If you can order from Pyramid air, maybe a Benji Trail NP air pistol - 500-600 fps is plenty for pests and small game - or a an air rifle (1000-1200 fps is better but 800 is plenty for longer distances and squirrels). They will run $50-70. I specify the pistol because BB guns and lower power would reduce the training and skills development as well as reduce the hunting and pest control. H&N Baracuda (and to lesser degree Baracuda green) is a honey of a small pest and game round in .177 pellets, and would make me grin ear to ear in MY stocking.

Air soft is an option as well, instead of paintball, and can be had less expensively although to some degree you get what you pay for. Still, it gives a pack of pistols under the tree and goggles and pellets in the stocking. you can also pick up plastic modeling paints so they can camo-up the airsoft or pellet gun(s) - leaving the orange markers - and gain another indoors activity.

Fishing yoyos can be had 5/$10 or thereabouts in the U.S. Add in some shorter lengths of paracord and an array of 4,6 and 8 hooks, and they can make their own lures. Intense Angler on YouTube has a basic video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQmGNQvyXrU
Smaller pieces can be used for smaller hooks, with and without the amount of "fan" he shows, to replicate tadpoles and smaller minnows, and strands from the interior pulled through the weave or parts of the outer sheath plucked out a little or a lot to customize the lures. That gives them a nice cold-weather activity to keep them anticipating the spring buds and runs. They can make wallet-sized fishing kits over the rest of winter and start putting them to test after the weather breaks, unless they're into ice fishing!

If you've got a seller by the reel in your area, you can pick up short lengths in multiple colors of the paracord without buying 4 or 8 20-foot strands to create a variety of lures. They make it in all kinds of amazing colors now. To some degree the same effects can be had with any cord loose enough to wedge a hook through, so a craft store or sewing shop might be worth a stop. Then they start collecting duck feathers, pen-dying them, and drawing and creating even more intricate lures, with hopes that they don't go totally crazy and start tying flies. 🙂

If they dig working with their hands, a longer length of paracord and some clips and the directions to make a hat band for a boonie soft cover or a bracelet is another one that's good for a useful item as well as an indoor activity (I hate winter, can you tell?).

The card game "Conflicted" presents survival/disaster scenarios that they sound old enough to handle, nothing too gory, and run in the $12-20 USD range.

Fire strikers of either the blast match or flint-steel or magnesium-ferro rod style might appeal and are relatively inexpensive (especially the latter), small enough to go in a pocket anytime they're away from home, and nice to practice with.

A GI canteen with steel mug (I don't like the alum mugs) or the larger 2-qt varieties might appeal to them, especially if you save veggie cans that they can turn into a mini wood gas stove or mini rocket stove for a bag.

One of the Thayer wild edible guides might work. His usually focused on the U.S. Great Lakes area, so it might not apply where you are as much. The Peterson guides have more items, but have line drawings, little detail about each, and Peterson doesn't use the storytelling or writing style Thayer does. Another that doesn't have a ton of details but is geared toward suburbs and "ornamental" as well as weed plants is the Zachos "Backyard Edibles" guide. Thayer is best, always.

Motorola/two-way radios would replace the big set if you got the ones for 23 or 30 or 35 mi ones, but they do have $30 and $50 options available with more than 2-mi ranges.

Since they already have knives, a two-grit round stone that can be used for knives or axes might be an idea, and maybe a hatchet and a machete or a hatchet and an e-tool would appeal if they're into camping.

An LED light of the type that clips to the front of a ball cap or with the band to go around the head is awesome for hands-free - I use one walking the dogs almost nightly.

A self-defense or defensive shooting video or book might be useful (the older pair are military aged, people, before our heads spin fully around on our necks).

A binder and custom maps they can use to mark fuel stations, water sources (faucet outside Wal-Mart, spring here), rail road cuts that are navigable, camping options, and places they find wild edibles, plus evac routes and rally points for the family.

I tried to keep it to mostly "fun" stuff. Good luck!

I need a bigger stocking - those all sound cool to ME!

Oh wow now to pick a few! Thank you!!

get em an EDC keychain. That's what I'm doing for my grandfather, and a few friends. Mine includes, a small pocketknife, a sharperner/seat belt cutter, and a maglite LED. It's a good present.

For the son that likes plants/gardening...a binder of seeds, a plant identification book, a mini indoor greenhouse

A good book on knots.
Their own hand crank charging flashlights
mini first aid books (the mini SAS Survival book is very good)
Jerky making book/kit...boys love beef jerky

Thank you all! Great ideas!
I ordered in some canteens, waiting for delivery confirmation! I am hoping it is next week (the suggested delivery date was Dec 24! yikes! That is cutting it way too close!)
I would love to get them Conflicted (have been reading about it on a few sites) but, delivery is an issue 🙁
Fire striking flint is in the stocking bag! They will say that is the "easy way" to start fire. They know how to with next to nothing. lol I have taught them the beauty of using glasses and also just to do it like they have to on Survivor... no flint, just wood and go! hahaha

My guys all have their own crank lights with radio and phone charger built in, that was 2 yrs ago's surprises 🙂
I got them new LED lantern lights that they can keep in their tool boxes for emergencies.
I am looking into a new indoor greenhouse but Bill (my horticulturist) says we are better off with the set up we have. lol The kid cracks me up, always trying to make things easier for Mama! I got him a few books on plant propagation and seed saving for his birthday... I have enjoyed reading them lol He will read them when I hit something he doesn't know yet. They got me the Encyclopedia of Country Living for Mother's day... it is really a neat book of everything! I have renewed our family gift to the seed of the month club (I love getting 4 packs of seeds every month!)

I am trying to find them affordable swiss army knife keychains. I am thinking I need to his either Forest City or Steel City soon for stuff. EDC are a great idea! Thanks!

TSC had beef jerky kits, I might grab one for Jake, he is my culinary sidekick. He wants a cheese making kit but I haven't found one locally. The shipping on the last one I found was atrociously priced (shipping cost more than the kit!), first aid books are a great idea too!

Thank you again everyone! 🙂

Hey, Ma,
I was tooling around and found these sites this morning. A little late, but I thought they were cute. I'm adding them to my Xmas gifts lists to tweak for general "normal" FEMA/Red Cross preparedness for some family and friends who don't "prep." I wish I'd found them earlier this year!
http://foodstorageandsurvival.com/twelve-days-of-christmas-preparedness-gear-style/
http://foodstorageandsurvival.com/twelve-days-of-christmas-food-storage-style/

The site has some ideas for afternoon and weekend projects as well, should they get antsy to "play" during the rest of winter:
http://foodstorageandsurvival.com/25-diy-weekend-preparedness-projects/

Cheers!
-Mrs. P

I was inspired by what I read here and hit Canadian Tire yesterday. I got my mom a fishing rod so she and I can fish together next summer. I also got compasses as stocking-stuffers for my girls and I and got them each a sling shot and pellets. I also picked up some water-proof matches and water purification tablets for myself. I have not always had family in town while my girls have been growing up, and as a single mom, have had no one to do my stocking and gifts. So I have done them myself and take the opportunity to get some things that I want. My mom is here now, but doesn't drive so I take her out shopping. However, she gets some surprise stocking-stuffers and gifts for me now.