Dragon Skin is the premier event in the NSW Venturer Scout calendar. At its core, it is a hiking and initiative competition involving up to one thousand participants from across Australia. Dragon Skin is open to Venturer Scouts, Ranger Guides, and even school groups working towards their Duke of Edinburgh award. Held annually over the four-day Easter weekend, Dragon Skin is hosted in a different NSW State Forest each year.
Working in teams of at least four, the aim of the game is to navigate your way around the forest, completing as many activity bases as you can to earn as many points as possible. Each activity will test you in different ways, with each base themed around first aid, problem-solving, camp craft, construction, navigation, or sensory deprivation, and will generally take around 20 minutes to complete. Teams are scored on activity completion, enthusiasm, planning, and most importantly – teamwork!
It’s during the night that Dragon Skin becomes different from any other camp you’ve been to. Each night, teams camp at one of four Venturer Overnight Campsites (VOC) run by Leaders and Rovers. At the VOC you’ll find toilets (they may even flush!), running water, cooking areas, first aid, hospitality areas usually with hot water along with a stack of entertainment options. Think of it as a mini-festival set up with outdoor movie theatres, music tents, inflatable games – really everything you need for a great fun night. Most importantly, there’s also somewhere comfortable for you to put your tent on! On top of all that, you’ll even get a personalised wake-up call in the morning.
Each night at the VOC is where you get the chance to meet Venturer Scouts, Rover Scouts & Leaders from across Australia.
After three days of competition, the team with the most points will be crowned the Dragon Skin champion where they are awarded the Dragon Skin trophy. This perpetual trophy is highly coveted and can be proudly displayed in your unit's hall or meeting space for a short period (conditions apply).
Uniquely, there is no set path you must follow during Dragon Skin and each team will set their own targets of how many activities to complete and which VOCs to stay at each night. Each team must be fully self-sufficient, carrying all of their camping gear and food for the four days.
Showcase
Are you ready for The Best of The Best at Dragon Skin 2025
