Instead of HD thread, you can replace with dental floss or fishing line.<br><br>Spectra fishing line is more expensive that normal fishing line but is much higher strength to size ratio. One spool of line would be enough to make kits for the whole troop.<br><br>Dental floss is available in small packages about the size of a quarter. Last time I checked they were available as a 3 pack for a buck or two at the drug store.<br><br>A good heavy duty thread is coat thread or button thread. It is significantly heavier than heavy duty sewing thread. Less than a dollar for a spool.<br><br>Regardless of what you choose, thread, fishing line or dental floss, it can be rewound onto a sewing bobbin to make it easier to store and use.<br><br>The condon is for storing water. A piece of foil could be made into a passable container. Also useful for making a pot to cook in, a reflector to signal, and treatment for a sucking chest wound. You might want to put the condom or foil container in a sock to add strengh to the container since water is so heavy. The sock acts as a carrying case.<br><br>Check out www.plainsmancabin.com and rummage around in the forum for a poster named BuckShot. He sells snares in bulk for discount. He is a professional trapper that also sells videos about how to set and use snares. Most regular posters at that forum seem to like the 110 conibear traps and snares. I believe his snares are only a buck or two per snare. The brass wire could be used for other stuff but if you are snaring for food, it might make sense to actually have real snares.<br><br>I too would suggest that you get the boys involved in the research. Scouting is supposed to be about the boys, the adults are just to help lead. Todays teenagers can point and click with the best of them. A few searches with Google and they will have more information than they can use.<br><br><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by resqman on 05/11/01 08:55 AM (server time).</EM></FONT></P>