Year 2020 - 2021
This academic year marks the 81st Anniversary of the 16th Hong Kong Group since its establishment in June 1940. This year, our Group has set up four sections to cater for members across different age groups, namely Grasshopper Ring, Cub Pack, Scout Troop and Venture Scout Unit.
Adapting and Thriving: Online Scouting in the Pandemic Era
This academic year has witnessed the suspension of face-to-face scouting activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting from January 2020, all the face-to-face activities have been suspended. This did not stop us from organizing scout activities for our members. Under this pandemic, all the general meetings and ceremonies were held through online platform. We were proud to have our great leader team to keep organizing online activities without losing enthusiasm. Salute to our leaders!
Endurance and Victory: Our Scouts Lead the Island Scout Trail Walk 2021
Since May 2021, face-to-face scouting activities have been resumed. In May and June 2021, our Group participated in the Island Scout Trail Walk 2021 organized by the Hong Kong Island Region of the Scout Association of Hong Kong. 16 of our scouts (4 teams) enrolled the 25 km event (Competition Category) and 16 of our scouts, venture scouts and leaders participated in the Non-Competition Category. One of our teams won the champion of the 25 km Competition Category.
To acknowledge the effort of scouts who successfully completed a trail of at least 25 km, the Organizer presented “The Longest Accumulated Distance of the Walk” award to 7 of our scouts and 2 of our venture scouts. Also, our Group had accumulated 603.5 km of trail-walking distance, the longest distance in the Region, and thus awarded the “The Longest Accumulated Distance of the Walk (Scout Group)” from the Organizer. The prize presentation was held on 1st August 2021. Congratulations to all!
Group Council
In January 2010, the Group Council was established with the ultimate aim of providing support and guidance for the development of our Group. Comprised of dedicated individuals, the Council members have generously contributed their time and resources to oversee the Group's operations. Their valuable support, both in terms of finance and human resources, has been instrumental in our growth and success. We are immensely grateful for their unwavering generosity and contribution.
Bridging Generations: The Council's Dedication and Support
Council members have devoted a lot of time to oversee the operation of the Group and given generous support in terms of finance and human resources. Members graduated between the 1950s and the 1990s were also involved in the Council affairs. We are much indebted to their generosity and contributions. Moreover, the Council served as a bridge to reconnect the members of different ages via a lot of reunions, as seen from the increasing number of Council members.
Cub Scout Pack
Cub Scout Pack is committed to fostering the holistic development of primary section children, specifically those in grades Primary 3 to 6. Our comprehensive program focuses on nurturing their physical, mental, and spiritual growth. We have 36 members in total this academic year.
Looking Forward: Cub Scouts' Resilient Journey Through the Pandemic
The impact of the pandemic is far-reaching and having an impact on all scout activities in 2020-21. Under the leaders’ guidance, Cub Scout Pack adopts an agile operating model which includes both online meetings and self-study activities every Saturday afternoon. Our Cub Scouts took this unique opportunity in the age of New Normal to learn new skills like Scratch Programming Language and Meteorology, besides learning scouting skills and life skills every meeting.
Despite the unprecedentedly challenging period, one Cub Scout has still obtained the Golden Bauhinia Award, which is the highest award achievable by a Cub Scout.
We are looking forward to meeting again in the coming academic year with due regard to the pandemic development and the government’s latest schemes.
Scout Troop
Activities of the Scout Troop aimed at helping young people aged 11 to 16 (mainly S.1 to S.3 students), providing them with challenging and progressive training programmes for their physical, intellectual, social, spiritual and aesthetic development. Devoted leaders spent much of their leisure time to organize games, training sessions and meetings for our youth members.
A Fresh Start: First Outdoor Activity Since Resuming in October 2020
Fortunately, the face-to-face scout activities have shortly been resumed since October 2020. A series of welcoming activities for our new members were organized. On 14th November 2020, an outing activity was held in the Tai Tam Scout Centre, which aimed to provide a relaxing outdoor environment for our members and to enhance their camping skills. More than 70 scouts participated in the outing, and this marked the 1st outdoor activity in the year of 2020.
