Yes, it is the same in most of the USA regarding the knife being prohibited in school activities. Use your best judgement here and be wary of the consequences of violating the rules. I wouldn't want my child expelled from school.<br><br>I recommend keeping it simple when preparing children with survival equipment. If she is like most 12 year old girls, her interest in survival gear will be short and her willingness to keep it with her will be even shorter. Doug's recommendations on equiping children fall along very simple lines and I believe that is a good idea.<br><br>Give her a very limited number of simple items that she fully understands how to use. Chief among these would be the whistle. Choose other items from Doug's list for children. Be sensitive to her interest level and stop providing additional equipment and instruction when her interest runs out. If you overwhelm her with stuff, she will probably abandon all of it with her luggage at camp and not carry any of it.<br>