I started serious camping with my son when he was 10 years old as a Webelos Scout. He is now a Life Scout and should earn his Eagle in the next 3 months. He's very skilled in the woods and I would take him backpacking anywhere now. He's done a 70 mile hike at Philmont and done 100+ canoe trip in the BWCA. His remaining goal is to do tall ship sailing in the Caribbean.

Two weekends ago we did a 23 mile hike in a day (it was a killer).

He's 16 years old now, taller than me and put on 19 pounds since his last check up 6 months ago.

If he didn't have the outdoors, he'd go insane!
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If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you can't. Either way, you're right.