Hi folks, The scout troop I am in is looking to make PSK and the thought was to have each boy bring in a component, where it gets tricky is the cost. the troop is not well funded and I am trying to keep the cost down. We were looking at Altoids tin type PSK

is $5 even remotely feasible? Keep in mind this would be a supplement to the 10 essentials

• Pocketknife (when you complete Totin’ Chip training)
• First aid kit
• Extra clothing
• Rain gear
• Water bottle (1 liter)
• Flashlight or headlamp
• Trail food
• Matches/Fire starter (when you complete Firem’n Chit training)
• Sun protection
• Map and compass

any idea on what to use would be great

For $5 I would say ditch the PSK idea an invest in an Adventure medical kits heatsheet blanket for each member of the troop.

I don't know about the total cost, but buying in bulk at Lowes or Home Depot will probably keep the cost down -

You can probably pack this in a zip-lock of some kind that would double as a water carrier (although I don't know how long a zip-lock will hold up in a scout's cargo pocket...

- 55 gallon trash bag for emergency shelter, etc. Buy a box.
- some cordage, heaver than string, lighter than rope. Buy a roll and cut lengths for each scout.
- sheet of heavy duty foil, improvise pot to heat water. Buy a roll and give each scout a piece to fold.
- some kind of age appropriate fire starter, water-proof matches, mini-Bic?
- some kind of tender - buy a big box of wax/sawdust fireplace starters.

If there is money left over, buy a bunch of Calume sticks and put one in each kit. Can be ordered bulk on Amazon or maybe from a local supplier.

Just having the trash bag can stave off hypothermia and save a life.

PM me your name, address and number (and age so I can make the items are age appropriate) of scouts and I will send you some items for kits that may allow you to expand what is to be included.

Pete

"paramedicpete is over their Private Topic limit. "

Try again, I only had 5 messages saved and I deleted 2, so there should be room.

Pete

$5 total or $5 per item/child?

I found this over on CandlePower Forums yesterday.
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=236715

Don't know if that helps but it might give you a place to buy PSK items in small numbers.

whistle
silvered mylar (birthday balloon) glued to playing card for signal mirror (suggest they purchase a lensatic compass with real mirror on their own dime or real starflash type signal mirror
tincture of iodine for cuts/water purification
shoe polish/tuna can with concentric strip of cardboard poured full of paraffin for emergency cooking (not necessarily a PSK)
bandana
GI poncho for rain gear on their own dime
determine appropriate size food can to make a nested cook pot for their water bottle
contractor clean up 2mil or greater trash bags
grease pencil to write on slick surfaces
couple of feet of duct tape
braded nylon cordage (pull rope size)

when they earn the right to carry and make fire, consider a SAK and activator protected Bic on a section of cord to be looped around their belt...Bic attached with a couple feet of duct tape carried in front pocket

that would be 5$ total, I figured if everyone spent around that amount say for example one buys a roll of aluminum foil another a box of razor blades, strike anywhere matches, fish hooks etc... if everyone shares that it should go a long way to making 25 or so decent starters.

Think I am looking at the troop getting would be a spool of 550 cord, a big box of trash bags and maybe a large plastic mirror we could cut up into smaller signal mirrors (Mylar and cards is a much better idea posted above Thanks)

I highly doubt it. Maybe (maybe) $10.

Unless you have a very large troop to spread items around. Even cheapie space blankets run $1 each, much less getting the altoid type tins.