Hawaii has 4H?? I learn something new everyday!

That list looks good to me. Consider adding a laminated family picture...in case the child gets lost. Maybe she won't feel so lonely then. A small comfort item might be good too, although with the space, it would have to be very small.

For my five year old, firecraft involved my child watching what I'm doing, me explaining what I'm doing, "when you build a fire, everything has to be VERY dry" and a lot of reminders that "you never play with fire, you have to respect it, and if you're smart, it can be a very good thing." My wife has the same reservations...she doesn't want our children anywhere near fire. I think they need to start learning early. My five year old is very interested in learning how to use a knife too. Cutting the mini loaves of bread at some restaurants seems to be of particular interest. Again, my wife objects, but I figure the pseudo-serrated knives these restaurants have can't do much damage, and again it can be a teachable momemt, if well supervised. And again, a lot of talk about, "Never do this unless Mom and Dad are here to help you." Even if kids can recite these safety rules, it is good to keep repeating them so they get the constant reinforcement...even if they roll their eyes and say, "I know, I know" in their best teenage attitude voice!

Maybe with a lexan knife they could practice safe cutting practice with big marshmallows. I haven't actually tried this myself, but I figured those materials were more readily available than mini loaves of bread and steak house serrated knives! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I think that the reason so many kids play with fire and knives (and guns for that matter) is that they are fascinated by them (as they are with many things) and yet so many parents want to keep these things from them. If we as parents demystify these very engaging things, and teach them safe ways to use these things, then if they encounter them when we aren't around, they will be less likely to get into trouble with them. Of course that doesn't mean that I'm going to take my children out to get cranked up on meth, go to a bar to get drunk and find someone for them to have sex with...
oh...I'm not sure I'm ready for the teenage years! <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Hope this rambling contains some bits of help.

Are there other dads involved?