- Joined
- Feb 8, 2004
- Messages
- 4,199
My daughter (12), and my son (7) are pretty comfortable out in the woods
weve done quite a bit of camping and backpacking since they were both infants (in fact my son got a real early start when my wife was about 5 months pregnant on a camping trip).
Ive been putting together their Line-1 and Line-2 kit for a while. My intent is for light hiking, and having the essentials to survive and wait for rescue up to 72 hours. I expect a good 24 hours of initial searching and contacting a professional SAR team; about 12-24 hours to assemble and a good 12-36 hours for expansive searching. This is just based on my experiences during college doing some volunteer SAR work in/around the cascades.
Both my kids are careful with knives, and know how to handle and use them appropriately. The same can be said for their basic knowledge and skill to gather fire material and make/maintain a small fire with both fire steel and lighter. They have used the Potable Aqua tablets, but we still need to practice finding and getting the cleanest water, using the appropriate amount and understand the necessity to wait for the purification process. They do know how to add the flavor packets!
Both my kids know the basics of what to do if lost and basic first aid for minor cuts, scrapes, burns and splinters (cleaning the cut/wound, applying burn cream/antibiotic, covering/taping and keeping it clean). As for being lost, they know to stay put. Use their whistle, surveyors tape and strobe light. I do have a small, laminated card to reinforce and help them remember the steps they need to do.
We have worked on improvised shelters in the past, but need to continue that education on future trips. My intent is to make sure they have the knowledge, skill and material required to survive in moderate temperatures for up to 72 hours.
So, heres my current evolution of their kits:
For what they carrier on their 1st Line (as in always on them), I have (not all shown)
- Break-away neck lanyard with whistle and a small Microlight LED
- Benchmade Mini-Griptilian (my sons is Green my daughters in Purple)
- Pelican Mini-Strobe
I have a few Camelbacks (my son has my older camouflage one) that have enough room for the extra gear, which isnt too heavy and easy to keep on when hiking around.
Camelback w/ bladder
Mora Clipper (soon to be with Sheathmechanics Kydex sheath and piggybacked fire steel)*
55-gallon garbage bag for emergency shelter
Space blanket
Ziploc bags (1 gallon and 1 qt)
Potable Aqua tablets
Small Nalgene water bottle (16oz)
Small nesting cup (Snow Peaks 300, single wall)
Clif Bar
Peanut Butter
Individual drink flavor packets
Water tube (about 20 of Camelback tubing)
About 50 feet of 550 paracord
Cigarette lighter
Survival matches
Large Tea-light candle wrapped in tinfoil
Cravat
PAL LED light/strobe
Silva compass
SAK itll be an engraved Farmer for Christmas
Small fishing kit* (just something I added out of habit)
Small IFAK w/ some extras
- Band-Aids
- Large bandages
- Large gauze bandages
- Tylenol, Advil, Aspirin
- Antibiotic/burn cream
- Providone iodine wipes
- Sting-eze wipes
- Needles, spiderwire spool
- Dental floss
- Medical tape
- Moleskin
- Sliver Gripper tweezers
- Safety pins
- Large paperclips
- Pencil wrapped w/ 12 of duct tape
- Razor blade
- Rain-rite paper, 2 sheets
- 6 feet of surveyors tape wrapped on paperclip
As already noted, Im going to have a Kydex sheath for the Clipper with an integral Swedish fire steel. Depending on where and how were camping, itll be on their Line 1 or Line 2.
The Clif bar, peanut butter and drink mixes are separate from their usual hiking/camping snacks such as trail mix, raisins, beef jerky, energy bars, etc.
Im going to add a small survival filter straw after we practice with one a few times. I also need to add a small, bright yellow kids poncho to their bags (just saw Cabelas has them on sale right now). I always make them carry an extra pair of dry socks in a Ziploc, and they have a hat and, depending on the climate, a fleece pullover/sweater and gloves added. I also need to get a small bottle of insect repellent added.
The last piece of commo, is an FRS radio, which keeps them in touch when out of site
Now the fun part will be getting out to practice with all of it. Ill only have a few more planned trips this summer before Im gone for a year to Iraq but my wife will be able to take them out, so I want them as prepared and trained as possible.
