Finding your feet outside the classroom!

Woodland Den and Shelter

Building
Aims
Woodland den and shelter building outside allows children to interact with natural
elements, such as leaves, sticks, soil etc. It provides an opportunity for children to
learn to manage and work as a team, to learn from their mistakes and it encourages
imaginative and creative play.

For some children, it can be useful to provide them with photo examples of different
ways of constructing dens. Following the instructions below will ensure that your
woodland den building will also be conducted in a safe way.

Before Den Building

 Ensure the den area is clear of old dens, debris etc.
 Check the tree canopy on site and decide safe areas for den building (no leaning
tree, hung-up branches, etc)
 Ensure that you have selected demonstration poles and trees for the safety talk
BEFORE the session starts.
 Brief assistants and volunteers as necessary.
 Give a den building safety talk and demonstration covering main points at the
beginning of the session including safe carrying.
 Children must respect other people’s den materials and not to take materials
gathered for or on other dens.
 Make sure children know at the beginning of the activity that they will be dismantling
their den at the end.

You will need: long, straight branches and sticks; lots of thin, bendy sticks; materials to
cover the den, such as dried leaves, twigs and grass.

Location of the Den

 Advise the children how to choose a suitable location for their den.
 Scan the area first- all the woodland layers especially the canopy area- look out for
loose branches, hanging branches, dead wood in the canopy and shrub layers.
 If unsure, locate the den elsewhere.
 Use flat ground where possible.
 Be away from prickly trees such as hawthorn and holly.
 Be away from any fire and tool areas (as appropriate).
 Demonstrate safe areas for den building if the group need guidance.

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Demonstrate the Safe Carrying of Den Poles / Building Materials

 Demonstrate safe carrying especially when carrying
large/long poles.
 Get 2 or 3 members and arrange them on alternate sides
of the pole then allocate a ‘controller’ or team leader.
 The team leader makes sure all are ready to lift
(encourage eye contact), and the group lift and walk
with the pole to where they want it to go, then place it
down on instruction from the team leader, minding
feet!
 The pole is carried at waist height. If carrying
independently, demonstrate dragging the pole behind
and walking with the pole.
 If carrying stumps/ heavy objects, demonstrate carrying
at waist height and make it very clear that any heavy
items should be placed on the floor or on the outside of
the den/ shelter and NOT balancing on the den structure

Demonstrate the Selection of Appropriate Den Building Materials

 Forked poles are useful for den building, demonstrate the difference in poles.
 Very rotten/dead wood should NOT be used for the main structure due to potential
weakness in the wood.
 Poles should be able to bear weight.

Demonstrate the Safe and Stable Creation of Den Structures

 DO NOT lean branches loosely against tree to create main den structure, use natural
forks in the trees or forked poles to help create main den structure.
 Children should use dead wood on the woodland floor where possible.
 If planning to use bracken, harvest WEARING GLOVES. Leave ferns alone.
 Children should be told to build the den from the outside - do not place wood on the
den if someone is inside.
 If teaching lashing, use square lashing to lash poles to trees.
 If teaching tipi-making, use tripod lashing to secure poles (make sure lashing is at
thinner end of poles).
 Make sure that the thicker end of the pole is the end which rests on the ground for
stability purposes
 Adults should test what the children are creating and search for loose poles that
could fall.
 All adults should monitor the den building and, if unhappy with what the group are
doing, they should guide them and remove/alter anything unsafe. They could
suggest different kinds of dens/shelters such as making nests, making small dens,
etc.
 All adults should ensure that children are not balancing very heavy poles/ materials
on the den.

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 All adults should ensure that children are considering the lengths of their poles-
balancing short poles on the structure can destabilise it and create lots of moving
parts which could fall.

Use of Tarpaulins for Dens

 Show the group a tarpaulin, get them to open it out so they
can see the size and get used to the feel of it.
 Point out the eyelets which they can use to put the rope
through.
 Introduce the rope/ para-cord etc.
 Instruct on safe carrying
ie walk with the rope/ cord and ensure it is wound/ bunched up to prevent trips.
 Demonstrate how to attach the tarpaulin to the tree using eg a timber hitch.
 Remind the group that they are responsible for the equipment and for its safe return,
including ensuring that the ropes/ string are bunched up after they have finished
using it.

Going Into the Dens

 All adults should ensure that the dens do not get very
overcrowded as this is when accidents can occur - moving
bodies can dislodge and move wood.
 It may be necessary to limit numbers in the den at any one
time.
 Children should also respect that some people do not want
their dens invaded by others!

Review of the Dens

 Then groups look at each shelter in turn. This will allow each group to tell the class
how they have built their den and why.
 eg Where were the best places to find building materials? Do you think the shelter
works? Will it keep you all warm and dry? How could you adapt or improve it?
Which materials/shapes work best? etc.

Safe Dismantling of the Dens

 Ensure you demonstrate safe den deconstruction before getting the group involved.
This is potentially the most dangerous part of den building and must be done from
the OUTSIDE in with NOBODY inside the den.
 It should be done considering the safety of others and remind children that it is not a
race!
 Get children to spread the natural materials back out from where they got them from
and leave no trace.

