Comments on: How to build a survival shelter

By: Tenstle town

Tenstle town — Sat, 19 May 2012 14:52:05 +0000

so cool

By: Arrowman 123

Arrowman 123 — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:35:20 +0000

cool going to try this

By: T542Scout

T542Scout — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:53:37 +0000

Cool Beans Man!!!!

By: jackrocks12

jackrocks12 — Fri, 04 May 2012 23:15:51 +0000

i have made something like the lean to but a little different

By: Bear Grylls

Bear Grylls — Wed, 02 May 2012 23:18:30 +0000

It really depends on where you are… if you’re in the Florida Everglades you’re best bet is a swamp bed. For forests (e.g. a pine forest) you’d best do a A-frame or a Lean-To against or in-between several trees (or one) because the branches of the trees will be extra protection against The Elements. And if you have one with you DEFIANTLY use a tarp. Well if you’ll excuse me its Tea Time!

Bear

By: big kev

big kev — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:09:15 +0000

these are awesome ideas, but you should lite a fire probably 5-7 feet from your shelter

By: Mauler

Mauler — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:34:32 +0000

Isn’t that what Brian did in Hatchet? He built his shelter in a rock dugout.

By: Mauler

Mauler — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:30:18 +0000

I learned how to make one out of a tarp, a length of cord and two sticks from a book by an ex-Marine.

By: scoutdance kid

scoutdance kid — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 04:38:27 +0000

be prepared always have a backup fire starter and basic survival kit

By: InBrotherhood

InBrotherhood — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:07:41 +0000

For more, I would HEAVILY recommend the “The Survival Handbook” published by DK, and is approved by Venturing too!

It includes anything from shelters, to first aid, to outdoor survival, what to pack on trips, how to hunt. . . the list goes on and on.

I got mine for $25, Great Buy

By: bigguy

bigguy — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 03:51:32 +0000

ilooked at alot of sites and this one was the best i found so far thanks

By: deeb

deeb — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 04:18:45 +0000

gr8 ideas!!! i really like the A frame and the Tarp shelter, shall be using them with my Pfs for our next campout.

By: Beatlesfan

Beatlesfan — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:42:06 +0000

Boys life is a huge help 2 me cuz im a survivalist

By: dtlux

dtlux — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 23:46:27 +0000

If I ever need it I will have it.

By: bxhfbasdhfa

bxhfbasdhfa — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 21:42:48 +0000

these are good but as I learned from man vs. wild, you should learn how to make an elevated bed to get away from all the critters on the ground.

By: Beatlesfan

Beatlesfan — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 19:57:54 +0000

It’s a good idea to keep an emergency kit with things like rope, a flint and steel, and a pocketknife. I do.

By: mountainman1219

mountainman1219 — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:43:35 +0000

are you sure you can survive in the desert it’s one of the crueler places to survive in. I personally know that since the sonoran desert is my backyard in arizona. at a 120 degrees and up…..

By: I am awesome

I am awesome — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 01:58:18 +0000

These r good, but if it is pouring rain and the ground is soaked, pick an a place between two thick, sturdy branches low to the ground on a big tree, then place yourself between the two branches.If you have a backpack or extra sweater, place this under your head and against the tree. It may not be the most comfortable, but it works great! : )

By: mountainman1219

mountainman1219 — Sun, 30 May 2010 21:01:37 +0000

another option is to use a poncho for the lean-to or even the a-frame it is very compact and much like the space blanket will keep you water proof, yet you can also wear it when on the move. Even a cheap garbage bag is great to have in your survival kit.

By: Knarf

Knarf — Sat, 22 May 2010 11:51:45 +0000

The cocoon looks awesome!

By: Pope

Pope — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 04:09:57 +0000

It’s always good to note the wind direction before placing a fire in front of a shelter. The smoke can fill the shelter and result in mild CO poisoning. Why make a survival situation more miserable by inferior planning?

By: bob

bob — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:09:41 +0000

thats cool

By: smart tart

smart tart — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:33:14 +0000

I have a lean to in my yard.

