I’m quite clear about the rules with the parents. Many of them are quite devious with me in return, however. I explain very carefully that no cell phones are allowed. At which point I get asked, “But how will he call home?” I explain very carefully that he won’t call home, that he doesn’t need to call home, that if something happens I’ll call them. The usual response is to look at me as if I had just told them I was from Mars. They clearly figure that their kid will have a psychological breakdown if he can’t call home. It seems to me that if an 11-year old kid has to call Mom to make it through the night there’s something wrong. Yes, kids get homesick. No, it won’t kill them. But the apparent thinking is that getting homesick will cause the kid permanent damage. So as a result, after carefully explaining to the parents that no cell phones are allowed on campouts, about 1/4 of them will have them anyway. At least. And then I take them away, give them back to Mom after the campout and tell them to make sure he doesn’t bring it again. At which point Mom looks at me like I’m crazy again, and the odds are 50:50 that kid will never go on another campout.
This last year at summer camp I had one kid, 15 years old, who came with his father. The kid did not have a cell phone. Dad did - he’s an adult. Mom proceeded to call 2x a day to make sure that the kid was going to merit badge classes and - I don’t know, was wearing his rubbers. Apparently Dad can’t be trusted to keep him on track. The kid ended up going home in mid-week.
Cell phones were not ever-present with kids during my Scoutmaster days so you certainly have my support in fighting the good fight to give the boys a truly “natural” experience. If the parents think you are from Mars, I’m certain they would think I’m some kind of time-traveler/throwback.
As to the general topic of the thread, I am reminded of an old Jetsons comic I read back in the 60s where George and the family went to a “National Space Park” that was supposed to provide a “primitive” experience. George was enthused about hiking among the trees and streams but was dismayed to find moving sidewalks with signs to not get off the sidewalk. Sounds like where the greenies want us to be as well-trained/conditioned consumers of the PC wilderness experience...