The Basics

• • The Quest is a premier Scouting event, established in 1988. It continues to go from strength to strength

  • The Quest is the ultimate incident hike: a unique combination of navigation, physical and mental challenges, and teamwork

  • Shadowed Teams navigate a cross-country course (much of it in the dark) to find Bases

  • At each Base, Teams must complete a task and score points before being given the coordinates of the next Base

  • Upon completion, there is a final task back at the Finish HQ using the clues collected on the course.

  • Points are awarded for all activities. The objective of The Quest is to score the most points

  • Each year, The Quest has a topical theme that inspires the activities at each Bases

• • The Quest is open to Scouts, Guide and young Explorers who compete in Teams of between 4 and 6

  • All Teams are shadowed by adult helpers

  • There are a maximum of 64 Teams (about 350 scouts).

  • Teams are checked for kit at the Start HQ, then transported to the course where they start about 15.30

  • The course closes at 00.00 midnight when Teams are then transported back to the Finish HQ for their final task.

BE PREPARED!

• • The Quest is a fun and rewarding event, but it is a genuine challenge for the young people taking part.

  • The total walking distance walked is about 16km (4 1/2 hours), most of it is in the dark, and it can take place in just about any kind of weather

  • By the time Teams get back to HQ after walking it will normally be well after midnight after a long and tiring day... the ultimate finish time may be as late as 1am in the morning

  • The Bases officially provide no food or drink – all provisions must be carried by Teams.

  • Soup and a snack will be provided at the Finish HQ

IT’S A CHALLENGE! (For the Older People, too)

• • It’s a big event so it relies on many volunteers. All help is appreciated but The Quest especially needs support in the following areas:

BASE MANAGERS

• • The Bases are the core of the event and running one of these involves arranging the set-up, the equipment, running and staffing and ensuring the Base can manage the capacity of Teams.

  • It’s great fun and often times the Bases have fires, lights, music, food…

  • Bases Managers are fully supported by the Base Manager Controller – you are not alone.

BASE HELPERS

• • Good-humoured helpers are needed to support and assist the Base Managers and each Team entered is asked to provide at least one Base Helper.

  • Note: Troops entering more than one walking Team are requested to volunteer to run a Base!

SHADOWS

• • Each Team entered has to provide a Shadow.

  • For 2023 Shadows WILL walk with their own Team - we will not swap shadows between teams (which was a previous arrangement).

  • The role of the Shadow is primarily about safety – not assistance - though there may be times when they will need to recover their Team’s position.

  • Map reading skills are therefore essential, and the ability to motivate tired youngsters in the cold and wet.

  • Shadows are fully supported by the Shadow Controller and will need to complete a pre-walk held on the weekends before the event.

TRANSPORT

• • Each troop must also provide enough seats for their Team members to be transported to the course - named drivers are usually the Shadows

  • If everyone provides adequate numbers of seats for their own Team members, we can normally get everyone to the start on time!

  • Minibuses are very welcome

Thanks in advance.