White Petrolatum (aka vaseline) sachets: https://www.amazon.com/Dynarex-White-Petrolatum-Foil-Packs/dp/B009135I40/ref=sr_1_36
Cotton balls/roll.

Teach the kids to make vaseline & cotton balls if need a fire starter.

There is a lot of good information at http://www.equipped.org/

... including a Survival For Kids link http://www.equipped.org/kidsrvl.htm

... which has a Kid's Don't-Leave-Home-Without-It Equipment link that recommends the following items:

Identification and/or Medical Alert Tag or Bracelet
A Loud Whistle
1 or 2 Large Garbage Bags (Orange! Big enough to cover the entire body, with another to sit on)
1 or 2 Canteens of Water
A Pocket Flashlight
A Brightly Colored Bandanna (Orange!)
Cell Phone
If you know how to use them properly and safely:
Pocket Knife (a sturdy locking folding knife is best)
Firestarter (matches, lighter or flint and steel ... and add some good tinder too, such as petroleum jelly on cotton balls)

Thanks for all of your suggestions. The guy asking has not answered some similar questions over at the backpackinglight dot com forums.

check out Ranger Rick's Survival necklace on ETS


http://www.equipped.org/rangerrick_necklace.htm

I would think thermal regulation and hydration is of primary concern.
Therefore, I would gear the kit to accomplish this task.
It would also seem that a survival kit hung around the neck, would be very small. A kit this small would require more expertise than a slightly larger kit. I would suggest a small backpack or fanny pack.

1. A small pill bottle filled with petroleum jelly treated
cotton balls.
2. Ferrocerium rod and striker.
3. Mora 511 knife (if the children are competent and trained to
use one).
4. A bic or cricket lighter.
5. A small, easy to read pamphlet with survival tips.
6. Space blanket.
7. Contractor size trash bag.
8. 20 feet of #36 bankline.
9. A candle.
10. Small first aid kit.
11. Water purification tablets.
12. Small metal container for melting snow.
13. 1-liter bag to carry water.
14. High calorie/protein bar.
15. Whistle.

If the kit has to be worn around the neck, then items 1,2,4,6,8,10,11,13,14 and 15 could be carried around the neck.

It is difficult to develop this individual kit without knowledge of the gear carried on the plane or snowmobile, and for that matter, the length and duration of the trips. Any instruction given to the students? This could be the most useful item of all...