I am not going to comment on the boy, since he appears to have been someone with abnormally limited capabilities. Similarly, his family may been doing their utmost.

The buddy rule is normally in force at most scout activities. A rigorous application of it might have prevented the boy from getting lost. Also, if the boy did indeed have unusually reduced capabilities, he really would have been helped by close supervision.

An 11 yo boy might have easily had anywhere from 0 to 1 1/2 yrs as a Boy Scout. A brand new scout is not reasonably expected to be knowledgable about the outdoors. Also children mature at different rates.

I think the boy and his parents need to be cut some slack. His knowledge, skills, abilities, and equipment are certainly not what we would want, but fortunately he survived and in good shape.

Incidentally, in the absence of a lot more detailed facts, I don't think we should regard this case as reflecting badly on Scouting.

John