Build a Shelter in the Woods

🎂 6 + years ⏱️ 2 h 📍 Woods & Meadow ⭐ active

Here you will learn how to build a really cool shelter in the woods. Imagine you are forest explorers who need protection. From rain or wild animals (only in your imagination, no worries!). And the best part: You don't need much, just a few branches, leaves, and of course trees. Are you ready? Then let's get started!

What you'll need

Two trees with forks
Long branches
Many smaller branches
Leaves or moss for the walls

How it works

First, you need to find two trees that will help you with the building. Make sure they are stable and have at least one fork. You will place the thick branches in these forks later to create the frame for your shelter.
Now take the longest and thickest branches you can find. Lay them across between the two trees, right in the forks. This is your 'crossbeam' and the foundation for your shelter. This beam is the roof structure on which everything else will be built.
Next, lean more long branches against this crossbeam at an angle, so they look like the slanted walls of a tent. These branches will be placed on the ground on one side and leaned against the crossbeam on the other side. The more you use, the sturdier your shelter will be.
Now that the frame is set, you need walls. Collect many smaller branches, twigs, and leaves. You can place these between the slanted large branches. The denser you place them, the better your shelter will protect you from 'rain' and 'wind' - in your imagination, of course!
Now you already have a roof and walls, but what about the floor? Lay leaves, moss, or grass on the ground to make it softer and comfortable to sit on. Leave one side open. That's the entrance to your hideout.
Sit in your shelter and check if everything is stable. Maybe you want to take a break and just sit and enjoy the forest around you. Or you can imagine that it's raining outside and you are protecting yourself from the weather in your hideout.
Building a shelter in the woods is not only a lot of fun, but you are also outdoors and learning how to be creative with nature. With branches and teamwork, you can build a really cool hideout and then tell stories or just chill together.