Grasshopper Scouts
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Grasshopper Scouts (小童軍), Grasshopper Section, or simply Grasshoppper, is a Scout Section of The Scout Association of Hong Kong in Hong Kong for 6 to 8 year old boys and girls. Established in 1985, it is modeled after Beaver Scouts in United Kingdom. It is the youngest section in Hong Kong Scouting and the second largest section after Cub Scout Section.
The unit of Grasshopper Scout is known as "Ring". When a member reaches the age range of 7 1/2, he could promote to Cub Scout.
Section member wears World Membership Badge and is a formal member of WOSM.
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[edit] History
As rapid changing the society of Hong Kong, the association reviewed Scout programmes in 1982 and began the reformation programme named Project Rainbow (天虹計劃) afterward. The reformation was based on the experience of The Scout Association in United Kingdom, the closest system to Hong Kong Scouting. A series of experience has been conducted in the association, including extending the age of Scouting, adoption of female members, establishment of section for 6 to 8 (namely Grasshopper Scout) and many others.
The establishment of the Grasshopper Scout has come to reality in 1985. Twelve Scout Group participated in the experimental programme. The adoption of female members began next year in 1986. Finally the programme was proved successful and became the fifth Section in Hong Kong Scouting.
In 1987, the association published the first programme guide for the section. Para-balloon (快樂傘) was selected the symbol of the Section and a major tool in Scout meeting. The progressive training system like other sections are established at the same time.
[edit] Promise, Law, Yell and Motto
[edit] 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.
[edit] The Law
- A Grasshopper Scout does a good turn every day
- In Chinese: 小童軍日行一善
[edit] The Yell
- A Grasshopper Scout Go Forward
- In Chinese: 小童軍向前進
[edit] The Motto
- Forward
- In Chinese: 前進
[edit] Ceremony
No formal ceremony is in the Section. Every ceremony is simple, serious and short. The most important ceremony is Investiture Ceremony. Other Meeting Ceremony includes Welcome Ceremony, Goodbye Ceremony, Presentation of Progressive Badge, Welcome the guest, Special events (such as Anniversary Ceremony), Leave the Grasshopper Scout Ring, and Going-up to the Cub Scout Pack. As the children of that ages cannot concentrate long, all ceremonies take no longer than 5 minutes.
The association suggested that in Investiture, 3 to 4 member invest together at one time. No member invested singly.
[edit] Organisation
Most Grosshopper Rings are organised by primary schools and community centres of different NGOs in Hong Kong. Some Scout Groups also establish the Section their own.
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. Each Ring meets once a week for an hour. Like other Section, Scouting is fun and large part of training is through games.
[edit] Badge
Four Progressive Badges are designed for the section programme to encourage members' active participation. They are square badges with 4 foot prints coloured by red, brown, blue and green progressively. The badges are awarded according to the hours they have participated.
[edit] Uniform
There is no uniform for this section except wearing group scarf. Most Rings designed their own T-shirts for sack of uniformity and badges of different kinds can be attached on the T-shirts.
