It was once the world of woggles, tying knots and sleeping under fusty canvas, but the Scout movement is experiencing its biggest revival in more than 20 years as it sets itself out as the international movement for modern young achievers.

The introduction of new badges from snowboarding to street sports, healthy eating and public relations has seen the Scouts evolve from a small boys-only club, which had its early roots in military practice, to a global gathering of more than 318 million members in 316 countries.

In Great Britain, The Scout Association said 15,000 young people had joined up in the past 12 months - a 3.7% increase in youth membership on the year before and a 1.7% increase in adult membership.

The rise brings the total number of children and young people who are Scouts in the UK to more than 465,000, with 100,000 adult volunteers.

The success has come on the back of the movement's centenary last year, culminating in a jamboree in Essex which drew in 40,000 Scouts from across the world.

While traditional activities such as first aid and map reading remain, the movement has sought to respond to the ever-changing interests of young people through the generations with modernised training and activity programmes.

Chief Scout and former Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan said: "Historically, Scouting has helped to develop strong community ties, while providing an outlet for young people who need support outside their family and school environments.

"New volunteers have discovered that, as well as having an adventurous time themselves, they can contribute on their own terms to the bigger picture of social cohesion."

As membership has grown, so has the number of volunteers involved with individual groups. In Glasgow alone, adult male and female volunteer involvement grew by 4.8% between 2007 and 2008.

But still more leaders are required to support the new flourishing membership as figures show a gap of nearly 6400 volunteers, with 32,000 young people on waiting lists to join.

"Our adult volunteers are what make Scouting such a success and without them there would be no Scout groups," Mr Duncan said.

"It's vital that we keep recruiting volunteers to the movement. It makes us stronger, brings in fresh new ideas, and gives the upcoming generations of young people somewhere else to go and something else to do, a little out of the ordinary."

Graham Reid, a 20-year-old assistant Scout leader from Paisley, said there was a lot to gain from time with the movement. He said: "I think it's a shame that there are so many young people who are missing out on all the activities Scouting offers.

"Volunteering with the Scouts is one of the best things I have ever decided to do."

The Scouts were set up by Robert Baden-Powell following military service in South Africa during the Second World War. During a siege, he witnessed how the Boer Army had the support of cadet corps who carried messages for soldiers and helped in the defence of the town.

Each cadet received a badge illustrated with a combined compass point and spearhead similar to the fleur-de-lis that the Scouts later adopted as its international symbol.

The first meeting of the Scouts saw 21 boys gather in Poole Harbour in Dorset in 1907. The Girl Guides was set up in 1910 by Baden Powell and his sister, Agnes.

Today, the biggest growth across the country is in the 14 to 18-year-old age range in the Explorer Scouts, which has had a 6.5% increase in members. It offers snowboarding and street sports such as skateboarding and BMX biking.

Two of the largest groups were sponsored by local Muslim communities, the figures revealed, and there are now 25 Muslim community-sponsored Scout groups in the UK.

The 8th Blackford in Edinburgh experienced the largest growth in Scotland, with 72 additional members. Total youth and adult membership has risen by 4.3% in the city, with nearly 5000 young people belonging to a Beaver, Cub, Scouts or Explorer group.

There are now almost 30,000 Scouts of all ages across Scotland, led by 6200 adults.