Shelter Types

Ramada

Imagine you're in a hot, sunny climate, like the desert. In this situation, it's critical to build a shelter that protects from the sun and doesn't get overheated. 

As a rule of thumb, a ramada is created with four posts and covered with tarps, mats or brush. Although it isn't the most rain proof, it does a great job providing shade. 

Quinzhee 

Imagine you're in a cold climate. There is plenty of snow but not a whole lot of sticks or branches. What can you do? In this situation, with dropping temperatures, it is even more important to quickly and properly build a shelter. 

A quinzhee is essentially a snow shelter. The word quinzhee is of Athabaskan origin, the native people who inhabit the interior of Alaska. 

To begin, pile the snow up and then allow it to settle. This process is called "sintering" and is when the snow crystals adhere to each other. Once this happens, it's time to start hollowing out the structure. 

After its creation, a quinzhee has the ability to insulate and protect from the elements. Along with the quinzhee, there are many variations of snow shelters like igloos and lumitalos.

Tarp Shelters

In a survival situation, a tarp can be one of your greatest assets. If you think about it, it's waterproof, wind resistant, and very versatile. At the bare minimum, one can wrap themselves in a tarp to protect from the elements. However, there are a range of ways to further utilize tarps, if it's making an A-frame shelter with rope or just hanging a tarp on a tree. Tarps can also be used to accent shelters made with branches and leaves. 

Learn More Here

Tarp Basics

Sticks & Leaves Shelters

There are lots of options and variations within this category. For instance, one can create a leaf hut, a lean-to or a bough bed. Keep in mind, these are just a few! 

The lean-to is a classic shelter type. They are easily constructed and very effective. Described simply, a lean-to consists of a main pole with smaller poles propped against it with leaves and twigs added for insulation. 

Traditionally, the lean-to was a popular shelter option with historically nomadic groups due to its quick construction and minimal resources.