Tarp Building

Tarp Building

How long it’ll take:

40 minutes

What the goal is:

Campers should understand the importance of a shelter when in the outdoors. Campers should also understand the minimal items needed to create an adequate shelter.

What the objectives are:

Campers should be able to create a shelter for themselves or a small group. Given a tarp, tree, and rocks, campers should be able to create an adequate shelter for a small group. CLICK HERE for a video on tarp tenting.

(if you don't have two trees, tie one end to a large rock on the ground)

What you’ll need:

• Large tarp

• Large rope

• Cordage

• Area with 1 tree, 2 trees, and large rocks available

• Shelter visual

• “Half-hitch” and “Trucker’s hitch”

What you’ll do:

1. Ask the campers, “When would a tarp be preferable to a traditional tent? And when would you definitely want a tent and not a tarp?” Let them know that we’ll learn two different tarp set-ups this afternoon that they can use on their next camping trip, if the situation is right for a tarp.

2. Show the campers how to set up a Bat Cave style shelter

• Secure the rope to the tree at head height using a trucker’s hitch.

• Find a large rock (~ the size of your head) or a low tie out and tie the other ridge line to it at ground level using ½ hitch.

• Stretch rope as far out as possible.

• Tie out 2 front corners using rocks and/or small shrubs/low branches.

• Tuck the remaining loose sides of the tarp under the created shelter and weight them down with backpacks/rocks/or extra gear.

3. Teach the campers how to tie a half hitch.

4. Split the group into two and let each sub-group set up a bat cave. Let them know that after they set up their tarp we’ll have a ‘Better Tents and Campsites’ tour.

5. Show the campers how to set up a lean to tarp shelter.

• Attach rope to ridge lines and corners of tarps

• Secure the rope to two trees using a trucker’s hitch.

• Tie loose corners out to small shrubs, rocks, or the bases of 2 more trees.

• Teach the campers the two knots you used: half hitch and trucker’s hitch.

• Split the group into two and let each sub-group set up a lean to tarp shelter.

• Make sure when taking down your tarps, you “fluff the duff” around the area in which the tarp was set up.