Another option is to change from a waistpack to a brightly colored vest with everything in the pockets. The kids will be more visible and you'll know that they have their gear. The one problem with that is that I don't know of any commercial source for one.
Or if you can pry Gretchen's secrets for vest making from her... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
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Ors, MAE, MT-BC
Memento mori
Vulnerant omnes, ultima necat (They all wound, the last kills)