Grasshopper Scouts
Grasshopper Scouts (Chinese: 小童軍), Grasshopper Section, or simply Grasshopper, is a Scout Section of The Scout Association of Hong Kong in Hong Kong for 5 to 8 year old boys and girls. Established in 1985, it is modeled after Beaver Scouts in the United Kingdom. It is the youngest section in Hong Kong Scouting and the second largest section after the Cub Scout Section.
Grasshopper Scout units are designated as "Rings". When a member reaches the age range of 7½, he can be promoted into Cub Scouts.
A section member wears the World Membership Badge and is a formal member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
History
In a rapidly changing Hong Kong society, the Hong Kong Scouting Association reviewed current Scout programmes, and in 1982 began a reformation programme named Project Rainbow (天虹計劃). The reformation was based on the experience of The Scout Association in the United Kingdom, the closest system to Hong Kong Scouting. Several tennents of the UK programme were adopted by the Hong Kong association, including extending the age of Scouting, adoption of female members, establishment of a section for six- to eight-year-olds (namely Grasshopper Scouts), and many others.
The establishment of the Grasshopper Scout programme came to reality in 1985. Twelve Scout Groups participated in the experimental programme. The adoption of female members began the next year in 1986. The programme proved successful and became the fifth Section in Hong Kong Scouting.
In 1987, the Hong Kong Scouting Association published the first programme guide for the section. A Para-balloon (快樂傘) was selected as the symbol of the Section and a major tool in Grasshopper Scout meetings. The progressive training system, similar to other sections, was established at the same time.
Promise, Law, Yell and Motto
The Promise
- I promise to be a Grasshopper Scout, to love God, to love people and to love my Country.
- In Chinese: 我願參加小童軍，愛神愛人愛國家
Before 2001-01-12, the words Country and 國家 were Hong Kong and 香港 respectively.
The Law
- A Grasshopper Scout does a good turn every day
- In Chinese: 小童軍日行一善
The Yell
- A Grasshopper Scout Goes Forward
- In Chinese: 小童軍向前進
The Motto
- Forward
- In Chinese: 前進
Ceremonies
Grasshopper Scout sections have no formal ceremonies. Every ceremony is simple, serious and short. The most important ceremony is the Induction Ceremony. Other common ceremonies conducted at the meetings include the following; a Welcome Ceremony, a Goodbye Ceremony, Presentation of Progressive Badges, Welcoming of Guests, Special events (such as an Anniversary Ceremony), Departure from the Grasshopper Scout Ring, and Promotion to the Cub Scout Pack. Because children between six and eight years of age cannot concentrate for extended periods of time, Grasshopper Scout ceremonies should not take longer than 5 minutes.
The association suggests that when inducting new members, three to four new members should be inducted together. No member should be inducted individually.
Organisation
Most Grosshopper Rings are organised by primary schools and community centres of different NGOs in Hong Kong. Some Scout Groups also establish independent sections.
A Ring is run by a Grasshopper Scout Leader with the help of Assistant Grasshopper Scout Leaders and Instructors. It is part of a Scout Group that might have other sections like Cub Scout, Scout, Venture Scout and Rover Scout. Generally, each ring meets once a week for an hour. As in all scouting programmes, Grasshopper Scouting is fun and a large part of training is done through games.
Badges
Four Progressive Badges are designated for the section programme to encourage members' active participation. They are square badges with 4 footprints coloured red, brown, blue, and green progressively. The badges are awarded according to the number of hours that members have participated.
Uniform
The official Grasshopper Scouting uniform consists of only a group scarf. However, most rings also design their own T-shirts for sake of uniformity. Badges of different kinds can be attached to the T-shirts.