Ability to make fire is crucial, and the cheapest possible decent firestarter is cotton dryer lint, with some supplemental petroleum jelly, combined with strike anywhere matches. Get them some large, cheap plastic bags and string for shelter, as well as knowledge about using terrain to good advantage, and you are well on the way.

This project grabs me. My introduction to mountain rescue was to join in a search for three Boy Scouts trying to climb Mt Wrightson (near Tucson, AZ) in the face of a ferocious and early winter storm. Three weeks later, when the snow drifts had melted enough to locate their bodies, it was clear that they had tried to light a fire, using tissue paper. Unsuccessfully. End of story.

It looks like yours will be better prepared. Best of luck to you.