Overcoming Challenges: Troop Activities Return in May 2021
Unfortunately, Hong Kong had been suffering from the 4th wave of COVID-19 pandemic starting from December 2020. Then, our Troop activities returned to online platform again. In May 2021, we gathered at the Football Pitch of St. Louis School again and all the face-to-face activities resumed! On 8th May 2021, the annual investiture ceremony was held at St. Louis School. All new members officially joined our family
Nature's Kitchen: Enjoying Backwoods Cooking at Tai Tam Scout Centre
After the resumption of face-to-face scouting activities, our Troop focused more on outdoor activities. On 17th July 2021, a backwoods cooking activity was held in the Tai Tam Scout Centre. Members enjoyed cooking food (e.g., twists, chicken and egg tarts) by using backwoods cooking methods.
Leading the Way: First Wild Camp Since Pandemic Restrictions
From 31st July 2021 to 1st August 2021, our Troop made a breakthrough under the COVID-19 pandemic – organizing a wild camp in the Tai Tam Scout Centre under certain restrictions. We were proud to be the first scout group in Hong Kong to hold an official wild camp since the prohibition of face-to-face scouting activities in late January 2020. Although there were still many restrictions made by the HKSAR government, Scout Association of Hong Kong and the campsite [e.g., abiding by Cap. 599G Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation and adhering to the one-people-one-tent policy], our scouts and leaders enjoyed the camping environment and experience very much.
Developing Excellence: Training Tomorrow's Patrol Leaders
In order to train and select our potential Assistant Patrol Leaders, Patrol Leaders and Senior Patrol Leaders, a tailor-made programme, namely “Leadership Exploration Programme” (LEP) was held on Sundays in the summer of 2021. In this programme, participants had their soft and hard skills trained. For instance, leadership skills, inter-personal communication skills and team spirit were enhanced through the activities. Map reading and pioneering skills were consolidated through a hiking trip and a pioneering day camp. On 29th August 2021, a day camp was held at the Breakthrough Youth Village. Mock life and spiritual development activities were organized. It aimed at delivering a message to the participants that they should be prepared for their future. The list of the Assistant Patrol Leaders, Patrol Leaders and Senior Patrol Leaders was also announced. We believe the participants have learned and grown up a lot after joining this programme.
Adapting to Change: Overcoming Challenges and Embracing New Modes of Scouting
Similar to the 1990s, our troop has faced the problem of having a number of scouts studying abroad or emigrating to other countries with their families. Senior Patrol Leaders and Patrol Leaders had to think of ways to retain the operation of their patrols and deliver the spirit and tradition to the junior scouts.
Most of the public competitions and courses were cancelled this year. Our scouts have lost the chance to widen their horizons and make friends with other scout groups. However, the challenges have encouraged both leaders and scouts to adapt to a new mode of scouting, i.e., to think and adapt fast to the ever-changing challenges. Thank our leaders for their contributions. With the ease of COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong, we do hope that our Troop would have a bright future in the academic year 2021 – 2022.
Venture Scout Unit
Operating under a constitution, our Venture Scout Unit shares similarities with other school associations. Our motto, “Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained” reflects the ethos of our unit. Members are entrusted with the planning and management of their own activities, both internal and external, while receiving guidance and support from school and leaders of the Venture Scout Unit.
Innovating Tradition: Online Inauguration and New Initiatives
On 16th October 2020, an online inauguration ceremony was held on Google Meet to swear in new S.4 and S.5 members. It was followed by the Annual General Meeting to discuss the allocation of posts within the Executive Committee and future events to be held within the academic year.
We have also redesigned the Venture Hoodie and gained great support from our members. Other than that, we have decided to film a cooking tutorial for the Scout Troop due to concerns about their lack of cooking experiences since the start of the pandemic.
Etincelle: A Sparkling Joint Unit Campfire Despite Restrictions
The highlight of this year was the Joint Unit Campfire. On 10th July 2021, “10 × 11 × 16 Joint Unit Campfire” was organized. The joint-unit campfire was co-organized by our Unit, 10th Hong Kong Group Venture Scout Unit (St. Paul’s College) and 11th West Kowloon Company (Queen Elizabeth School) at St. Paul’s College. The theme was “Etincelle”. It was a pity that only a limited number of participants were allowed to join due to the restriction under the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 100 scouts and girl guides took part in our campfire.
Despite the inability to hold outdoor activities this academic year, the Unit will not be discouraged and will try our best to hold more activities in the coming year.
