BH is right about observing and even studying the structures made by animals such a birds and beavers. Another suggestion is to study buildings built by primtive people. Preferabley people native to your location since their materials are more likely to be what is readily available to you as well. Shelter building is something to get good at not just to be able to build a good one, but to be able to build a good one fast. I say this from experience.... when the rain starts coming down you don't want to get soaked while building your shelter. When I camp alone I don't use a tent and one exercise I like to perform is to stop in the woods at a more or less random location, set down my gear, then force myself to build my shelter with only what is a certain distance from me. I have done every distance from only what is withing arm's reach to what is within 30 yards. I have also done a similar exercise where I have to build a fire with only what is within arm's reach. I like the "within arm's reach" exercise because it simulates survival with an injury such as an injured leg, not to mention that after hiking many miles it's an excuse to sit still for a long time. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Okay I digress. What you're doing is very good. I agree with you about the box being not so necessary and maybe causing more trouble than its worth if say it had been raining the day you first built the shelter as well. Sounds to me like you're on the right track. Do the neighbors look at you funny? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I know when Im camping Ive got so sick of walking in to my seemingly empty camp (because my primitive shelter is usually off in the woods near but not too near the designated camping spot) that I have started carrying a bright orange piece of plastic and some extra cordage so that I have something to put up (so it looks like a tarp shelter) at the designated spot to let people know that "hey someone is camping here". <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />