My son traveled to Norway at 16. It changed how I think about raising kids in America.

Carrie Kirby's son traveled to Norway with his Scouting America troop. The experience helped her better appreciate his need for freedom. Provided by Carrie Kirby

I was desperate to show up at camp to surprise my son on his 16th birthday. But I was sure I wouldn't be allowed to set foot on the grounds.

After all, in two decades as an adult volunteer in both Girl Scouts and Scouting America — the organization formerly known as Boy Scouts — I knew the drill: Any adult who wanted to be among kids would need to be background-checked, fingerprinted, and cross-checked against a master list. They couldn't just have people showing up randomly.

And this wasn't just any Scout camp.…