In terms of knife safety for an 8 year old - its up to his Dad and Mom, but I would substitute a spork for the knife-fork-spoon combo - its inexpensive, even more compact, and the spork has a serviceable cutting edge, not that an 8 year old has too much to cut on their plate? And keep the jack knife in reserve until your nephew has demonstrated alot of maturity and ability to handle sharp instruments - the equivalent of the Scouting tote n chip (maybe when he is 10 yrs old).

I would trade the space blanket for an Adventure Medical Thermo-lite-2 bivy sack or similar.

Here's my list for my 5-year old:
backpack
bandana, red
bear-bell
Bivy Sack AdvMed
BUFF neck-wrap
energy-bars
flashlite AA
Garbage Bags, Orange
hat
jersey or light fleece
LED Turbo Turtle, white
lightsticks
Rain-shell w/hood
socks
Sunglasses
toque
toy, his choice
water, 1 liter
Wet-Wipes, softpack
whistle

Geez I hate sporks. As spoons they leak and the tines are too short to be a decent fork. Give me a real fork and spoon any day. The only thing I use a spork for is stirring the pot.

Some gear is fun but the BOB could get bigger than your nephew.

On the subject of toys, you can combine play with acquiring knowledge, such as playing cards that show how to tie useful knots and can also be used for Solitaire and poker (a skill which would make him very cool in high school and college):

http://www.knotplayingcards.com/

And anything that would instill in your nephew orienteering skills.

When I was a little kid, I was given a compass. It had a nifty brass or brass-like casing with a top that closed, concealing a mirror and a compass with luminescent markings.

I enjoyed snapping it open and shut, seeing it glow in the dark and pondering the mystery of the arrow's insistence on pointing in a certain direction.

I took it camping and in the car -- probably still have it somewhere. I'd like to find it and keep it with my childhood charm bracelet.

For a boy, a military-looking compass would have a cool factor and the cover is added protection from the predictably kid-like abuse it will endure. This one from REI is only $16:

http://www.rei.com/product/792829


A headlamp would be an ideal item -- for real use and for play. REI sells a Black Diamond designed for kids with features such as "pull-away" fittings in case they catch it on a limb or door handle. He might be old and responsible enough not to need that but good to know the industry is designing some kid-specific gear.

http://www.rei.com/product/744017

I keep plastic sporks in my glove compartment.

They come in handy at Taco Bell, sitting in the parking lot dealing with crunchy tacos.

Suggestion: Don't call it a BOB, call it "Camping Gear"

Because that's what it is.

Although, you never know when you might need to go camping!

I also keep some Taco Bell sporks, along with restaurant napkins in my car.

Everytime I hit the road, I grab some extra condiments, knife, fork, spoon, spork from the fast food places that I stop at along the way,,,,, because you never know!!

True. If you say BOB he'll want to know what he might need to bug out from.

Not the stuff of pleasant childhood dreams.

Yes, indeed.

I'm in constant battle with some Taco Bell drive-thru employees to give me 3 hot sauces per food item.

When I'm given more than I need ("need" obviously being a subjective taste preference in this instance), I squirrel away the surplus for those times I'm gypped.

Always prepared.

Of course, I could start walking inside and grabbing my own handfuls.

As part of that everyday fitness regimen being discussed in another thread.

The nostalgia of my first compass prompts me to suggest engraving on a few of the items the date, at least the year, on which you give this gear to your nephew.

Forty years from now, he may still have some of it.

A great remembrance of his loving uncle. He'll be showing it to his own kids.