童軍活動(英語:Scouting,簡稱童軍,也稱童軍運動,我國臺灣和港澳舊稱童子軍),是一個國際性的、按照特定方法進行的青少年社會性活動。童軍活動的目的,是向青少年提供他們在生理、心理和精神上的支持,培養出健全的公民,最終目的是希望將來這些青少年可以回饋社會並對社會有所貢獻。
童軍運動開始於1907年,那時英國陸軍的中將羅伯特·貝登堡,在英國的白浪島舉辦第一次的童軍露營。貝登堡以他早期的軍事著作為基礎,在他的著作《童軍警探》(倫敦,1908年)寫下了童軍運動的原則,並受到叢林印地安人創辦人歐尼斯特·湯普森·西頓、基督少年軍創辦人威廉·亞歷山大·史密斯的影響和出版家西裡爾·亞瑟·培生的支持。在20世紀的前半期,這個運動發展成包括3個童軍年齡層(幼童軍、童軍和羅浮童軍)和3個女童軍年齡層(幼女童軍、女童軍和蘭姐女童軍)。
童軍運動採用童軍運動方法,此方法強調以實際的戶外活動作為非正式的教育訓練方式,內容包括露營、森林知識、水上活動、徒步旅行、野外旅行和運動等。另外一個可明顯識別此活動的特色是童軍制服,主要是為了消彌國家及社會地位之間的差異性,和達到人與人之間相互平等的狀態,常見的裝備有領巾、軍帽和可識別的主要服裝。而童軍運動中獨特的制服徽章包括了以百合花飾和三葉草圖案為主的組織徽章,還有童軍布章等榮譽象徵。
2007年,童軍和女童軍共有超過3,800萬成員,涵蓋216個國家和地區。統整這些運動的組織為世界童軍運動組織(成員包括各國童軍組織和男女童軍組織)和世界女童軍總會(成員包括各國女童軍組織和男女童軍組織)。
2007年也是童軍運動創立以來的100周年,世界各地童軍組織為了慶祝這一年而規劃許多活動。
2000年4月,在第56屆聯合國人權委員會上通過了《兒童權利公約》的兩個議定書:《關於販賣兒童、兒童賣淫和兒童色情的兒童權利公約任擇議定書》和《關於兒童捲入武裝衝突問題的聯合國兒童權利公約任擇議定書》(簡稱《禁止使用童軍議定書》),就保護戰爭衝突中的兒童權利,以及打擊販賣兒童和強迫兒童賣淫等問題作了具體規定。同年5月25日,聯合國大會通過了這兩個議定書。關於兒童捲入武裝衝突問題的議定書的主要內容包括:為防止武裝衝突對兒童的傷害,各國應確保未滿18歲的人不被強制徵募加入其武裝部隊,並確保其不直接參加敵對行動。至2001年3月,已有78個國家籤署了議定書。2002年2月12日,議定書生效。因此,中國沒有童子軍這個概念。
英文參考:
Scoutingor the Scout Movement is a movement that aims to support young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society, with a strong focus on the outdoors and survival skills. During the first half of the twentieth century, the movement grew to encompass three major age groups for boys (Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Rover Scout) and, in 1910, a new organization, Girl Guides, was created for girls (Brownie Guide, Girl Guide and Girl Scout, Ranger Guide). It is one of several worldwide youth organizations.
In 1906 and 1907 Robert Baden-Powell, a lieutenant general in the British Army, wrote a book for boys about reconnaissance and scouting. Baden-Powell wrote Scouting for Boys (London, 1908), based on his earlier books about military scouting, with influence and support of Frederick Russell Burnham (Chief of Scouts in British Africa), Ernest Thompson Seton of the Woodcraft Indians, William Alexander Smith of the Boys' Brigade, and his publisher Pearson. In the summer of 1907 Baden-Powell held a camp on Brownsea Island in England to test ideas for his book. This camp and the publication of Scouting for Boys are generally regarded as the start of the Scout movement.
Leaders welcome a boy into Scouting, March 2010, Mexico City, Mexico
The movement employs the Scout method, a programme of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpacking, and sports. Another widely recognized movement characteristic is the Scout uniform, by intent hiding all differences of social standing in a country and making for equality, with neckerchief and campaign hat or comparable headwear. Distinctive uniform insignia include the fleur-de-lis and the trefoil, as well as badges and other patches.
The two largest umbrella organizations are the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), for boys-only and co-educational organizations, and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), primarily for girls-only organizations but also accepting co-educational organizations. The year 2007 marked the centenary of Scouting worldwide, and member organizations planned events to celebrate the occasion.