Paramedicpete,

I would like to know what you are putting in your kid’s PSK.

I have 4 boys (Webelos II - 11, 11 (identical twins), Life Scout - 14, and Eagle Scout - 20) and I have been working on PSKs for all of them plus my wife. I have been researching what the best items are for each of the categories (Fire, First-Aid, Navigation, Shelter, Signaling, and Water). My oldest son is currently taking REC 340 (Outdoor Survival, with Scott Kozakiewicz) at ASU. I get them an item for their birthday or Christmas. They now all have: Camelbacks, glass 2”x3” military signal mirrors, Storm whistles, first-aid kits, Leatherman tools, CMG Infinity Ultra LED lights, base plate compasses, parachute cord, BSA Hot Sparks, Coghlan’s Emergency Tinder, 2 clear 60 gallon trash bags, work gloves, cheap plastic ponchos, bandannas, FRS radios, Space Blankets, and cheap binoculars.

I am confident in the categories of: fire, first-aid, navigation, signaling, and water. I’m still not satisfied with shelter. The minimum is two trash bags. I need something that will fit in the back of a CamelBack and not be too bulky or heavy. It has to be 3 or 4 season protection. Here in Arizona we get it all. When the Scouts camp from the Grand Canyon down to Tucson they can get anything from hot desert, Monsoon rain, hail, and snow storms. I have been reading survival books, watching survival videos, and playing with all kinds of things in my back yard. For my CamelBack I have a HD Space Blanket with pre cut cord, 5 thin steel tent stakes and a small Space Blanket. It seems too much for the boys. I like the 6.6 foot clear trash bag from Survival and Outdoor Safety. You can just step into it and pull it around yourself. The main problem is condensation from sweat. When camping, my 11 year old likes to take a small tarp and put it on the ground for shelter. Put his sleeping bag on that and then pull the tarp over him, like a taco. I’m not sure how well it would keep him dry in a downpour.

Thanks!