Scouting For Girls: More Girls Joining Scouts Than Boys

Scouting For Girls: More Girls Joining Scouts Than Boys

PA

Scouting for girls is on the up as more are joining the Scout movement than boys for the first time in its history.

Official figures from the Scout Association for the 12 months to February 2011 show that 4,330 girls joined up, compared to 3,796 boys.

Overall, girls' membership of the movement has risen by 6.9 rise since 2005.

Countrywide, there are now 507,867 Scouts, a 14% increase from 444,059 in 2005. Girls make up 66,576 of these numbers, with female joiners outnumbering boys by more than two to one in some parts of the country.

Demand is so high there is now a shortage of troop leaders and a waiting list of 33,500 youngsters to join some Scout packs.

A spokesperson said the figures showed that young people were rebelling against a 'cotton wool' society: 'People are becoming more risk averse. We are offering adventure. We encourage them to light fires, use axes and climb mountains.'

Girls have been allowed to join the Scout Association since 1976, and it became compulsory to let girls in all troops from 2007.

Are your children keen Scouts? Are you surprised by the Movement's enduring popularity?

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