By: Ranger

Ranger — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 02:55:40 +0000

Done These Several Times, Very Useful

By: middie football

middie football — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:17:11 +0000

if u lie next to a rock and build a fire on the other side of you you will be really warm because the heat from the fire will bounce off the rock and back at you.

By: Ben Jammin

Ben Jammin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:51:42 +0000

I like klondikes theyre cool i like scouts. I am an spl.

By: IJB

IJB — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:09:51 +0000

I made a lean-to in my backyard.=D

By: BBT

BBT — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:51:34 +0000

I think this is pretty cool. Like sevenwolves, I regret not visiting the site sooner.

By: jeff

jeff — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:26:27 +0000

when i took the wilderness survival merit badge it was freezing cold and there were flood warnings

By: smart scout

smart scout — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:29:24 +0000

do not build shelter against rock because it will absorb your body heat.

By: smartdude

smartdude — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:09:51 +0000

im going to do this on my next campout

By: Dall

Dall — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:55:16 +0000

great!!!

By: jim bob

jim bob — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:27:29 +0000

always be organised !!!!!!!

By: legend

legend — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:22:30 +0000

thanks for that,

By: e=mc2

e=mc2 — Sat, 09 May 2009 16:31:28 +0000

Whare do u get it

By: wise one

wise one — Sat, 09 May 2009 16:29:28 +0000

What is in a standared boyscout backpack?

By: wise one

wise one — Sat, 09 May 2009 16:13:49 +0000

what kind of knife do you need and what is required?

By: your mom

your mom — Tue, 05 May 2009 00:20:42 +0000

I took the wilderness suvival merit badge and it was awesone, but i was really cold

By: Ghost 320

Ghost 320 — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:11:07 +0000

Sweet. I am taking wilderness survival at summer camp. These will skills will come in handy.

By: moner143

moner143 — Mon, 04 May 2009 00:26:51 +0000

PEOPLE THIS AWESOME, NOW I NOW EXACTLY WHAT BUILD WHEN I AM LOST IN A FOREST, DESSERT, etc

By: boy scout

boy scout — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:33:44 +0000

i will use this for my wilderness survial merit badge at camp bartlett

By: FANG

FANG — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:38:47 +0000

i really lov these shelters i want to try them sometime thanks Boy’s Life!

By: gods boy

gods boy — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:52:04 +0000

i learned a lot

By: bizzo67

bizzo67 — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:44:52 +0000

REALY COOL! i agree with M j 12 thanks for the facts!

By: survival artist

survival artist — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:58:30 +0000

I like the A-frame the best and the tarp the least because it would be heavy to carry.

By: big guy

big guy — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:23:27 +0000

coooooooool. i want to try it

By: Kenny876543

Kenny876543 — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:26:13 +0000

thanks good article

By: coolguy#1

coolguy#1 — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:28:19 +0000

hey that is very cool :>)

By: Boyscout1

Boyscout1 — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:34:10 +0000

AWESOMME!! Now IF I get lost I know what to do if It’s dark and I’m lost.

By: THQ

THQ — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:52:08 +0000

This is great suggistions when making a sheler for the surivial merit bage.

By: tiger

tiger — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 01:13:41 +0000

great stuff

By: TIGR22TRY Y

TIGR22TRY Y — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:38:15 +0000

cant wait to make a A-Frame. its goin to be kewl. I wonder how the cocoon can keep you warm? Now I can get the wilderness survival badge a lot easier. Thanks Boys Life!!

By: king tut

king tut — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:25:20 +0000

i have made most of them they are all good shelters

By: sevenwolves

sevenwolves — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:23:30 +0000

thats pretty kool, i just got my wild survival badge and i regret now visiting the website sooner =(

By: Iron Man

Iron Man — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:10:51 +0000

Cool! Maybe I’ll try to make an A-frame shelter in my backyard!

P.S. What is a multytool?

By: tigerrag

tigerrag — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:44:18 +0000

cool!!!

By: troop 41 man

troop 41 man — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:43:25 +0000

I pult a lean to to finish my wilderness sunvile merit bage.also a pocketknife or a multytool [my favorte] canhelp you out a lot.

