Where once the Scouts awarded badges for accomplished knot tying, members are now more likely to perfect half pipes to gain their skateboarding badge. A revamp of the century-old movement will also enable scouts to earn badges for healthy eating, street sports and parascending as well as more traditional skills.

The introduction of 40 badges - launched this weekend at the Scouts' winter camp at Gilwell Park in Essex - marks the largest ever overhaul of the movement's activities, according to the Scout Association.

Chief Scout Peter Duncan, a former Blue Peter presenter, said the new badges would draw more British youngsters to to join the Scouts. The self-styled largest peace movement in the world has nearly half a million members in Britain and 28 million worldwide.

"Young people today have a larger choice than ever before of activities to fill their spare time with," he said.

Under the new system, six to eight-year-old Beaver Scouts will be able to get a badge for healthy eating by preparing a fruit salad, two different sandwiches, healthy snacks such as omelettes or homemade meatballs, and recognising some unhealthy foods.

Duncan said: "The health of young people has always been of utmost importance to us, and through many of these badges we can help to further encourage young people on the choices they can make to lead a healthy lifestyle. This includes challenging themselves with exciting activities and adventures, meeting new friends throughout the world, and creating a real difference in their communities."

Some traditional badges have been restyled. To gain the emergency aid badge - formerly first aid - young Beaver Scouts will be taught to recognise dangerous situations and deal with cuts and scrapes, while Explorer Scouts, aged 14-18, will learn how to deal with head injuries and understand conditions such as epilepsy and meningitis.

Nancy Ibrahim, a 16-year-old Explorer Scout from London, said: "I think it's great that the badges have been updated to include activities that are important to today's Scouts.

"We're always hearing that young people aren't healthy enough, and I think it's really important for everyone to learn about what healthy decisions they can make."

She added: "I'm really looking forward to completing my street sports badge.

"The best thing about Scouting is that we get the opportunity to try new adventures, when we might not have been able to do so otherwise."