Why do boys go to Camp Green Lake in the holes book?

In "Holes" by Louis Sachar, boys go to Camp Green Lake as a form of punishment for various misdeeds. The camp is a juvenile detention center where they are forced to dig holes in the desert, supposedly to build character and teach them responsibility. However, the real reason behind the digging is to search for buried treasure that was hidden by the infamous outlaw Kissin' Kate Barlow. The harsh environment and the camp's strict regime serve as a backdrop for the boys' personal growth and the unfolding of the story's larger themes.