Six stops, six vibes, six Sleep Points at ScoutHike 2026

Words by Event Coordinator Mitchell Rath

ScoutHike 2026 – Generational Adventure landed in Belanglo State Forest last weekend – held annually on the first weekend of May – bringing together one of the biggest youth Scouting gatherings in NSW.

Proudly run by Sydney North Region, this iconic event welcomed Scouts, Leaders, Rover Scouts and Venturer Scouts from across the state for a challenge that truly spans generations, the kind of weekend where Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z and Gen Alpha could finally agree on something: adventure hits different when it’s offline. 

With about 800 Scouts and 570 supporters (170 of which were Venturer Scouts and 50 Rover Scouts!) descending on the forest from 1-3 May, the hike became a real‑life "multi‑generational group chat", except this one actually worked, nobody muted the conversation, and everyone got their steps up.

Scouts set out in Patrols, powering their way through the forest and taking on more than 30 activity bases, each one designed to level up their skills, boost their confidence, and unlock a new achievement in their ScoutHike journey, no downloads required!

This year’s bases were a nostalgic, pop‑culture‑rich celebration of "generations":

• Russell Coight bringing peak Aussie chaos
• Pac‑Man IRL proving that retro gaming still slaps
• VHS Rewind reminding everyone that "buffering" used to be physical
• Scouts Day Off giving Ferris Bueller energy
• Plus rock climbing, K‑Pop demon hunting, and apocalyptic fashion shows that were so iconic they could’ve broken the internet!

It was the kind of lineup that would make every generation say, "Back in my day…" and still be right.

The atmosphere all weekend was electric. Scouts were laughing, solving problems on the fly, navigating like pros, and building real‑world skills that won’t just disappear when they log off from the hike. From the first activity base to the final finish point, the forest buzzed with teamwork, resilience and joy – the ultimate IRL antidote to screen time. 

Sleep Points: Six Stops, Six Vibes – the Sleep Points were dotted throughout Belanglo, each with its own personality and leadership team. Some leaned into the generational theme with costumes, music and creative setups; others kept things chill, cosy and efficient, a perfect mix of “old school cool” and “new school energy”. ScoutHike continues to be the biggest, lightweight hiking event in NSW, and the largest annual youth event run by Sydney North Region, proving once again that Generation Outdoors is alive, thriving, and absolutely smashing it.

Every night, Scouts arrived to a fresh vibe, a warm welcome, and a safe place to recharge. Think of it as switching between streaming platforms… except the only thing buffering was the fog rolling through the trees. While Scouts trekked, climbed, solved puzzles and collected points, hundreds of Leaders, Rover Scouts, Venturer Scouts and adult helpers worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Months of planning went into designing bases, preparing equipment, coordinating logistics, and ensuring every Scout had a safe and unforgettable experience. It was a true multi‑generational collab – the kind of teamwork that would make any family WhatsApp thread jealous.

ScoutHike is also a win for families, offering one of the most seamless drop‑off experiences in the Scouting calendar. Parents simply bring their Scout to a local bus departure point, wave them off, and the event team takes care of the rest, transporting every Patrol safely to and from a State Forest. It’s low‑stress, low‑logistics, and high‑reward, the kind of "set‑and‑forget" weekend even the busiest households can appreciate. While the Scouts are out racking up kilometres and XP, parents get a rare moment of calm knowing the adventure is fully handled by the Region’s experienced team. 

The Results

• 1st: Guess we're camping here, 1st Tambourine Bay Scout Group
• 2nd: Seal Team 7, 1st Turramurra Scout Group
• 3rd: The Woggle Wanderers, Cammeray Scout Group

These Patrols earned top honours through teamwork, determination, and consistently strong performance across the weekend’s bases, proving that no matter your generation, effort always trends.

By Sunday afternoon, as Scouts boarded buses and Leaders packed down bases, Belanglo returned to its quiet, misty calm. Scouts left tired but smiling, packs a little lighter, friendships a little stronger, and memories that will last long after the final badge is sewn on.

ScoutHike 2026 wasn’t just a hike. It was a celebration of generations past, present and future coming together to learn, grow and adventure.

Already thinking about the next adventure? ScoutHike 2027 will be held from 30 April to 2 May 2027. Early bird registrations open 1 February 2027.