Most American adults ignore the need to be their own first responders in time of major emergencies ........ government cannot do it all as we know from prior disasters. We need to educate our youth about the need for 72 hour kits, and motivate them to create such kits in an effective way. Our youth can be a positive example for each other and for many adults. Our charity, NPI, proposes to start an annual, national 72 hour kit competition for youth-oriented 72 hour kits. Youth groups of not less than 10 each (Scouts, 4-H, FFA, & schools) would enter as a group with each team member testing their 72 hour kits, in a remote location, over a 48 hour period. Qualified judges would determine the top three groups based on quality of kits, and individual kit performance under simulated emergency situations. The annual prizes would be as follows: 1st = $20.000. 2nd = $10,000 and 3rd = $5,000. There may be really effective ways to get adults to create 72 hour, but they are yet to be
discovered. What we have proposed is a way to get our youth involved in a big and positive way. As this kit competition grows, we anticipate local and state competitions to qualify for the national 72 hour kit competition for youth.
Comments (3)
Anytime you can get youth involved in learning these skills, you have given them more than you can imagine. In our modern educational systems, basic life skills are often forgotten, replaced by "advanced courses" (I'll leave it at that) that will not do the students one pit of good when faced with a life changing event.
I commend you and your group on your efforts!
Keep one thing in mind as you put the program together... Survival is 10% of what you have in your pocket, and 90% of what you have in your head.
Survival is adapting to your conditions, best to also teach these students the thought processes as well as the kit they may be carrying.
On the funds awarded,I would think it would be wise for those funds to be used to supply said Kits for the community and especially those who are not able to purchase them. And possibly a portion for future training in their communities.
Great idea! Hopefully, the result would be a better prepared and educated generation with a different attitude toward preparedness and self reliance. Who knows maybe the kids will now emphasize the importance of preparedness and self reliance to the rest of the family and their community.