I was a "volunteer" adult advisor for the Wilderness Survival Merit Badge at summer camp this year. As a result, I had the "opportunity" to participate in the shelter building overnight with the boys. They spend the week learning survival skills, and then have to spend a night out in a shelter they build from natural materials they find out on the trail.

The adults were given the option of bringing a tent, but, we thought the boys would make fun of us if we wimped out like that. We compromised and showed them how to use alternative things you should have in a daypack (which they weren't allowed to use for this exercise) like poncho's as shelters. I also had a AMK Heat Sheet bivy with me, which was nice (but, too hot for summer, I had to trade off sweating or bugs getting to me). I have included a few photos. I have some notes/observations from spending a week trying to help these guys, I'll type them in when I finish unpacking from Scout Camp!

Oh yeah, to keep it fun, it rained around 1am the night we did this. It wouldn't be a Scout camping adventure without some rain, sleet or snow

Enjoy - Ron


Debris Shelter for 2:







Another proud pair of Debris Condo owners:





A third group:






Roof of one of the "sticks and moss" shelters:






Wait, you mean I have to sleep in this tonight?





Firebuilding 101:





This was my poncho shelter for the night, the boys were jealous:
(Note the AMK Heat Sheet Bivy for my bed)