Gear recommendations

Outfitting yourself with all the latest camping gear can get really expensive.  However, usually it won't be necessary to buy it all at once.  Although it will vary based on what type of camping a young man will do and the available budget, it is often helpful to look at what equipment each age-group of boys will need.

11 years old

For a young man just turning 11, looking forward to joining a First Year Scout Patrol and beginning camping with his Boy Scout troop, there are a few key items he will need.  Many First Year Scout patrols don't go backpacking, and many times they concentrate on patrol cooking, so it reduces the gear they need immediately.

• Sleeping Bag:  For summer camping, a lightweight cheap little sleeping bag can be had at Walmart or somewhere similar for $20.  It may only weigh 3-4 lb, but will probably only be warm down to 40+°F.  This will be plenty sufficient for summer camping, usually.  For winter camping, you will want a bag rated to 15-20 °F.  A mummy bag is usually best for winter.  A relatively cheap mummy bag good to 20-30 °F can be bought for around $30, but will likely weigh 5-6 lb.  Such a bag is fine for the first few years, and may still be light enough to use it exclusively all year.  But, if you do a lot of backpacking in the summer, you may want a lighter summer version.
• Kitchen Gear (eating utensils, a cup, and a bowl and/or plate)
• Water bottles:  at least one 32-oz reusable water bottle.  I really like the nalgene wide-mouth water bottles, but anything durable will do.  The little disposable water bottles from grocery stores are usually only around 16-oz, and one or two of those won't be sufficient.
• Compass

12-13 years old

At 12 or 13, many scouts will start to embark on more more advanced camping trips, involving backpacking and other adventures, so this is a good age to get a little more gear.

• Backpack.  If you are going backpacking, you need something to haul all your gear in.  The hard part about a backpack is you often don't want to spend a lot of money when a backpack is somewhat sized to the person, and to his/her carrying capacity, acknowledging that they may well grow out of the first backpack they use within 2-3 years.  Hand-me-down backpacks are great for the first few years.  If that's not an option, Sportsman's Warehouse has several backpacks that really seem to be built fairly well, and are surprisingly inexpensive, at least compared to alternatives at REI.  Several boys in my troop have had various models from that store, mostly from the Teton Sports line.  I've been impressed.  They aren't perfect, but for the $50-$70 price, they really are pretty good.  I think some of them even have lifetime warranties against manufacturing defects.
• Internal/External Frame:  You probably can't even find many external frame packs for sale these days.  They are just fine, but are typically a little heavier and less flexible.  They will often also not have as much space inside the bag, as they are designed to strap more gear on the outside.  The internal packs are usually designed to have most of it contained within the pack, with very little strapped on externally.  But, an external frame pack will work just fine.

• Water bottles:  for any backpacking trip, you need to have the capacity to carry at least 2 quarts of water.  If you only have one water bottle now, get two.  Many young men at this age might like a hydration backpack, like a Camelbak.  If you get one, I'd recommend getting at least a 2-liter capacity (~70 oz.), and one that has a bit of extra storage capacity, so you can use it for a day pack, and have places to stash trail snacks and stuff. (Google Search Results for Hydration Backpack) 
• Aside:  I have a Camelbak 100-oz model, which is roughly 3 liters, and I love it.  Costco sells a pretty decent 2-liter model with a moderate amount of extra storage space, for something like $20.  It's not bad, and is probably a good choice for a scout.  Be forewarned, though - you can't get replacement parts for it.  So, when the bite valve on my son's Costco pack went bad after a year or two, and I discovered the tubing was a different size than the Camelbak replacement valves, I bought a 2-liter Camelbak pouch on clearance at REI to fit in the perfectly good backpack, and so now he has an excellent water system.

• Hiking boots.  Let's be honest -- until you start going backpacking, wearing tennis shoes or whatever on a car-camping trip is just fine, usually.  But, when a 12-yr old boy is carrying 20+ pounds on his back going 5-7 miles uphill in the Pecos, he better have something better than Converse.  Sure, I've seen people go on 10-20 mile hikes with footwear less substantial than my bedroom slippers, but I wouldn't recommend it.  Additionally, a winter campout with snow requires something more than tennis shoes.  You may not need hiking boots; maybe you buy a pair of $20 snow boots - but good mid-top to high-top hiking boots that are decently insulated and waterproofed (and big enough to allow him to wear 2 pairs of wool socks) will usually do fine.  Get a $20-$30 pair of mid- to high-top hiking boots from Walmart or wherever.  A 12-year old boy will likely grow out of whatever too quickly to make it worth buying decent boots, in my opinion.  And, whether or not they say they are waterproof, buy the $5 can of waterproofing silicone spray, and thoroughly coat the boots a few days before the first hike.  It's worthwhile if you are going anywhere with water.  Finally: whatever you do, make sure the boots fit right, though.  Nothing will cause blisters faster than a pair of boots that don't fit right - whether too big or too small.  Great way to ruin a perfect hiking trip - stupid blisters!

• Socks!  Let's talk about socks.  Ever hear the phrase "Cotton Kills"?  It's because when cotton gets wet, it looses all ability to retain warmth.  So, if you are on a cold-weather campout wearing cotton, and you get wet, you will freeze!  Even the small amount of moisture from natural perspiration can cause serious problems in cold weather.  I wouldn't do any cold-weather camping/hiking with anything but wool socks.  In fact, I'd recommend getting good wool socks for any serious backpacking trip.  The wool will wick the moisture away from your feet, and will keep you much more dry and comfortable, and less likely to have problems with blisters.  Plus, they will generally last longer than cotton.  Wool alone won't solve blister problems if you have issues with your boots, etc, but they can help a lot.  You can pay $10-$20 for a single pair of good thick wool socks at REI, or Costco often carries a 4-pack of medium-weight wool-blend socks for $10.  The Costco socks aren't pure wool, but they work pretty well.  I think they would work well for a boy.

14+ years old

Once a young man reaches 14 years or older, he might start going on High Adventure activities, and he might want more advanced gear.  He should have enough experience now and be strong enough to carry gear to share with others.

• Tent (optional):  By this age, some young men will be interested in getting their own backpacking tent.  I'd recommend something that weighs less than 5 lb, including the fly and tarp (if it comes with a footprint) and tent stakes.  It's going to cost some money, so it's a purchase that should often be held off until a young man is old enough to take good care of his gear.  And, it's helpful that by then he should be strong enough to take a few extra pounds in his pack.
• Backpacking stove:  Similarly, the older young men are often interested in being more self-sufficient.  It is usually adequate for a younger boy to use a troop stove, or share with someone else that has one.  Often, however, an older scout will want to have his own stove.  I have a JetBoil Sol, and really like it.  But, it is more expensive than several other options, and a little more bulky.  I have a personal preference for canisters stoves, so I think the Snow Peak GigaPower or the MSR Pocket Rocket are good choices, but there are lots of options.  
• Backpack (upgrade):  If your boy started out with a loaner or hand-me-down backpack, or has grown out of the one he started with, it might be a good time to get him a decent one. 

For additional guidance, see this gear guide put out by Mark Bastian, a friend of mine and former Scoutmaster in our Troop.  The gear guide is the last half of the document; he recommends several backpacking locations in the first part of the document.