Lean-to Shelter

You can make your own shelter with things you find in the forest! No tools needed! Kai’s brother An’ostin demonstrates how easy and fun it is to make your own lean-to.

KAI: I like to make things and learn about them in my own way. I’m Kai and I’m a hacker.

KAI: Let’s say it’s really windy out and you wanna try making your very own shelter with just your hands and some of the things you can find in the forest. This very thing happened to my little brother the other day. He decided to make a lean to all by himself in the woods behind our house. Here’s how he did it. First, he scoped out a good, flat site that had two trees close together. Then he gathered all the materials from the forest’s floor. He gathered a pile of long sticks. You need about 15 or so, then about 10 shorter sticks for the sides. He found two long sticks with Ys at one end and a straight stick for the cross beam. Finally, he gathered a huge pile of branches.

KAI: Here’s how you do it. Brace the Y sticks up against your two trees. Then put the cross beam across the ends. Start placing the long sticks for your main wall. Now you can cover the sides. You have a frame for a little house already. Now you can put branches down for the floor. Spruce or Douglas fir work well. They make a nice and springy floor. Now, you just cover the walls with the branches. So cozy already.

KAI: And there you go. You can make your very own shelter, perfect to chill out in. And you even have room for visitors.