By: SPL81

SPL81 — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:55:42 +0000

I made one one time, by taking a skinny log and putting in the fork in a tree and the othe end laying on the ground. Then I leaned smallsticks against it. Then i covered it in moss.

By: cheese burger

cheese burger — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:57:25 +0000

I love the lean too!

By: survivorman

survivorman — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:46:02 +0000

hey I have a question what should you do (shelter wise) if there was thunder and litening and or hail? how would i take cover?

By: survivorman

survivorman — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:12:48 +0000

nice love the artical

By: viper

viper — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:26:03 +0000

I took a class on this type of stuff in high school. Big rocks make a fast shelter make sure if it’s raining the water running down the rock has some were to go other then under you!! lean the wood against it to make a lean to. the best shelter is a fast one.. try to cover it with hemlock, pine branches, leaves, mud, dirt, grass, and even small sticks what ever is on hand at a moments notice. It’s Imperative to stay dry in any life threating wilderness emergence, do what ever is necessary to do so. small Fires help a lot.

By: M j 12

M j 12 — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:41:19 +0000

this was great now I know how to survive if I get lost in the woods

By: Lifescout

Lifescout — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:37:48 +0000

this was a cool article i enjoyed the pictures somthing else i wanted to add when on a beach for a shelter run a trench pointing toward the ocean or else wind will blow right through (i experienced the ‘wind tunnell effect before not pleasnt’)

By: YamahaRider13

YamahaRider13 — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 01:32:45 +0000

im going 2 make one of these tomorrow!

By: cman

cman — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:24:46 +0000

i tried off a broken stranded car

By: ford

ford — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:24:22 +0000

You know one thing I learned in my years of scouts was always have a pocketknife and a roll of twine you never know what kind of situation you will find yourself in. Like the scout motto says “Be Prepared!”

By: scout

scout — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 15:03:56 +0000

Try to build a shelter against

a huge tree!

By: the man7

the man7 — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:33:14 +0000

great article

By: theman701

theman701 — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:32:34 +0000

get however many u need 2 cover ur body

By: Survivor12

Survivor12 — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:14:41 +0000

This was a great article, but it left me with one question: About how many pine branches do you need for the fallen tree shelter?? I am doing a report at school on shelters, and it is great EXCEPT for the fact that people will be wondering the same thing I was. If anyone has an answer, I’d like to hear it!!!!!

By: mr. lol

mr. lol — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:05:08 +0000

this advice was sooooo useful when we went to winter survivail camp our scout master siad we should get an award

By: dude24

dude24 — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 23:14:58 +0000

i never knew that

By: vinny

vinny — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:50:51 +0000

cool i will do it

By: 619

619 — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:14:26 +0000

~Great ideas and now when I go hiking, I will know even more about building a shelter.~

~ Thank You!!!!!~

By: Survivor12

Survivor12 — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:10:27 +0000

Cool now I want to get lost so I can build a shelter!

By: Aquamarine

Aquamarine — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:03:24 +0000

This is a very informational piece and it will help you figure out what to make for a shelter.

By: brick3

brick3 — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:40:46 +0000

cool i shood try to get lost sometime for kicks

By: Bucket head

Bucket head — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:30:23 +0000

A good thing to do is have every scout carry a space blanket in their pocket.

By: Bucket Head

Bucket Head — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:29:04 +0000

Natural caves and hollow logs work well as shelter. Just be careful to ensure that no critters live in them.

By: mokey scout

mokey scout — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:40:36 +0000

That waa great I have a campout for boy scoutts soon and I’am just joining and for 1 badge we have to build our shelter and now I know 5 ways and good and bad places to camp.

By: nooheaj

nooheaj — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:27:28 +0000

this information was very useful to me when I was lost for 1 night in the woods.

By: Greco-Roman

Greco-Roman — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:29:57 +0000

Very informative! It contains information that everyone should know especially any scout. These shelters very clever. Anyone should at some time in their life build and live one of these shelters. I will make these shelters for kicks when I can’t find a tent buddy.

By: Wahooh

Wahooh — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:45:08 +0000

Awesome! Great article. Building some of these shelters will be a good activity for the Webelos in our pack.