Build a Survival Kit

Overview

A survival kit is not a product you buy off a shelf. It is a collection of carefully chosen items, assembled by someone who has thought about what they need, why they need it, and how each item serves a purpose. This project teaches your child to think through survival priorities systematically, research what experts recommend, make their own decisions about what to include, and assemble a kit that is genuinely theirs — one they understand inside and out because they built it with intention.

This is a multi-session project. The research matters as much as the assembly. A child who buys a pre-made kit learns nothing. A child who researches, debates, selects, and assembles their own kit learns to think about preparedness as a practice, not a purchase.

The Deliverable

A complete, portable survival kit that the child can explain item by item — why it is there, what it does, and how to use it. The kit lives in a designated place (their closet, by the back door, in the family camping gear) and is maintained by the child.

Materials & Tools

Items will be gathered across sessions. The parent should anticipate some purchases — but many items can be found around the house. A realistic budget for purchased items is $15-30.

Container options by age:

• Ages 5-6: A gallon zip-lock bag inside a small drawstring bag. Keep it simple and light.
• Ages 7-8: A small dry bag or a dedicated pouch in their backpack. Can be more comprehensive.

Project Phases

Phase 1: Research — What Do You Need to Survive? (Session 1, 45 minutes)

The Five Priorities. Introduce the survival priorities in order of importance:

1. Shelter — Protection from wind, rain, cold, and sun. Without shelter, your body loses heat (or overheats). This kills faster than anything except immediate trauma.
2. Water — You can survive about 3 days without water. After one day, you start making bad decisions because your brain is dehydrated.
3. Fire — Warmth, water purification, cooking, signaling, and morale. Fire keeps you alive AND keeps you hopeful.
4. Food — Important, but you can survive weeks without it. Food is energy, and energy lets you do the work of staying alive.
5. Signaling — If you are lost, you need to be found. A whistle, a mirror, bright colors — anything that says "I am here."

For each priority, discuss together: "What item could you carry that would help with this?" Write their ideas in the notebook. Do not correct wrong answers yet — let them think freely.

Research phase. Using books, articles, or supervised online resources, look at what survival experts recommend for a basic kit. Good sources:

• Boy Scout/Girl Scout handbooks
• National Park Service packing lists
• "SAS Survival Handbook" (the pictures are useful even for young children)
• "My First Survival Guide" or similar age-appropriate books

Have the child write down (or draw, for younger ones) items that appear on multiple lists. These are the essentials — the items that everyone agrees on.

Phase 2: Plan — Choose Your Items (Session 2, 45 minutes)

The selection process. From the research, the child creates their own kit list. Guide them with questions, not answers:

• "You said you want to include a water bottle. Why?"
• "This list says to include a space blanket. What does that do?"
• "You want to put candy in the kit. Is candy a survival priority?" (Candy is actually reasonable as a quick energy source — let them make the case.)

Suggested item categories and options:

Weight and size discussion. "A survival kit only works if you actually carry it. If it is too heavy or too big, you will leave it behind. Every item needs to earn its place."

Weigh each proposed item on the kitchen scale. Write the weights down. Discuss: "Is this item worth its weight?"

The final list. The child writes (or dictates) their final item list. They must be able to explain every item: what it does, which survival priority it serves, and when they would use it.

Phase 3: Build — Assemble the Kit (Session 3, 45 minutes)

Gather items. Some will come from around the house. Some may need to be purchased — a trip to the hardware store or outdoor store can be part of the project. Let the child pick items off the shelf.

Assembly. Lay everything out on a table. Arrange items by category. Take a photo of the layout — this becomes the kit inventory photo.

Packing. Pack the kit together. Discuss organization:

• Items you need first (whistle, flashlight) go on top or in an outer pocket
• Items that must stay dry (matches, tinder, food) go in zip-lock bags inside the kit
• Heavy items go at the bottom for balance

Labeling. For younger children, label items with tape and marker. "Matches — DO NOT use without an adult." "Space blanket — wrap around body for warmth." This helps them remember what everything does and teaches organization.

Test the weight. Hand the child the completed kit. Can they carry it comfortably? Walk around with it. If it is too heavy, something needs to come out. This is a real engineering constraint — discuss the trade-off.

Phase 4: Present — Show and Tell (Session 4, 30 minutes)

The child presents their survival kit to a family member, friend, or the whole family. For each item, they explain:

1. What it is
2. Which survival priority it addresses
3. How to use it
4. Why they chose it over alternatives

This is not a test — it is a celebration of competence. The child has researched, planned, built, and can now explain a tool they own. That is real.

Optional: the scenario test. Present a simple scenario: "You are on a hike and you get separated from the group. It is getting cold and dark. Walk me through what you would do with your kit."

Listen to their reasoning. Gently guide if they skip something important ("What about signaling? How will people find you?"), but let them lead.

Success Criteria

• The kit contains at least one item for each of the five survival priorities
• The child can name every item and explain its purpose without help
• The kit is portable — the child can carry it comfortably
• The kit is organized — items are accessible and protected from moisture
• The child takes ownership — they know where the kit lives and check it periodically

Common Pitfalls

• Too many comfort items, not enough survival items. A child will want to pack toys, books, and extra snacks. Gently redirect: "This is a survival kit, not a camping bag. Every item has a job."
• Copying a list instead of thinking. If the child is just writing down what a book says without understanding why, slow down. For each item, ask: "But why? What does this DO for you?"
• Parent builds the kit while the child watches. Resist this. Let them hold the items, make the choices, do the packing. Your hands should be idle most of the time.
• Kit gets assembled and forgotten. Schedule a kit check every few months. Rotate food items. Check that the flashlight batteries work. Replace anything that has been borrowed. The kit is a living tool, not a museum piece.

Extensions

• Kit comparison: Look at what professional search-and-rescue teams carry. How does it compare to your child's kit? What do the pros carry that you do not? Why?
• Seasonal updates: Revisit the kit before summer and before winter. "What should change for cold weather? For hot weather?"
• Mini kit challenge: Can you build a survival kit that fits in an Altoids tin? This forces extreme prioritization and is a fantastic exercise for 7-8 year olds.
• Family kits: Each family member builds their own kit. Compare them. Discuss: "If we are all together, we do not each need everything. What can we specialize?"

Safety Notes

• Matches and fire starters: Only include these in kits for children who have completed the "Fire Safety and Match Striking" practice unit. Label clearly: "Adult supervision required." Store matches in a waterproof container.
• Knife/multi-tool: Not recommended for Explorer stage kits. If a 7-8 year old has demonstrated responsible tool use, a small folding knife is appropriate with the clear rule that it is only used with parent permission.
• Medications: Do not include medications in the child's kit. Keep family medications in the adult's pack. The child's first aid component should be limited to bandaids, antiseptic wipes, and moleskin for blisters.
• Kit storage: Store the kit in a cool, dry place. Not in a hot car (food spoils, batteries degrade). Not in a damp garage. The child's closet or a designated shelf near outdoor gear is ideal.