The Region Team is extremely excited to announce that ScoutHike 2023 is happening, to be held from 5th to 7th May 2023
ScoutHike is celebrating 29 years in 2023 and is Sydney North Region’s premier annual Scout section event. If you are interested in an exciting weekend of lightweight hiking around a NSW State Forest – then this is the event you must register for! We are super-excited to run this fantastic event and can’t wait to have the forest full of Scouts and leaders eager for a challenging adventure! Dust off those packs and hiking boots and start thinking about your teams. The theme for the event is “Entertainment Central”. Scouts will have the opportunity to spend the weekend completing 29 different activity bases spread across the forest.
Make sure to click attending on the ScoutHike Facebook Event and keep your eye out for updates!
Key Dates for ScoutHike 2023:
- 1st February – registrations open – Early Bird Discount available
- 4th February – On-site Activity Leaders meeting
- March/April – Activity Leaders meeting with Sleep Point Leader
- 1st March – Early Bird Registration Discount & Bonus close
- 29th March – Activity Descriptions deadline
- 9th April – Last day for Scouts to register and SUBMIT their application
- 9th April – Last day for Leaders, Venturers, Rovers, and other helpers to register
- 10th April – Bus Payment for Venturers & Leaders requesting transport. There is no charge for Bus Captains
- 16th April – Last day for Patrol Leaders to make final adjustments to their Patrol
- 20th April – Last day for all Scouts to pay
- 1st May – Bus Captains meeting
- 5th-7th May – ScoutHike
Contact us:
If you have any questions or inquiries about the event please contact Mitchell Rath the event co-ordinator at scouthike.coordinator.snr@nsw.scouts.com.au
If you would like to contact the ScoutHike Admin Team please contact them at scouthike.snr@nsw.scouts.com.au
You can also contact the Sydney North Region office.
Here’s how it works
On Friday evening Scouts are bused and checked into one of six Sleep Points. They make camp for the night, complete their plans for their hiking for the next two days, catch up with friends, and finally grab some sleep ready for the first day.
After cooking their own breakfast and breaking camp, each Patrol checks out of the Sleep Point and heads off to their first Activity Base for the day along the way to where they will sleep that night. Points are awarded for arriving at Activity Bases, and more points are awarded depending on how well the Patrol works together and achieves the objectives of each Base.
Patrols can leave their Sleep Point any time from 7.30am on the Saturday, the 29 Bases open at 8.00am, and visit as many Activity Bases as they can visit and fit in during the day. Each activity is designed to take about 20-25 minutes. Patrols need to arrive at the Saturday Sleep Point by 5.00pm so they can check in and make camp, prepare dinner, and review the day’s progress – all before it gets dark. The evening is free to either get some well-earned sleep or make and meet up with more friends.
Sunday check-out is also from 7.30am and bases open at 8.00am. There are plenty more activities to do as Patrols make their way to the Finish Point to arrive there by the Finish Time. The further away Bases start to close from 11.00am, and all Bases are closed by 1.00pm. After the scores are calculated, the top 12 Patrols are announced and awards presented, the top Patrol also gets their Winner’s Trophy all in time for the victorious bus ride home.
Gold Awards are given to the top 12 patrols, Silver Awards to the next 24 patrols, and Bronze Awards are awarded to every other patrol. All patrols are winners at ScoutHike!