>>>First, your son will enjoy himself & learn. Second, he will grow into a well-developed, well-rounded man. You'll be able to help & watch # 1 & 2 happen.<<<<br><br>I have to add that this facet really caught me by surprise. There have ben moments when you can actually see the transformation take place. Amazing.<br><br>Then there are moments that are truly priceless. On my son'f first night at his first summer camp, he camme to my tent around 2:00 a.m., sniffling with tears in eyes, that he wanted to go home. About a half-hour later, after siting on a couple of nearby tree stumps in my skivies, he agreed that it was best to stay. After a week of having a wonderful time, he appeared at my tent Friday night (Sat. a.m.). He said, "Dad. I can't stop crying and I can't figure out why." I calmed him down and he went back to bed. <br><br>Early the next morning, as we made our way to the waterfront together (he only needed his clothed inflation for Swimming merit badge and I agreed to go in the lake with him before breakfast to complete it - it was D**M cold!), he said he figured out wht he was crying. It was becasue he didn't want to leave. <br><br>I have since seen similar transformations for many first time summer camp scouts. One mother came up to me at the meeting following summer camp last year and said, "I don't know what you guys did, but my son came home a different boy. Thank you so much."<br><br>Yesterday, one of our troop's scouts headed off to work on staff for the first time. I warned his folks that they may not recognize him when he comes home! I hope my son decides to work at summer camp next year. I know his mom will be reluctant to let him go for the whole summer. But I know he will come home better prepared for life as an adult.