At 16, My Son Traveled to Norway—and Changed How I Think About Raising Kids in America

A birthday near the jamboree

The parent hoped to surprise their son on his 16th birthday at camp, but expected security would prevent a visit. The event was Norway’s national scouting jamboree, which drew 10,000 people and visiting Scouts from several countries.

Young Scouts move independently

In Gjøvik, a town near the jamboree, the parent saw young people wearing jamboree kerchiefs at the bus stop. Only the younger children appeared to be accompanied by adults.

The American Scouts had learned to use the bus system and were comfortable moving around a foreign country on their own. They told the parent they had collected recyclables at camp, exchanged them for money at a recycling machine, and bought McDonald’s.

Rethinking safety and freedom

The parent contrasted the Scouts’ independence with rules familiar from Girl Scouts and Scouting America, where children are not allowed to go places without adult chaperones. Even the 18-year-olds in the parent’s daughter’s troop were not supposed to explore New York City alone.

The parent also felt nervous seeing children balance on a homemade structure, recalling that scout camps at home require helmets and harnesses at that height. After the jamboree, the parent said, “Instead of saying no, I’m asking what preparations they’ve made,” and making sure children know what to do if something goes wrong.