every camper including Boy Scouts shouldn't leave home without an air horn, and a $25 radio shack walkie talkie(the scout leader should then delegate a channel for emergency only) in their back packs(mine goes at least 2 miles, I use it for communicating with hunting buddies) that kid would have been found in 15 minutes by the scouts
and they ought to have a merit badge for using hand held GPS units and everyone locks in base camp coordinates as soon as they arrive
the rules are if you step foot out of base camp you have your walkie talkie (on your belt or in your back pack) and or the hand held GPS(both are the size of a cell phone)
no sense in any camper or hiker getting lost in the woods in this day in age
And would you be willing to foot the bill for a dozen boys to have GPS when their family most likely can't afford it.
The radio is one thing, but even then, going on a 50 mile hike has slightly different concerns than going on a two-day hunting trip. A 2 mile reach 5 miles out of Unicoy Gap gets you VERY little, especially if you dont pack enough batteries, or you drop it, or get it soaked.
An up to date map, compass, and straight edge should be more than sufficient. Especially considering those things have served as bread and butter for scouting for generations. Hell, in severe weather, even a $400 GPS can be lost.
And 12 year olds with air horns? You ever want to see game in that area again?