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Scouts recruitment hits a 10-year record high
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Girls are now let in the Scouts
The Scout Movement’s ability to move with the times has contributed to the biggest increase of Kent members in a decade.

Currently there are 14,000 boys and girls signed up throughout the county, with 500 newcomers this year alone.

While last year’s centenary celebrations of Scouting helped publicise the range of activities available to youngsters, officials in Kent say the mixture of technology and tradition has also led to a gradual increase in membership.

Adult development officer Jane Town said: “We still tie knots and sing songs around camp fires but we also offer lots of other, more up-to-date things as well. For example, we now have an IT badge.

“We’ve even run sleep-overs before when we’ve linked video game consoles up to projectors so the children can all play together rather than have them sitting there on their own.

“I don’t think young people will grow tired of video games anytime soon but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to try other things too. I like to think more young people today want to get out and about.

“Our Scouts have lots of things they can do at home but they still absolutely love camping. It’s moved on and we don’t camp like they did hundreds of years ago, but the fun and excitement is still there.”

The Scout Movement began in 1907 when Robert Baden-Powell – a Lieutenant General in the British Army – held the first Scouting encampment at Brownsea Island in Dorset.

His aim from the beginning was to support young people in their “physical, mental and spiritual development”, so that they could play constructive roles in society.

The movement has grown ever since and today there are more than 28 million Scouts around the world, with girls also now allowed to join.

Kent Scouts has five age group sections covering youngsters between the ages of six and 25, and are supported by more than 3,000 volunteers.

Mrs Town said: “We’ve been working hard to promote Scouting and there has been a gradual increase over the years. Last year would have helped boost numbers because it was our centenary and there was an international jamboree that people from all over the world took part in.

“We really push how much variety there is with Scouts because we offer so many different activities for young people to take part in."

For more information about Scouting in Kent, visit www.kentscouts.org.uk.
POSTED: 29/11/2008 08:00:00

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