Weekly Quest · Prepare
Build a Family Weather Kit
Week 37 of the Outside family quest calendar invites families to spend an hour together building a home weather kit, turning practical preparation into a genuine afternoon adventure. Kids learn to think ahead, parents build confidence in their household readiness, and everyone walks away with something useful they made as a team.
This page is the public web guide for Outside Quest 37: Build a Family Weather Kit, published by Outside, the family adventure app. It covers how families can spend roughly 60 minutes gathering essential storm supplies including lights, batteries, a battery-powered radio, water, first aid basics, and snacks, while building skills in preparedness, organization, and planning. The quest is rated Easy, earns 350 XP, and awards the Storm Ready badge when completed through the Outside app. The guide includes age-specific tips, a step-by-step approach, and FAQ answers for parents planning the activity.
| XP | 350 |
|---|---|
| Week | 37 of 52 |
| Badge | Storm Ready |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Estimated time | 60 minutes |
Why this quest is worth your Saturday afternoon
There is a particular satisfaction that comes from finishing an hour of purposeful work with your kids and knowing your home is a little more ready for whatever the sky sends next. That is the heart of Quest 37. This is not about worst-case thinking. It is about the quiet confidence that comes from having a plan, knowing where the flashlights live, and understanding that your family looked after itself together.
Families who have run this quest often say it is one of those afternoons that sticks. The kids remember being trusted with real decisions. The parents remember watching their children take something seriously and rise to it. A weather kit is a small thing, but building one together is not.
What goes into a solid family weather kit
Keep the goal concrete: gather enough supplies to keep your household comfortable and informed through a day or two of power disruption. Here is what to aim for.
- Flashlights or battery-powered lanterns, with fresh batteries confirmed and extras on hand - A battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio capable of receiving NOAA alerts - Enough stored water for each person for at least a couple of days (one gallon per person per day is the standard planning figure) - A basic first aid kit with bandages, antiseptic, and any household medications your family regularly needs - A supply of shelf-stable snacks your kids will actually eat - A written list of important phone numbers, kept with the kit
Let the kids help check expiration dates, test the flashlights, and pick the snacks. Those small jobs make the whole thing theirs.
How to run the quest well
Start with a short conversation before you pull anything out of the closet. The Outside app will prompt you to talk together about what you hope to discover. Take that seriously. Ask the kids what they think a family needs when the power goes out. Their answers will surprise you and set the right tone for everything that follows.
Then move through the house at a relaxed pace. Check what you already have. Make a list of what you need. If a supply run is required, bring the kids and let them carry the basket. When you get home, find a dedicated spot for the kit and label it clearly. Before you close out the quest in the app, take a moment to notice what worked and what your family figured out on its own. That reflection is part of what makes the experience stick.
Making it work for every age in the group
Ages 4 to 6 do best with a single clear job: they are the official flashlight testers. Hand them each light and let them confirm it works. They can also help count water bottles and pick a snack they want to see in the kit.
Ages 7 to 10 can take on the inventory role. Give them a simple checklist and let them move through each category, checking things off. They tend to love the authority and the clipboard energy of it.
Ages 11 to 14 are ready for the deeper questions. Why does a weather radio matter when phones exist? How long does a gallon of water actually last? Let them research and report back. This age group often becomes the household expert who explains the kit to grandparents or friends, which is its own reward.
What your family takes away
The Storm Ready badge earned in the Outside app marks something real. Your family spent time together on a project that matters, practiced thinking ahead, and finished with a physical result sitting in your home right now. Those are not small things.
Over time, this kind of quest builds a family identity around capability. Kids who helped build a weather kit are more likely to think practically about other challenges. Parents who ran the quest tend to feel more at ease during the next storm watch, not because they are certain nothing will go wrong, but because they know their household is organized and their kids have thought it through alongside them. That is the whole point.
Draw or describe what your family weather kit looks like now that it is ready. What was the one item that felt most important to include, and why did you choose it?
Frequently asked questions
Do we need to buy a lot of new gear to complete this quest?
Not at all. Most families already have several of the items on the list: flashlights, a first aid kit, or shelf-stable food. The quest is really about gathering what you have, identifying the gaps, and organizing everything in one place. A single targeted supply run, if you need one, is usually enough to finish the job without spending much.
Where should we store the weather kit once it is built?
Pick a spot that every family member can find in the dark, literally. A lower kitchen cabinet, a hallway closet shelf, or a designated bin in a utility room all work well. The key is consistency. Put it in the same place every time, label it clearly, and make sure even your youngest child knows where it lives.
How do we complete this quest in the Outside app?
Open the Outside app and navigate to Quest 37 in your weekly quest calendar. The app will walk you through four in-app steps: a conversation starter, the main activity, a moment to notice and share something new, and a reflection prompt before you finish. When you complete all four steps, your family earns 350 XP and the Storm Ready badge is added to your profile.
How often should we update or check the kit after we build it?
A quick once-a-year check keeps most kits in good shape. A natural anchor point is the start of your local storm season, whether that is hurricane season, tornado season, or winter weather. Check battery charge, replace any expired food or medication, and confirm your water supply is still adequate. Turning that annual check into its own small family ritual keeps the kit current and reinforces the habit.