there are some relatively inexpensive, lightweight hammocks on the market. A poncho over a hammock is a flexible alternative to tent camping, recommended by renowned outdoors-man Che Guevara in his "On Guerilla Warfare" .

I take back a the blanket statemetpnt about not wanting them experimenting with wild edibles. Dandilions, clover and sumac are plentiful in this area, and easily identifiable, so I'm going to print off some recipes for them for those. I'm not going to tempt them with much more though.

Hammocks.... interesting idea. The ground could be saturated if we get a bunch of rain, making hammocks ideal... hmmm.....

I just cannablized my office BIB (going on mat leave soon and have enough supplies between the office and my Jeep) and the extra gear bag to start putting this kit together.

Just as a reminder, they each already have their own kits and survival packs, including all the basics. This kit is intended to be a care package, to suppliment their group supplies.

So far we have:

-FAK (AMK something or other in alsok bag, with mylar blanket)
-topo map of the area they'll be in
-compass
-military canteen and canteen cup
-water purification tabs
-hobo stove
-esbit stove and tabs
-magnifying glass
-1 package of TinderQuick
-film canester of cotton balls
-5X7 blue tarp
-mosquito netting
-50 ft paracord
-sierra saw
-3 emergency ponchos (blue, yellow and orange)
-4 chem lights
-deck of cards


Not bad for not spending a penny. I feel a little like the host of "Survivor" giving the winning tribe a reward. Hopefully it'll get their wheeels turning a bit as they plan this adventure of theirs.


Thanks for all the great ideas. If you think of anything else, please let me know.

BTW, my little niece and nephew, who will be 5 and 3 respectively, and who will be stuck at home with the grown-ups, are getting their own shelter building kit - complete with bed sheets, clothes pegs, head lamps, chem lights and coupons to redeem for an adult with a length of rope. They can build shelters all weekend long too!

If its swampy, then some kind of mosquito coils or citronella candles may be useful.

For fun, some marshmallows for toasting are always a hit.

Care package number one is being delivered today. It's a survival weekend/day hike/power failure care package for my 23 yo step-daughter, who's living on her own for the first time about 3.5 hrs away. Winter is predicted to be harsh in her neck of the woods and since my Grandma always said that "as long as you can brew a cup of tea, you'll be ok", stuffed into a soft-sided cooler are:

-a small knapsack
-an AMK FAK with 1p Heat Sheet
-and esbit stove and fuel tabs
-a canester of sterno
-a bic lighter
-an LED headlamp and batteries
-4 large chem lights
-a box of her favorite tea
-some chem hand warmers
-emergency blanket (wool on one side and nylon the other)
-gift certificate for her local grocery store

My 13 yo nephew will get his next week. He is focused more on shelter building, so his (so far) kit has:

-sierra saw
-multi-tool
-plastic painters sheeting
-5 X 8 blue tarp
-about 50 ft paracord
-military folding shovel
-4 large chem lights
-military canteen and canteen cup