Family Bug Out Bag: Tween and Teens (Age 10-18)

Teen/Tween Bug Out Bag

Kids in this age group should be able to carry at minimum all their own personal gear that
makes up your family bug out bag. This may be their spare clothes, rain gear, and any tools
that are specifically for their use such as a hunting or self defense item. Get your teen or
tween a backpack made to fit their smaller frame. Make sure it is a quality bag that is able to
be carried comfortably and cinched tight to their bodies, not a cheap school book bag. We
provide tips on how to pick the best backpack in our article here.

Hunting Tools

Teens and Tweens are old enough to be taught at minimum proper weapon safety, care, and
use. Note that this does not have to be a firearm, if you are uncomfortable with giving a
minor a gun you can still teach them to fend for themselves with a slingshot or bow and
arrow. Have them practice accuracy and stalking as a part of your regular preparedness
exercises so they are ready to catch dinner when you are bugging out.

Consider hand Crossbows or for the ultimate in compactness: the Pocket Shot Slingshot that
can be adapted to shoot arrows/bolts. http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/the-pocket-shot-
sling-shot

Knife

A knife is one of those basic tools with nearly limitless applications. A kid in this age group
should be taught how to safely carry, use, sharpen, and care for a knife. Pack a knife for your
teen in your family bug out bag or have them carry it with them in their pack. There are
numerous tasks that a teen can carry out using this to assist the welfare of the bug out group
as a whole.

Electronics

Sadly, most kids this age probably know how to use an iPhone or iPad Touch better than
most adults.

Try to provide them with an old iPhone or iPod Touch that they are responsible for updating
with the latest OS.

Also provide them with a rechargeable Battery Backup charging device (capable of providing
3 full charges to the device) that they are responsible for ensuring is fully charged at all times.
While good deals can be had on older electronics, make sure that you have one that is capable
of updating to an Operating System that is current enough to operate the latest updated
versions of the following items to be installed on the iPhone or iPod:

SAS Survival Guide App: contains built in signalling tools etc..

Knots, Trees, Vegetation guide Apps
Offline Map Apps specific to your neck of the woods
Music: keep morale high
Group Games like Charades etc.: keep morale even higher
You should EMP-proof the iPhone and Battery Charger with inexpensive Water-Proof
ziplock bags layered between consecutively wrappings of tinfoil. Beware of claims of
"EMP Bags" online.

Bug Out Planning for Teens and Tweens

As teens are entering the first stages of adulthood this is a great time to start giving them
some responsibility. They should be able to understand the seriousness of a bug out situation
and grasp that all bug out group members need to pitch in and help. As you prepare at home
challenge them to make decisions in a controlled environment. Doing this will teach them to
take responsibility for the well being of the family. Teens are also able to learn more
advanced skills such as:

Basic survival skills

1st aid
Signalling
Orienteering
Fire building
Scavenging
Hunting
Trapping
Shelter building
And many more…

Kids in this age group are able to take on more autonomous tasks to be carried out when on
the move and when setting up a camp. Teach them to take ownership over basic tasks such
as gathering firewood, finding and treating water, and foraging for food.
Teens are also able to understand that a bug out situation can be very dangerous and that
they may need to defend themselves or their family members. If you are comfortable and
knowledgeable in self defense or weapons training it would be wise to pass this information
on to older teens in a responsible manner.