Eleven year old scouts are new to the experience. He was likely not even a tenderfoot when he went up. Even so, this particular camp (I've stayed at it myself when my two older sons were scouts) is not one that you would ordinarily worry about a kid getting lost at. It's relatively easy to drive into, had moderate terrain, and at this time of year there are hundreds if no thousands of scouts and scout leaders in the vicinity.
The Bear River high and fast-flowing right now, and if he fell into it is very possible he was swept under and drowned.
The place the scout disappeared from last year in Uintas was different. It was high, in difficult terrain, in a palce where relatively few hikers go.
He's been found? Praise God.