ROCK6
Ive been putting together their Line-1 and Line-2 kit for a while. My intent is for light hiking, and having the essentials to survive and wait for rescue up to 72 hours. I expect a good 24 hours of initial searching and contacting a professional SAR team; about 12-24 hours to assemble and a good 12-36 hours for expansive searching. This is just based on my experiences during college doing some volunteer SAR work in/around the cascades.
Both my kids are careful with knives, and know how to handle and use them appropriately. The same can be said for their basic knowledge and skill to gather fire material and make/maintain a small fire with both fire steel and lighter. They have used the Potable Aqua tablets, but we still need to practice finding and getting the cleanest water, using the appropriate amount and understand the necessity to wait for the purification process. They do know how to add the flavor packets!
Both my kids know the basics of what to do if lost and basic first aid for minor cuts, scrapes, burns and splinters (cleaning the cut/wound, applying burn cream/antibiotic, covering/taping and keeping it clean). As for being lost, they know to stay put. Use their whistle, surveyors tape and strobe light. I do have a small, laminated card to reinforce and help them remember the steps they need to do.
We have worked on improvised shelters in the past, but need to continue that education on future trips. My intent is to make sure they have the knowledge, skill and material required to survive in moderate temperatures for up to 72 hours.
So, heres my current evolution of their kits:
For what they carrier on their 1st Line (as in always on them), I have (not all shown)
- Break-away neck lanyard with whistle and a small Microlight LED
- Benchmade Mini-Griptilian (my sons is Green my daughters in Purple)
- Pelican Mini-Strobe
I have a few Camelbacks (my son has my older camouflage one) that have enough room for the extra gear, which isnt too heavy and easy to keep on when hiking around.
Camelback w/ bladder
Mora Clipper (soon to be with Sheathmechanics Kydex sheath and piggybacked fire steel)*
55-gallon garbage bag for emergency shelter
Space blanket
Ziploc bags (1 gallon and 1 qt)
Potable Aqua tablets
Small Nalgene water bottle (16oz)
Small nesting cup (Snow Peaks 300, single wall)
Clif Bar
Peanut Butter
Individual drink flavor packets
Water tube (about 20 of Camelback tubing)
About 50 feet of 550 paracord
Cigarette lighter
Survival matches
Large Tea-light candle wrapped in tinfoil
Cravat
PAL LED light/strobe
Silva compass
SAK itll be an engraved Farmer for Christmas
Small fishing kit* (just something I added out of habit)
Small IFAK w/ some extras
- Band-Aids
- Large bandages
- Large gauze bandages
- Tylenol, Advil, Aspirin
- Antibiotic/burn cream
- Providone iodine wipes
- Sting-eze wipes
- Needles, spiderwire spool
- Dental floss
- Medical tape
- Moleskin
- Sliver Gripper tweezers
- Safety pins
- Large paperclips
- Pencil wrapped w/ 12 of duct tape
- Razor blade
- Rain-rite paper, 2 sheets
- 6 feet of surveyors tape wrapped on paperclip
As already noted, Im going to have a Kydex sheath for the Clipper with an integral Swedish fire steel. Depending on where and how were camping, itll be on their Line 1 or Line 2.
The Clif bar, peanut butter and drink mixes are separate from their usual hiking/camping snacks such as trail mix, raisins, beef jerky, energy bars, etc.
Im going to add a small survival filter straw after we practice with one a few times. I also need to add a small, bright yellow kids poncho to their bags (just saw Cabelas has them on sale right now). I always make them carry an extra pair of dry socks in a Ziploc, and they have a hat and, depending on the climate, a fleece pullover/sweater and gloves added. I also need to get a small bottle of insect repellent added.
The last piece of commo, is an FRS radio, which keeps them in touch when out of site
Now the fun part will be getting out to practice with all of it. Ill only have a few more planned trips this summer before Im gone for a year to Iraq but my wife will be able to take them out, so I want them as prepared and trained as possible.
ROCK6
