The Scout Explorer Level Camp Craft Journey

Ready for your Explorer Level Campcraft Journey?

Are you at the point in your Award Scheme achievements when you are thinking about your Explorer Level Campcraft Journey – often referred to as the Blue Cord Hike? Read on and see what its all about.

Here are the Award Scheme Requirements

With four other Scouts complete the following:

  1. plan and go on a hike of at least 24 hours and 15 kilometers
  2. the hike should be in unfamiliar area
  3. pack and carry all appropriate gear and equipment, including food, water, tents etc
  4. a report is to be presented to the Troop Council on completion

The hike must be monitored by an Adult Leader to ensure the safety of the Scouts. All government and Branch rules and regulations must be complied with.

You may choose canoes or cycling for this activity. If you do so, you will need to adjust the distance to be covered accordingly.

The following list will help you decide where you might go for your Journey, but remember that it should be in an unfamiliar area.

  • Great North Walk – various sections, overnight at Crosslands or Brooklyn Dam or Kariong Scout Camp
  • Hornsby To Patonga – train to Wondabyne Station and walk to Patonga and ferry home
  • Brisbane Waters National Park – various walks
  • Marramarra National Park – Hornsby to Galston to Dural to Fiddletown by car and walk to Marramarra Creek and return (via Smugglers Ridge or the road)
  • Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park – McCarrs Creek Road (duck ponds) to West Head and The Basin
  • Blue Mountains National Park – hiking and bike riding in various locations
    • Part of the Six Foot Track – hiking
    • Narrow Neck and Ruined Castle – hiking
    • Narrow Neck and Mount Solitary – hiking
    • Lower Blue Mountains, various tracks hiking and bike riding
    • Blackheath and the Gross Valley, several hikes
  • Royal National Park – Several hikes & bike rides
    • Bike Riding
      • Wattagan Mountains West Of Lake Macquarie
      • Windsor To Hawksbury River across the ferry’s to Upper Colo camping site
      • Hawksbury River Area Roads And Tracks
      • Bucketty To Macdonald River To Wisemans Ferry
      • Bells Line Of Road To Mountain Lagoon To Upper Colo camping site and Lower Colo
      • Upper And Lower Blue Mountains
      • Canberra
      • Bathurst
    • Canoeing
      • Berowra River
      • Kangaroo Valley
      • Colo River (off the Hawksbury River)
      • Hawksbury River
      • Narrabeen Lakes
      • Pittwater
      • Davidson Park, Roseville Bridge, Upper Middle Harbour
      • Nepean River,
      • Myall Lakes (North Of Newcastle)

Here are some great resources:

National Parks and click on “Parks and Reserves” then select the Park you want.

For a list of all NSW Scouting campsites go to Scouts NSW look in Resources & Policies and then Scout Halls and Campsites.

Good luck and enjoy your Explorer Journey!