Build Your Own Hammock

INTRODUCTION: It will be helpful to front-load this activity the day before, and ideally, have all campers bring materials to build their own hammock. If only one set of materials is available, all campers can work together to build one hammock. If setting it up the day prior, write out a list and ask families to bring what they have the next day. Sheets will be easier to use than tarps, so family participation would be helpful to supply this item. We also suggest doing some knot-tying practice before building hammocks - kids will be more readily successful and independent if they know some knots in advance. Have fun!

How long it’ll take:

1+ hours

What the goal is:

Campers will learn how to make a hammock.

What the objectives are:

Teach campers how to tie as many knots as possible, allow them to choose which knot they think will work best for holding tension, and help campers make their own reliable hammock using household items.

What you’ll need:

• 1 Bedsheet (any size)/Tarp/Drop Cloth/Thin Blanket

• 2 Lengths of Strong Cord/Rope at least 7-8 ft long each (preferably longer)

  • If your cord/rope is not strong enough to bear weight (approved by an adult), that's okay! We can still use it to demonstrate how to make a hammock (we just won’t lay in it).

• 2 Trees/Posts Spaced out 6-9 Feet Apart

  • If outside: Trees, deck railing, etc.

  • If inside: posts, chairs, railings, etc.

    • Whether inside or outside, if your posts/ tie off points are not strong enough to bear weight (approved by an adult), that's okay! We can still tie to them to demonstrate how to make a hammock (we just won’t lay in it).

What you’ll do:

1. Fold Sheet in half by the short end (when folded you want the sheet to be the longest it can be). Example Video (start at 1:20 in the video to see folding directions )

2. Scrunch up one end of the sheet so your hands are wrapped around it.

3. Tie (using any knot that is super secure) rope to the end of the sheet. Example Video ('knot' tying directions 0:00-3:07)

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 on the other end of the sheet.

5. Find two trees or two posts that you hammock can safely hang from.

6. Tie hammock between 2 trees/posts. Use this video for reference: https://vimeo.com/420757141

7. Slowly test the safety of the hammock with these steps:

   1. Continue to pull on the loose ends of the rope fastened to each end of the hammock and make sure they are cinched on the tree/post super tightly and securely.

   2. When tying your rope around the post to hang each side of the hammock, wrap the ropes around the post as many times as you can, with each wrap going underneath the wrap before it. Then after tying the flat overhand bend, tug on the end of the hammock and rope to make sure that knot is secure and that the rope is fastened to the post well.

   3. When your hammock is tied on either end, and you’ve checked the strength of your knots and that each side is securely fastened to the posts, slowly press down on the sheet with your hands to begin testing its ability to hold weight. If the sheet seems strong enough to hold and the knots and posts are handling the increased pressure well, continue applying more and more weight until you are resting in your hammock.

   4. For safety, your hammock should only be able 1-2 ft off the ground and that you are not hanging your hammock directly over an area that could result in injury if the hammock fell.

8. Hang out in the new hammock! If posts are not strong enough to support bodyweight, or the ropes or sheet that you used are not strong enough, do not have campers lay in hammock. In these cases, have campers find something lighter to place in the hammock (stuffed animal, toy, etc.).