There is mutiny afoot in the wholesome world of Scouting. Once a byword for innocent, uncontroversial fun, the movement has been defending itself in the past week against allegations of overzealous political correctness.

The row concerned nine Scout leaders who were dismissed from their posts for banning girls from the 19th Someries Scout Group in Luton, despite it becoming mandatory in 2007 for all Scout groups to open their doors to both genders.

One of the ousted leaders, Andy Bates, told reporters that although he had nothing against girl Scouts, his group had chosen to ignore the new rules and remain single-sex. He — and the parents whom he consulted — believe that boys benefit from quality male-bonding time on their own.

So what is the attraction of Scouting for girls? Female Scout membership is soaring — it rose by 11 per cent last year with as many girls as boys joining; there are now 50,000 girl Scouts nationwide.

Simon Carter, a Scout Association spokesman, says: “Scouts isn’t just about boys any more. It’s become huge for young women. There are few organisations where you can do such a wide range of activities, such as hillwalking, canoeing or skateboarding. I think that’s the attraction — the chance to do something different, where it doesn’t matter if you’re a girl or a boy.”

For some, Girlguiding UK — which, incidentally, does not allow boys to join — doesn’t have quite as much to offer today’s adrenalin-seeking 10 to 14-year-old girls. However, Guides would be quick to argue that their institution has modernised too and is now just as much about whitewater rafting as it is about making peppermint creams. “Without a doubt young women are more fearless,” Carter adds. “Boys have a lot of front but when they’re faced with a big challenge they realise it’s actually quite scary and bottle it more than girls.”

Scouting was founded in 1907 by Robert Baden-Powell, an army officer, with “the aim of bringing up the next generation of useful citizens”. The emphasis was on practical activities in the outdoors and it continued as a boys-only, all-adventure club until 1976 when girls were admitted — but only to groups that agreed.

A debate then began about whether Scouting should become fully coeducational. In 1990 leaders decided that new Scout groups should be mixed, although it was not until the centenary year, 2007, that girls were admitted to existing groups.

Now their inclusion seems normal and although girls comprise only 14 per cent of the Scouting population in some troops they outnumber the boys. So what do the boys think about these “interlopers”? At the mention of girl Scouts Craig Clark, from the 7th Hampton Scout Group, in West London, scowls and shrugs his 12-year-old shoulders. “It’s OK sometimes, but mostly they’re annoying,” he says. “They don’t like getting dirty. I’d prefer it if it was all boys.”

No doubt in a couple of years he will change his mind. Sophie Richings, a 19-year-old student from London, met one of her first boyfriends at Scouts.

“We’re all friends and don’t notice gender,” she says. “I think a single-sex organisation like the Guides is anachronistic. Scouts is a better reflection of real life.”

Elly Roberts, 11, wanted to do activities that were typically geared towards boys. This year she went on her first Scout camp, put up a tent, raced over an assault course and cooked hotdogs over a campfire that she had built herself.

“I love Scouts. Brownies and Guides seemed to be more about arts and crafts, but Scouts is great as I do really different things,” she says. “I’ve been in a hot-air balloon, on night hikes and camped.”

According to Scout leaders, both sexes play well together until they reach the age of about 9, when the dividing line between boys and girls becomes more pronounced. Fast-forward to the raging hormones of puberty and the dynamics shift again. “Most Scouts are used to being at school with girls and boys,” Carter says, “but sex is obviously an issue we address and of course we have boundaries. We tell them to behave as they would at school or at home. We’ve never had any trouble.”

Girlguiding UK has 550,000 members and is celebrating its centenary. It believes that young women benefit from a female-only environment. A spokesperson says: “After 100 years we know that our members value the girl-only space that Guiding provides to make friends, have fun and experience adventure.”

Caroline Ledger, a Scout volunteer, thinks that Scouting provides a welcome antidote to a prevalent sparkly, girlie culture that encourages females to be sedentary spectators and males the all-action heroes. She says: “It’s important that young people have a place to relax with friends of the opposite sex, but where there is no pressure for them to be anything but themselves.”

Because Scouts emphasises physical activity and teamwork, it means that young people are judged by their actions, not by their looks or their trainers.“Scouting brings people back to what’s important. You’re judged on entirely separate and more valuable criteria,” Richings says.

And on that note, Dyb, dyb, dyb, which — for the uninitiated — is Scout-speak for “Do your best”.

WANT TO BE IN MY GANG?

Scout Association Activities include walking, climbing and citizenship.scouts.org.uk

Girl Guiding Includes Rainbows, Brownies and Guides who undertake outdoor activities, teamwork challenges and projects to gain badges. girlguiding.org.uk

Woodcraft Folk Pacifist alternative to Scouts, offers drama, arts, camping and singing. woodcraft.org.uk

Combined Cadet Force (CCF) Armed forces-inspired organisation operating in many independent and grammar schools , focused on discipline and developing leadership skills. Contactable through participating schools

Sea Cadets Activities include sailing, rock climbing, engineering, IT, music and cookery. seacadets.ms-sc.org

Forest School Camp (FSC) Egalitarian group based on the ideals of the Woodcraft movement, the Quakers and Native American folklore. Focuses on camping skills, friendship and singing. fsc.org.uk

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