Fun Project for the Beach or Mountains
Who needs an umbrella?
If you find yourself at the beach looking for something fun to do why not make a shelter! There is something primal about building. We were born to create things with our hands. It’s what we do, and it’s why we are we are one of the few creatures on the planet born with amazing dexterity and the brains to use it. You might be amazed on how good it feels. If you don’t live near the beach a nice mountain area will do. In the mountains there is always deadfall and other handy materials to help you build a shelter. (It’s actually easier in the mountains because there are generally trees around to use as supports.)
What you need:
- a beach or mountain
- driftwood or dead fall
- seaweed or vines
- anything else made by nature with which you can be creative
How to Build Your Shelter:
1. Find your materials
- two fork shaped poles
- two long strong poles for the back supports
- one long pole that goes across your fork supports
- find small sticks to fill in the empty spots
2. Build it
- Refer to the picture if you have questions. I really don’t want to tell you a step by step process on how to do it, it takes all of the fun out of discovery. (If someone complains loud enough I will think about don’t a step by step.)
3. Decorate it:
- No one ever thinks of this! In the picture you can see the seaweed fringe and the little bulbs for decoration.
- Also find furniture. Rocks and logs work beautifully.
Tips:
- Now don’t go around chopping trees to bits, not only will you get in huge trouble, but it’s stupid. Trees are a necessary part of an ecosystem and should be left alone to grow out their cycle. Besides it’s much more fun and less work to scrounge for materials.
- The less man made junk you use the better it is. In fact don’t use any man made materials at all.
- Don’t light a fire inside your shelter. If you feel like you want a fire put it just outside your shelter where you can still feel the heat but not be in danger of lighting yourself or your shelter on fire. (Make sure that it is okay for fires in the area you are in.)
- If you want to leave your shelter for someone else to enjoy use common sense. Is it okay with local authorities? Is it strong enough that it won’t fall and hurt someone? Is it upsetting a natural ecosystem? Is it on a game trail? Etc. There are many other factors you need to take into consideration as your situation is going to be unique. Be smart and courteous.
- If you have the right materials and space you can make one in your backyard!
One more thing.
I have to say I have come across two shelters in my lifetime that someone has built and left. One on the beach just north of Malibu and the other in the mountains of Idaho. Both were made of all natural materials and were very clean with no garbage. The mountain shelter even had signs that a deer had nested there. Finding a natural shelter is magical. It’s such a surprise when you do come across one and it’s rather nice to sit and enjoy someone’s handiwork. Not only that but it kicks starts your imagination. Who built it? Why? What did they look like? How long ago did they built it? What if it was a magical creature like a troll? Or a surfer trying to catch the biggest wave of his life? Or someone just like you? I love the creative buzz it causes.
So I say go out there and get your inner caveman on. And thank you to those two people, (whoever you are), for sharing your shelter with me.
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