Scouthike

Scouthike is an annual, state-wide hiking event for up to 1000 Scouts. 

Scouthike is usually held in the Tallarook State Forest, on the middle weekend in May. 

Branch First Aid, 4x4 and Radio teams work together with the Scouthike organising committee to provide services and support for this highly successful event. 

Scouthike has a theme base each year, with every person, Sleep point and activity site being asked to dress-up to the theme each year, so increasing the fun aspect of the weekend.

Scouts take part in the event as part of a Learner Patrol or a Competition Patrol.

On Friday evening Scout Patrols from metropolitan Melbourne are transported by coaches to a leader operated Sleep-point in Tallarook State Forest. The PL’s are provided with a map, a list of grid references for Activity and Sleep Point locations, and a Patrol Passport which includes their instructions. Patrols plot the Activity points and decide which route they want to take throughout the weekend. After breakfast on Saturday morning, Competition Patrols set off hiking between Activities to their designated Saturday Sleep Point. Sunday morning they head off again to finish at a central Finish Point, from where they are collected by the coaches and travel back to their original departure location.

Learner Patrols are also provided for, although they are accompanied by an adult on their hike, walk with a full sized backpack (not a day pack) and return to the same Sleep point on Saturday night. Note: on Saturday the full sized back pack is without their tent and sleeping gear which are still set up at their Sleep Point.

Each Activity is a Patrol-based exercise provided by Leaders, Rovers and Venturers. Those which are not purely fun are based on Scout Skills, usually linked to a requirement from the Explorer Level Award Scheme. Patrols are assessed at each Activity as a team in four aspects: "Leadership", "Planning", "Attitude and Enthusiasm" and "Overall Achievement". The total of their weekend scores determine if they are Gold, Silver, Bronze or Competitor standard. Competitive Patrols earning Gold Standard, are "Co-holders" of the Annual Scouthike Trophy and have the right to proudly display it at Group and other special occasions. Learner patrols all receive a Competition pennant.

There is a set cost per head for all Metro Region Scouts (this is set on a yearly basis). This covers cost of bus transport to and from the hike area, pennants for each Patrol, badges for each person involved, toilets, drinking water, as well as administration costs. 

There is an additional cost for food for the weekend as determined by the individual patrol.