Survival Shelters Using Only Natural Resources

Having the knowledge and skills to make a survival shelter using only the natural resources around you, is a key skill that any survivalist should consider adding to their repertoire.

What is a survival shelter?

This is pretty self-explanatory. Pretty much a shelter used to survive the elements can be called a survival shelter. Even the slightest bit of shade or insulation could help keep your body safe in a not so pleasant situation. There are a lot of shelters that can be used in extreme situations, but we’re going to stick with ones that use only natural resources.

Animal

I’ve seen a gnarly video of Bear Grylls taking shelter from a snowstorm in the carcass of a dead animal. This is an extreme measure to be taken but could also safe your life. When there’s no time and no where to go, the dead elk by you could keep you alive.

Cave

Fortunately, there are natural shelters out there for the fortunate soul. This can save a lot of valuable time. Be wary of critters that may be living in such caves. You wouldn’t want to make a nice snack. Also, watch for water flow. The cave may look nice, but if there’s water flowing down through it, you’re no good wet. Constructing a raised platform of sorts could counter this.

Leaf Mound

Most importantly, look for dry leaves. This shelter is no good to you if it makes you wet. This shelter, if you could call it that, is simply a pile of dry leaves that create an insulated barrier. In extreme situations, this could keep you warm and is a lot better than being stuck out in the wind. Again, watch for critters. These will more likely be on the smaller side but no less deadly. You don’t want to survive a scenario only to be bitten by a snake. This is a temporary means of shelter so keep on the lookout for a better means of survival.

Dug Out

Snow and Sand come to mind. In sandy locations, being farther down from the scorched top layer can provide a cooler area to hunker down in. Hot air rises to keep that in mind. Also, if you notice what animals do in locations like this, you’d see why digging down can be beneficial. The top of the dugout can be covered by branches or whatever is available. In the snow, digging in to let’s say the side of a hill, can provide an area of insulation. Watch out for cave ins. Being buried in the snow and suffocating is not preferable.

Classic Lean-to

This is a common shelter that many people make. It’s simple and gets the job done. As we see form the name, you simply lean thick branches against something to create a sort of triangular prism. What you use to lean against needs to be strong and sturdy. This can be a tree log or even a boulder. Building one just enough to fit you or whoever may be with you, is more efficient than making a massive structure. Not only is making a humongous lean-to time consuming, it also makes it harder to heat up because of the space. With a smaller lean-to, your fire, (hopefully you managed to create one), will be a lot more efficient in keeping you warm.

A-Frame

This is very similar to the lean-to. Instead of one side being closed, both sides are covered. This shelter is self-standing so doesn’t require something to lean against. The structure of an A-frame may look like a lot of one-man tents. Imagine an A without the middle dash and a long pole attached to the top angled down toward the ground. The front of the A is the entrance and everything else is covered.

Debris Hut

This is a little less pretty than the A-frame shelter. However, with certain circumstances, this can be made in less time. Most of the names of these shelters are self-explanatory. This one is no exception. The main focus here is insulation. Making a basic frame similar to an A-frame, gather large sticks for construction. The shell is made of whatever resource is available in the area. For insulation, tightly weave things like smaller sticks, large leaves, and or branches to the outside layer. The idea is to block the inside from outside elements. With a sufficiently thick layer, you’ll make a cozy shelter that with proper construction, could be used for longer periods. Don’t forget. With all this insulation on your structure, let’s not forget about the ground. All that layering will amount to nothing if you’re laying on the cold damp ground. Insulating the floor of the shelter will keep you off the ground and help prevent heat loss.

Spider Shelter (Teepee)

This is something I made as a kid. Granted it would have provided hardly any protection from the elements, but it was a “shelter” none the less. This structure can be made by first gathering long poles and placing them in circular fashion all falling toward the middle. Sticking the poles in the ground will provide better stability. Latching three poles together as a base before adding the other ones will make things a little easier. After you have a basic skeleton, add insulation. This is where I always messed up. Adding a ton of branches and sticks may make a decent layer but you still need smaller stuff like leaves and anything that’ll fill the cracks. If the structure is sound, even some mud will do the trick. A lot of people use a tarp to cover the frame, but where going the only natural resources route here.

Wickiup Shelter (Wigwam)

This is a more advanced shelter, so I needed to do a little more research. I’ve never tried this, so I needed some visuals. This shelter is roomier than a lot of the other shelters. The basic frame is made by bending poles in a half circle like manner to create something that resembles an igloo. You will need a lot more materials to make this shelter so if time is precious, this probably isn’t your best option. After bending the poles to make a basic frame, more poles and sticks are then woven in between. The final layer depends on the region. I’ve seen people use large quantities of grass tightly packed and formed around the outside of the frame. One could use large strips of tree bark for the outside.

Shelter Walls

For extra security and shelter from the wind, some walls are in order. Walls can be a thing for a shelter that will be occupied for longer periods. Don’t go planting flower beds now this is just an added measure of survival. If all the walls will do is make your camp look better, then your wasting valuable effort. Making a cool video? Then by all means make some fancy walls.

The first thing is to plant poles in the ground. These will be how high you want your wall. These should be firm and well planted. After this, weave flexible rods, vines, etc., through the poles to create a mesh. This mesh can then later be filled with smaller twigs or mud to create a wall.

Location

All these shelters sound good, but a major effect on your ability to create them is location. The area you may end up in will have unique resources available. A lot of these shelters use wood. This resource may not be so prevalent in your location so you will have to adapt.

Using the basic principles of these designs and some knowledge of the local area can bring you a step closer to survival. Or if you’re a kid at heart like me, something fun to build.