An additional suggestion is to steer clear of serrated blades. Plain edges are generally more versatile and better for someone who is still learning how to sharpen and care for a knife (not to mention much more forgiving during accidents -a serrated blade gives a VERY nasty cut - I can show you the scar).

I myself would lean toward the single-blade locking Benchmade, Kershaw, Gerber, or Buck than worry about having an on-board can opener. Pack a Swing-A-Way can opener in the patrol kitchen box or carry a P-38 can opener when size is an issue. The P-38s are tiney, cost less than a buck, and work better than most those on most folders.

Another knife many boys consider is a Leatherman-type multitool. The problem with some of these is that the act of opening/folding the main blade requires folding activies while the blade is exposed. In inexperienced hands this often results in cuts.

The newer versions of the Leathermans (Charge & Wave) now allow the main blades to open/close without any folding/unfolding of the handles, which makes them much safer. Of course those usually cost more than $40.

About the BSA camp rules regarding fixed blades. Though I too feel that fixed blades can be safer and much more sanitary around food, there is no sense arguing with those that make these rules. Their minds are as fixed as the blades they ban. Scouting forums have discussed this over and over. One of the things we teach the boys is to respect authority, so as a leader I simply grin and stay silent on the issue.

The funny thing is most patrol kitchen boxes have fixed blade kitchen knives - but since they are not in sheaths, nor carried outside the kitchen area, their presence at camps is usually ignored.