On training courses you are always taught to carry a survival bag, bothy or first aid kit - which is correct - but what other items do I carry in my rucksack that has helped save the day more than once!
1. Bin Bag – this has many uses not just a rubbish bag at lunch time but an educational tool as well. In the world we live in today we all aware about littering and encourage recycling at all times to help the environment. It is a great way of getting the group you are with to collect rubbish along the journey and have a talking point at the end of the day! You can have competitions among the groups on who can collect the most or make a sculpture at the end of the day with the rubbish you have collected. Another use for the bin bag is an emergency rain coat, just cut 3 holes - 1 for the head in the bottom of the bag and 2 holes for arms on the side. You might get wet arms but the core stay dry and help to keep the wind off.
2. Waterproof pad and pencil – these items are self explanatory and they can be used in an emergency for important information, playing games at lunch time or writing notes about the session you are doing.
3. Shoe Lace – once again very obvious what it's main purpose is, but I have used them to help mend rucksacks and coats before. They can be used for anything you might need a length of string for!
4. Haribo – first of all they are me favourites but more importantly they are a good moral boost if your having a long day and you have 3 more hills to climb. You never know you might have a Diabetic in your group so they might come handy!
5. Pocket Kite – Not your average emergency kit and everyone else may have something different to this. The kite is on my list as I have worked with many children and adults who have never flown a kite before, either they don't have the space or they have never been shown before. So if the day (and weather) allows I will get the kite out at lunch to let clients have a go - for some it ends up being the highlight of their day!
Let me know what your top 5 pieces of kit you have in your rucksack in the comment section
RB Outdoors UK
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