As a Cub Scout parent, you know that the experiences and activities that your child participates in are very enriching and serve a great purpose in their life that can teach them life lessons, practical knowledge, and social interaction. However, if you want your child to get the most out of their Cub Scout experience, then it is absolutely critical that you equip them with everything they will need in order to get through the various activities that they will be taking part in. If you’ve never shopped for a survival kit for your cub scout before, you might be lost and confused. You probably don’t know what to look for or where to look for it.
That’s where we come in! As experienced Scout members and parents, we know exactly what you should be looking for in your next Cub Scout survival gear and we’ll even let you in on some hot tips for getting the most for your money.
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Why Do You Need a Survival Kit?
Survival kits are one of the most common pieces of equipment that Cub Scouts use. But there are still some parents wondering if you even need it for your Scout. The answer is yes! You definitely need to get your Scout a survival kit. The reasons are numerous, but the most important is that your Scout needs to be able to learn the skills that come along with camping and being in the wilderness. In order to effectively be able to do that, they need a survival kit. They will also need this kit for many of the things that they do with their troop because many activities are centered around survival skills and using important equipment that comes with survival kits.
What Equipment Should I Look For in a Survival Gear Kit?
Before you go shopping for your Cub Scout survival gear, you’re going to need to know what you need to look for in your kit so that you get all the necessary supplies that your child will need in order to complete the various activities that they’re going to be doing and also to keep them safe and prepared. However, if you’ve never bought one of these kits before, you might have no idea what needs to be included and what can be left out. We’re going to walk you through each piece of equipment that should be in your child’s survival kit and why.
First-Aid
While survival kits may have you thinking of large machetes, saws, and other heavy-duty equipment that you might normally associate with survival and wilderness, the most important thing in any kit is the First-Aid equipment. An example of a proper First-Aid Kit can be found here on Amazon. Learning proper first aid is an integral part of the education of any Cub Scout and can definitely save an injury from becoming much worse in the event of an accident.
Shelter
This is another piece of equipment that you might not normally associate with a survival kit that is small in size, but you can actually pack materials into a survival kit that can provide you with extremely important shelter. This usually comes in the form of a plastic bag or emergency blanket. Shelter materials can help to keep you dry and safe from the harsh weather.
Poncho/Plastic Bag
Having something that you can wear to shelter yourself from moisture during your travels is very important. Being wet could accelerate hypothermia and other conditions that could make your child sick or unable to travel in the wilderness. Teaching your child to stay dry in a wilderness situation is incredibly important and a poncho goes a long way in helping with that. It would be even better if you can afford a rain jacket of high quality.
Signaling Method
In an emergency situation, it’s crucial to be able to catch the attention of someone that can provide you with help. This could come in any number of forms, including matches or a signaling mirror. This is an affordable and important part of any survival kit.
Water
It’s usually not practical to carry around large amounts of water, but there are ways to enable yourself to carry the potential for several gallons of fresh, drinkable water. These are usually in the form of chlorine pills or another filtration method that turns pond and river water into safe water for consumption. You might also consider tin foil to enable yourself to boil water. Learning about the importance of water is crucial to any young Scout’s wilderness education. This survival kit features a great water filtration portable system that is compact and easy to carry.
Food
If you cannot fit a lot of food into your kit or you are working with a very compact way to put together a survival gear kit, then you should pack in ways to catch food while you are in the wilderness. The most efficient and best way to do this would be to include some fishing lines in the kit. Fishing is a common lesson item for many Cub Scout troops.
Knife or Saw
Most troops are going to be reviewing cutting wood safely, so it would be a good idea to make sure that your child’s safety kit includes some type of knife or saw that they can use to learn this valuable skill and gather wood as needed for fires and other practical uses. A great example of a suitable knife can be found within this survival kit.
Money
While many survival kits do focus on keeping you alive while you are out in the wilderness, an underappreciated need that you might have while you are out there is something to pay for a payphone or other service when you do reach civilization. If you are lost, a payphone can signal to your friends or family that you have emerged and you can reach them easily.
Duct Tape
Duct tape is one of the most versatile and strong materials that you can carry with you and you can use it to create shelter, hunt for animals, and perform other purposes around the camp. It would be wise to include at least a small roll of duct tape or a similar tape in your child’s survival kit.
Considerations When Shopping For a Survival Kit
When you are shopping for a survival kit, there are certain characteristics and factors that you should be keeping in mind to ensure that you get the best possible option for you and the kit that you get meets all your needs for you and the requirements for your Scout’s troop. Generally, the troop will at least give you some guidelines to go off of and reference when you are shopping, but there are some pieces of advice that we can give you that others just can’t. Here are the main factors that we think you should be paying attention to when you are shopping for a survival kit for your Cub Scout.
Value
One of the most important concepts to keep in mind when shopping for a survival kit for your Cub Scout is value. Value doesn’t just refer to the straight-up price of an item, but also how much quality is included and the actual value that you are getting out of your investment. You don’t want to break the bank by buying a survival kit for your Scout. But you also don’t want to get something low quality that won’t help them learn their lessons or be durable in the face of wildlife and camping. The best thing you can do is to balance these two things.
Equipment
Another important factor to consider when shopping for your Scout’s survival kit is the equipment that is included in the kit. You want to get a kit that has everything that your Scout will need, so they can learn the lessons that they are supposed to learn. Oftentimes, your local troop will be able to give you guidelines on which equipment your Scout needs to acquire. Be sure to read exactly what is contained within your kit before you purchase it.
Can You Make Your Own Survival Kit?
If you’re just not finding a survival kit that is meeting your needs or you want to have full control over the customization of your own kit, then making one yourself is certainly an option that may be the right one for you. If you know what you want to be in your Scout’s survival kit and you have access to all of the equipment, then you can pretty easily make one of these kits yourself. And even make sure that they adhere to the guidelines that were given to you by the local troop. Making your own survival gear for your Scout is perfectly feasible and sometimes it can even be a lot more affordable.
Recap
If your child is going to be participating in Cub Scouts, you need to prepare ahead of time to ensure that you have the right equipment to enable them to maximize learning and preparation skills. One of the most critical pieces of equipment that you’re going to need is a survival kit for outdoor adventures. There are many survival kits available for sale on the market today. And using our complete guide to finding a survival kit for your Cub Scout, you should be able to find the perfect one for your child with ease.