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Other Woodland Den Building Ideas:

 Why not link den building into other topics and themes: eg surviving a storm, survival
skills, books / stories such as The Three Little Pigs, Kensuke’s Kingdom, Stig of the
Dump, Robinson Crusoe, etc.
 Trailblazer Celts and Iron Age Themed Outdoor Activities
https://documents.hants.gov.uk/education/trailblazer/Celts-and-IronAge-
Activities.docx
 Shelter for an advancing Roman Army - Trailblazer Roman Outdoor Activities
https://documents.hants.gov.uk/education/trailblazer/Roman-Themed-Outdoor-
Activities.docx
 Trailblazer Stone Age Themed Outdoor Activities
https://documents.hants.gov.uk/education/trailblazer/Stone-Age-Themed-Outdoor-
Activities.docx )
 Nest Building
Create a nest fit for a bird using natural materials.
https://www.ltl.org.uk/resources/nest-building
 Beginning five days after Yom Kippur, Sukkot is named after the booths or huts
(sukkot in Hebrew) in which Jews are supposed to dwell during this week-long
celebration.
 Create a ‘sukkah’ shelter outdoors to mark the festival of Sukkot observing
traditional specifications.
https://www.ltl.org.uk/resources/judaism-outdoors-sukkot

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Mini-Dens
 Making a mini den in the woods is a fun way to introduce den building to children!
 Dens can be made for soft toys, Lego figures, action figures etc.
 Or build a home for a gnome, a house for a mouse or a fairy
world.
 Or where can Teddy sleep overnight?

 Fairy Garden
https://www.ltl.org.uk/resources/fairy-garden

 The skills used in making a mini den, can then be scaled up to make a larger den for
the children to go in.

 Mini den / shelter building can also work in a historical context.

eg children could make a mini Stone Age shelter out of natural
materials.

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Build a Home For….

You will need: a selection of soft toy animals, birds and insects (or laminate pictures of
various creatures).

 Make sure children understand what a habitat is, and what a habitat can provide for
animals and plants.
 In small groups or pairs, children then are tasked to choose a site and go and build a
home for their creature.
 Then each group can go and look at the other groups’ animals and home.
 Discuss with the children why have they build their home for their creature there?
 Children should identify the features which make this place attractive to their
organism. For example, excellent local places to eat (rotten wood), friendly
neighbours (other animals), cool rooms on a sunny day (under a log) etc.
 What else would their creature need from their habitat?
 How would their creature feel if this place was destroyed?
 What would happen to the organism if homes like this were not available?

Back in the Classroom

 Write instructions on how to build a shelter.
 Use persuasive writing and create an estate agent type advertisement for the shelter
/ mini den / mini home.
eg If Teddy or the ‘gnome with a home’ wants to sell his ‘house’.

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Useful Knots for Shelter Building

 When teaching knots to children, it’s important to provide numerous opportunities
for them to practice.
 As with many skills repetition is key to remembering knots. Working with peers can
also help when learning the knots - knowledgeable pupils can also be used to teach
others the knot.

Reef Knot / Square Knot

 The square or reef knot is a good knot to use to
introduce knot tying to children.
 It is easy to learn and likely familiar as it is essentially
the same knot used to tie shoelaces.
 It can be used to secure bundles of sticks or other
objects.

Video: https://www.animatedknots.com/square-knot

Clove Hitch
 The clove hitch is a very common knot used to secure a line
around an object and is often used as the start and end of
lashings.
 It is a good all purpose knot that is easy to tie and easy to
release.
 A clove hitch is useful when setting shelters as it is easy to
loosen and adjust the tension.
 https://muddyfaces.co.uk/content/images/1088/Clove-hitch.pdf
 Video using loops: https://www.animatedknots.com/clove-hitch-knot-using-loops
 Video: https://www.animatedknots.com/clove-hitch-knot-rope-end

Square Lashing
 Square lashing is used to lash two poles together at an angle,
usually 90 degrees.
 A clove hitch is often used to start and end this lashing.
 Video: https://www.animatedknots.com/square-lashing-
knot

Tripod Lashing
 This lashing joins three poles to one another for use as a
tripod.
 Video: https://www.animatedknots.com/tripod-lashing-
knot

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Websites
Build. A woodland Adventure Book.
Different den building ideas from Forestry England and The Woodland Trust.

https://www.forestryengland.uk/sites/default/files/documents/play_booklet_build.pdf

 Muddy Faces Den Building Guide. A useful guide with examples of

different techniques for den and shelter building:
 https://muddyfaces.co.uk/outdoor-hub/block-play-loose-parts-
dens/dens/free-den-building-guide
 https://muddyfaces.co.uk/activities/den-building

 Waterproof Shelter Challenge

Build and test a waterproof shelter.
https://www.ltl.org.uk/resources/waterproof-shelter-challenge

 OEAP guidance about a range of activities which are commonly practised in

woodland, including shelter building.
https://oeapng.info/downloads/download-info/7u-woodland-activities

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