by James Talmage Stevens
Author of Making the Best of Basics
I learned about preparedness and survival kits from my mother. She was wisdom personified and
always seemed to know what to do, no matter what the occasion! I truly regret it took me so long to
realize it. As a fledgling Boy Scout––less than a Tenderfoot, actually––the troop was going on a
long-awaited and unprecedented early spring camping trip. At last, I was going to be with the older
boys whom I not only admired, but secretly revered. The last thing I wanted was to be embarrassed
by being unprepared––heaven forbid, imagine not being prepared at 12 years of age!