How to Build a Natural Shelter
Seeing as this website is about the natural environment, I thought it would be somewhat fitting to write about building a natural shelter - a shelter made from natural resources. This is also referred to as a wilderness shelter or a survival shelter.
Knowing how to build a natural shelter can be essential to survival in the wilderness. This is especially true if you venture out in cooler climates.
Of course, if you are planning an overnight trip, you should already have your accommodation arranged (i.e. a tent, cabin, hotel…) . But if you find yourself lost on a one-day walk, then knowing how to build a shelter from natural resources could save your life.
Here are the high level steps for building a shelter:
- Find a suitable location - such as an uprooted tree at the edge of a forest. There should be plenty of branches, leaves, and forest debris lying around on the ground. The location shouldn’t be too exposed, but at the same time, it shouldn’t be at the bottom of a valley. Close to a water supply is great.
- Start building the shelter by placing strong, straight branches at a 45 degree angle (so that the rain can run off). If you’re using an uprooted tree, you can place them against the root. Use the thickest/strongest branches first, followed by the smaller/weaker ones. Ensure there’s a small hole that you can use to gain access.
- Once you’ve created the framework for your natural shelter, it’s time to insulate it. To do this, place leaves and other debris on top of the branches. You’ll need plenty of leaves for this. The leaves should be at least 30 centimeters thick. This will ensure your shelter is well insulated and will keep you warm. This is one of the reasons location is important - you’ll need a location where you can find plenty of leaves and forest debris.
That’s all there is to building a wilderness shelter using natural resources.
Now, if you are somebody who loves to get out in the wilderness, I recommend that you practice building your own survival shelter. You might find that it’s more difficult than it appears. Here’s one man’s first attempt at building a natural shelter!
And if you really are interested in learning more about building natural shelters, check out this video on building a shelter in a forest. Also, here are different types of survival shelters.
Tags: natural shelters, Wilderness Survival
