Well not only boy scouts need that education... I think many adults need that too. My girlfriend (Barbie goes hiking) who is a city girl (still trying to figure out why I love her) got lost in the woods when she was looking at some burned out house and I just walked few yards away to sit on the edge of a lake. She did a good thing and sat down in one spot so I can find her, yelling out every few minutes. Well my dog found her since she was carrying all the treats but point being... Video games, TV shows are replacing typical play outside... Kids are computer smart, running cicles around old timers when it comes to technology but unfortunately life smarts and common sense is way down. Local summer camps at Harrington State Park are on the verge of closing since nobody wants to go. I'm not predicting any doom or anything like that but it is a pity to waste such a beautiful resources that our country has. Somewhere down the line it is easier to get rid of something you don't know about. Drilling in Alaska? Sure what do I care never been in the woods so whatever. Cut out all the trees? Sure I hate bugs anyay. Polute water? Why the heck not, swamps only breed mosquitos.
Now next chapter in my life: take my girl camping.
I wonder if Tom Brown would ever share a date on age of his students. It used to be that in my teens right of passage was to explore as much woods as we could, swim in forbiden places, bike until my legs fall off and than bike home, I carried a SAK ripoff in my pocket and some matches and when I was done with fun I had school work and house work. Now you measure by the fancy clothes, newest video games and how fast you can beat them.