Willie, admit it - it wasn't unseasonably warm Sunday, it was a drop-dead gorgeous day in upper Illinois! And as a bonus, since we had no snow that mattered this winter, no customary spring-time aroma of re-appearing dog poop! Even in town smelled great.<br><br>Anyway, you're right on target about losing small items and kids are NOT the only ones vulnerable to that. Ziplock bags work OK for that, too, although they usually won't last intact for a "season" of use.<br><br>The problem with kids AND inexperienced adults that I have found is that once they open the smaller containers, they often forget to close them back up as well. In both cases, that's a developed habit, so you'll have to gently teach your kids to remember to do that.<br><br>A "snowcountry" trick that has been fairly helpful for us has been to attach a brightly colored lanyard to "important" items but not to the pack or person (tried that - too much hassle and entanglement for the kids). That way, when they DO drop something, it's easier to find - usually right where we stop (because we check each other for things like closures and twisted straps before leaving a stop). A spool of brighly colored nylon mason's twine is very inexpensive - both hot pink and orange seem to work well. About the time they fade, the kids are experienced enough to dispense with the cords, but they've learned to appreciate them so much that they may request replacement on certain items (SAKs seem to fall into that category).<br><br>If your kids are using Nalgene water bottles, I found long ago that a drawstring bottle bag (stuff sack type) beats the bejabbers out of any other external carry method, especially for kids. Also, 1/2 liter or 16 ounce bottles are easier for the kids to handle and furthermore, the rectangular ones are less awkward than the round ones. <br><br>An inexpensive and surprisingly durable alternative is the 20 oz sports drink bottles - and most of them have a groove around the body that just happens to take a cord or tape very nicely to convert it into a neck bottle (under parka in winter time) or bandoleer-slung "canteen". Not bad for about a buck... I have outfitted many a scout with a water bottle using these (and use them myself from time to time). As a bonus, they come filled with a tasty (???) beverage when new.<br><br>Regards,<br><br>Scouter Tom (Rock Island, Illinois)