Hey, great to hear you're doing right by your kids. too bad about hubby.

anyway...

one of the most important things for my and my wife is practical survival tests. basically, take your extended kit, throw it in the car and spend the night somewhere indoord at first, outdoors later. It can be a hotel or motel, but the rules are simple for the indoor checkout - if you didn't pack it and bring it with you, you can't get it. One night of that will put into perspective what you need, and you still get to sleep in a warm hotel room.

I'm a ham radio operator and I can assure you that Morse code is useless, with the exception of SOS which is ... ---- ...
(3 short, three long, three short)
there you've learned all the morse code you need.

If they want to learn basic singnalling, that will take all of a day for them to learn it - there's not much to it.

More importantly is the ability to improvise, to make do and to get along without comfort.

Some familiarity with guns can't hurt for both hunting and self-defence. I learned to shoot when I was 5, and never stopped learning.

I'd also suggest lots of camping trips - the Aidorondaks still have some pretty remote areas. You can start easy - Raquette Lake is a good place - and then work up to more rugged terrain from there.

Of course, this site is probobly the best place to meet and converse with others who have a rational interest in survival issues, without getting all wrapped up in the freak-out collapse of society sort of preparedness stuff out there.

Your sons may also be interested in local Search and rescue operations,. these are good for skills building.