Down, you know I can allow for your opinion to be expressed, but please know that I disagree with it and consider it "skewed." The use of the term goulag is almost offensive to me, as I am involved in providing positive outdoor experiences to youth. They are anything but soviet forced labor camps.

Psychological aspects of outdoor experiences

Even one contact with nature provides a positive life changing force. I understand the idea that it's brainwashing... imo that is extreme, but even so, the way so many of our youth have been brainwashed to refuse to acknowledge authority just might require an equal but opposite force to help them assimilate into real life.

There are some methods that are too strict and domineering, and quite positively abusive. Educated adults (in the field) need to make those determinations, imo, not the youth ( or even adults) who are caught up in the drama.

I think more of this tough love is needed, as it's definitely a good alternative to locking our youth up and treating them like the adults they aren't.