I started college (years ago!) on a sunny August day. I felt exhilarated and like an adult for the first time. It wasn’t long until reality set in; term paper deadlines, endless hours of study in the library. Sometimes I didn’t feel like being an adult. As my son prepares to leave for college, I know he is feeling the same mixed emotions. “Goodbye, Family! Woohoo!” “Wait, that means I have to do everything myself.” To help combat those feeling, I decided to surprise him with a college emergency survival kit.
How to Make A College Emergency Survival Kit:
I wanted this to be something he could use over and over again so I began by purchasing a clear glass jar. I found mine in the kitchen supplies section of Walmart. I filled it with items I knew he would need including:
Mechanical Pencils— because he is always misplacing his pencils
Yellow Highlighters— Remember how much highlighting you had to do in college?
A Reusable Ice Pack–this can be used in coolers for tailgating and as an ice pack for bruises and ouchies.
A Reusable Water Bottle–to keep him hydrated while walking around campus.
Favorite Treats— I added some candy and tea- favorite treat foods for when he is homesick or needs a pick me up.
Emergen-C– Because all the late night cramming can wear him down. It contains essential nutrients, including 1,000 mg of vitamin C ,zinc, manganese, 7 B vitamins and electrolytes to help build him back up.
To finish it off, I designed a “College Emergency Survival Kit” sticker to attach to the front of the jar. If you would like to use it on your jar, just right click and download.
I’m thrilled my son is able to attend the college of his choice and I can help him get a good start on college life! What are your best tips for preparing your student for college?
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How to Make A Bathroom Gift Basket (great for college students or people moving into a new apartment!)
Must Have Dorm Essentials with Free Printable Checklist
College and First Time Apartment Essentials Checklist
5 Forgotten Dorm List Items
5 Items Every College Student Needs that no one tells you
You might like these care package ideas:
Out of the Blue DIY College Gift Basket
How to Make an All Natural Cold & Flu Gift Relief Basket
Cash & Candy College Care Package
Make a Cold, Flu & Allergy Care Package
This is indeed an awesome gift idea for sure. I know my son would love a college emergency survival kit. The kit in a bottle is a really cute idea too. Thanks for shairng the idea.
Now this is a timeless recipe for those essentials! Back then I was so disorganized, even simple things like coins are all over my room.
I love this idea! When I was in college this would have likely saved my day. I was surviving on ramean noodles in those days and wasn’t super healthy… {surprised?}
This is a great idea. My sister will be going to college so soon.
A college emergency kit is such a great idea. I’ll be making one for my oldest next year.
This idea is really brilliant! I will share this info with my mom.
It’s a good idea to be prepared for college. Emergency survival kit would come in handy. Colleges students aren’t prepared when it comes to emergencies. Thanks for the tip.
Great to see they are working to provide clean water. It’s something that is totally taken for granted here in the States.
What a great emergency kit. Perfect for those going off to college. And a great gift idea too
This is a great idea for kids going off to college. It will give both parents and the new students piece of mind to have this kit!
Medicine is definitely number one on my list for college. I wouldn’t have survived college without it haha
For kids going off to college for the first time especially, when they are nervous and might forget something, this is a great idea. This could really help them. When you forget something, it’s usually something small but important.
What a great, and easy, way to help those in need of clean water! I’ll definitely add a photo to Instagram for this challenge! Love the college survival kit as well. We have more than a decade before that is needed but I think I may make up a similar kit for myself that will come in handy over the next few weeks! (client)
Little gift baskets are always a welcome treat. I like how they showcase thought being put into a gift.
I love the college emergency kit! When my son goes to college I will have to make one of these for him!
I need to make two of these kits for my kids this year. My Daughter is moving 7 hours away to University and my Son is in College.
What a thoughtful and sweet gift for a college bound kid! We always have emerganc-c around the house!
Emergen-C is definitely one of those that you can use even if you aren’t sick! I love it.
This is such a great idea for kids that are going to be away from home! An emergency kit is a necessity.
What a great idea! This is really cool. I can’t wait to make one of these for my daughter.
This is the perfect fix if your child is not feeling well and although you’re no longer there to take care of him/her it’s good to know that they have this kit to turn to to feel a little bit better!
I still have a long way to go before my eldest goes to college but this is very helpful. I will definitely keep this in mind.
This is such a great college survival kit! I think one of the most helpful things you can do for college students is to make sure they know how to budget and knows why credit cards aren’t a good idea! 🙂
Great idea! this will be very useful for any college student-my daughter loved getting gifts in the mail-
This is such a fantastic idea. I need to share this with the parents at our school!
This is great for parents to make for their kids! Lots and lots of vitamin C for sure!
What a clever idea! I love that jar…ans we’re fans of Emergen-C
My cousin is off to college at the end of this month (yikes! I didn’t realize how soon it was). I’ll definitely keep this in mind – maybe I can put this together with his little sisters.
This is such a great gift idea and so practical too. I can see the possibility of a college student needing any of these items in a pinch.
Oh this is awesome. Would be perfect for my nephew heading off to college in September! Its filled with great items he will be for sure to use!
I’m liking your survival kit picks! That Emergen-C will be important for keeping the immune system healthy in the dorms!
What a cute gift idea for a new college student!
What a great way to be prepared. So important and things on that list that I hadn’t even thought of yet!
These are great ideas on what to put in a college survival basket. I have a few friends with kids going to college, so I’ll share this post with them.
I am glad I have a few years before I need to worry about this. These are some pretty good ideas though to add into a care package for your child going to college.
I used to send my daughters survival kits and they don’t realize they’ll need it. EmergenC is a great add!!
That’s a great little kit! I love that you included Emergen-C. College is stressful, and that can lead to getting sick.
This looks like a great college emergency kit. I always take Emergen-C when I know I will be around a lot of people.
This is a great idea! Having an emergency kit for college students will be very helpful! Makes a perfect gift too!
This is so good! it’s also a prefect gift to send a college-bound kids off to school with. I also think that I need a survival kit of my own.
Oh the memories! Thankfully our daughter attended a college within a days drive from home so we could supply her emergency needs often. Those emergency kits always had chocolate!
How awesome that Emergen-C is helping to provide clean drinking water and inviting us to participate through the 40 Pounds Challenge! I can’t even imagine having to walk a long distance for water!
How cute is this survival kit, I remember a few years back when I went to university. I was ready to be an adult, now not so much lol
Every college kid needs an emergency survival kit like that one. And it’s great to know that Emergen-C is helping fund projects that bring clean, accessible water to Ethiopia – and that we can help.