so we can SSH to/from the shell
 cat <<EOF >> "$HOME/.ssh/config"
@@ -20,3 +21,14 @@ ssh-keygen -t rsa -f /etc/dropbear/dropbear_rsa_host_key -N ''
 # change the cluster URI
 yq -i '.clusters[0].cluster.server = "https://cluster:6443"' ${HOME_DIR}/.kube/config
 chown -R replicant ${HOME_DIR}/.kube
+
+# set up some variables that are needed in most labs
+
+# there's only one app created by the automation, so just grab the first in the list
+access_token=$(get_api_token)
+app_slug=$(get_app_slug)
+
+agent variable set USERNAME $(get_username)
+agent variable set PASSWORD $(get_password)
+agent variable set REPLICATED_API_TOKEN ${access_token}
+agent variable set REPLICATED_APP ${app_slug}
diff --git a/libs/header.sh b/libs/header.sh
index bad98bef4..8cecbdcea 100644
--- a/libs/header.sh
+++ b/libs/header.sh
@@ -42,3 +42,9 @@ get_api_token () {
 
   echo ${access_token}
 }
+
+get_app_slug () {
+  application=${1:-"Slackernews"}
+  access_token=$(get_api_token)
+  app_slug=$(curl --header 'Accept: application/json' --header "Authorization: ${access_token}" https://api.replicated.com/vendor/v3/apps | jq -r '| jq -r --arg application ${application} '.apps[] | select( .name == $application ) | .slug')
+}