Being out in nature can be great, but there are all sorts of challenges you might not anticipate.
That’s why it’s important to be able to make a shelter for yourself that can help you survive during different elements.
To be a fully prepared nature explorer, you should know how to make a survival shelter.
Survival shelters are not about comfort. As the name suggests, they are for survival. YouTuber Survival Lilly is here to help you learn 5 different types of shelters and how to build them.
1. Debris hut survival shelter.
This shelter requires a bunch of dead leaves to cover you up.
Using a branch or fallen tree as the skeleton of the structure, make sure that every inch of it is covered in leaves. There should be a hollowed-out area inside it to fit your body.
She says:
“When entering the shelter, go with your feet first and be very careful to not destroy the structure or the shelter.”
To secure this shelter at night, just grab some extra nearby leaves and pull them towards the entrance. She also suggests using leaves as a blanket, because they make great insulation.
2. Lean-to survival shelter.
This shelter is good if you have a fire reflector. In this technique, you’re going to want to cut up many long thin branches.
Then, you create a structure in which the smaller branches rest against the longest branch, creating a sort of triangle between the branches and the tree.
Next, gather branches of dried leaves (pines are ideal) and cover the structure with them to keep out the cold. This is especially good if the wind is blowing strongly from one side and you have a fire reflector to keep you warm on the other side.
3. Dome-shaped survival hut.
Gather four super long branches and make sure you have string or a rope.
You’re going to plant the branches in the ground, far away but make sure they can still touch. Then, use the ropes to tie these together, creating a dome.
To create walls in this hut, tie smaller branches along the length of these tall branches in parallel fashion. These makeshift walls will help hold the fresh leaves you gather to create insulation.
4. Enclosed lean-to shelter with an emergency blanket.
If you go camping in the winter you should definitely bring an emergency blanket. If you have one, this shelter might be right for you.
Begin by creating your leaf-bed against a tree first, in order to create some insulation from the cold ground.
Then, prop a few branches overhead and make sure they rest against the tree.
Once you have the bones of the lean-to set up, throw your emergency blanket over the structure and fasten it in.
On the other side of the structure, just fill in any extra space with insulating leaf branches.
5. Semi-permanent A-frame shelter.
This one is great for 2 people but only recommended if you have a lot of time.
It involves a lot of sawing away at tree branches in order to get enough branches that are long enough to all lean against one another, creating an A-shaped frame.
Like before, gather debris to create an insulating wall. Here Survival Lilly uses twigs and moss.
You complete this shelter by creating a raised floor out of chopped-down logs. The end result looks like a hobbit house, and quite cozy.
These 5 shelters should help you in any survival situation.
If you find yourself in the woods and unprepared for the elements, these shelters give you plenty of options to protect yourself.
Their primary function is to keep you warm and shielded from the wind or rain. Now that you have these skills, go out and wow everyone on your next camping trip!
Get the full tutorial for all five shelters in the video below!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
