If I was taking my (mute and undiagnosed) nephew the first time;
>Kid sized pack
-Water, two half liter bottles
-Snack. He loves my girlfriend's muffins, so I'd sneak some extra egg and oatmeal into a couple
-Banana, for electrolyte replacement
-Lantern, shows in all directions if he drops out of sight
-Chemical warmer. Demonstrate before the trip.
-Whistle. You know what sounds like a screaming autist? Fucking cougars.
-Emergency Blanket
-First aid kit. Pretty much just cloth band aids and sanitary wipes.
-Special needs rosary
>My pack
-4 liters water. Enough for both of us, when he runs out.
-Lunch. Kid likes sausages.
-Trail snack, I go for salted fish and black bread.
-Gatorade powder. Make double strength to go with lunch.
-Camp stove. I use a twig stove, so can roast sausages if needed.
-Medkit, full. I don't know if he'd sit through sutures, without painkillers, but if something happens to me I still need to get him out.
-Map/Compass. GPS can break.
-Knife
-Hammock shelter and sleeping bag. There's room for 1 and half, in an emergency. He knows what a hammock is for, so it will aid in keeping him calm.
-Chordage
-Emergency ration. Mochi is sweet and doesn't freeze. Pemmican is complete nutrition, but tastes like shit. Your call.
-Maglite. More versatile than regular flashlight.
-Lighter, flint backup.
-Bible and rosary. Kid can't read, but likes stories.
Every part of this kit is potentially educational. I don't know what your students are like, but my nephew will be enraptured by anything you let him participate in.
A teenager can carry a duplicate of the second pack, with 3 liters water. Use his supplies to teach survival skills along the way. Firecraft, carving, first aid, and whatnot.
You don't sound super experienced, so get some practice with these three at home. They're foundational to everything else he may want to learn, and competence is 3/5ths of teaching this stuff.
>Optionally, you can put a gps tracker on the kid's wrist.
