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Description

Build shelters with natural materials.

(See Tips in Instructions)

Resources

Folding Saws
Knives
Tough gloves
(recommend long sleeves)
First aid kit complete with good supply of "cuts kit"
Optionally - Watering can with rose - great for a fun waterproofing test at the end!
Optionally - handout sheets with design ideas

GOOD MATERIALS FOR NATURAL SHELTER
. Hazel (dead wood)
. Willow (dead wood)
GOOD MATERIALS FOR THATCHING (/ WATERPROOFING)
. Typically need at least 30cm / half an arms length of depth of thatching
. Bracken
. Large amounts of leaf debris
. Spruce boughs
. Pine (dead or alive)

Instructions

. Discuss Why Shelter, key requirements & context of survival priorities
. Show various shelter designs (use handouts?) & talk-through.
. Recap with scouts key risks (see RA) - sharp sticks / bracken / nettles, knives/tools if using, Weather.
. Don't pitch under "widow makers" (damaged trees or large trees known to drop their limbs without warning such as Beech trees)
to remember
. Be mindful not to pull up Ferns that may be less common than the Bracken.
. Tell scouts to cut bracken and use gloves, it can cut you like a deep paper cut if pulled.
. Only the main supports need to be strong and consider using green wood for this if available... The rest of the shelter can be foraged from the ground dead in areas rich of fallen wood.
. Remind scouts the importance of choosing the correct location. Same as if you were pitching a tent, flat surface, no dip etc.
. Express the need to place the shelter near the resources you'll be needing, this could mean walking until you find suitable resources.
. Begin building shelters, attached are some different style of shelters you could use.

Scouts – in patrols or groups of 4-6 – each Build one 1-man shelter (simple kennel design is a good one)- aim to complete skeleton & start to thatch (NB thatching is very time consuming - unlikely to finish in 1.5 hours)
OPTIONAL EXTRA / Alternative Activities dep on # leaders & experience:
Another Group (or leaders for demo?) builds start of Lean-to structure (not thatch)
Another Group (or leaders for demo?) builds a reflecting Log wall (in position by one of shelters)

If thatching complete, Pour water over the shelter with volunteer scout lying inside ?

Tags

• 7th Woking
• Bushcraft
• shelter
• survival

Badge Links

• Outdoors - Bivouac
• Survival Skills - Shelter
• Survival Skills - Shelters