How to Build a Wilderness Survival Debris Hut Shelter

Frank Grindrod utilizes over 20 years of survival instruction and debris shelter-building experience to bring you EVERYTHING you need to know about building a life-saving shelter in the wilderness. With details that only come from experience, this course teaches exactly how to build a survival shelter everyone should know - A DEBRIS HUT. No fire? No problem! This shelter utilizes only your BODY HEAT to keep you warm. Bonus Skills include pine root natural cordage and more!

Learn how to build the Ultimate Survival Shelter!

This course will prepare you to plan, craft, and build a life-saving survival debris shelter that can save your life, especially if you don’t have a fire, in the most adverse of conditions.

$19.95

Lifetime Access

Hi, I'm Frank and I'll be your Instructor!

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Who is this course for?

This is a course for everyone, no matter how seasoned in the outdoors you may be. Frank has thought diligently and thoroughly through all the possible pitfalls of where, when, how, and why to build a survival debris hut.

What is a Debris Hut?

The debris hut is the most basic of survival shelters. It’s labor intensive to build properly, but it’s arguably the most important survival shelter to master. It’s meant to insulate and trap body heat while keeping you safe from the cold and moisture. A debris hut is key to survival if you do not have the ability to make a fire! 

What are other students saying?

Frank's Presentations was clear and professional. I was
amazed at how much vital information was packed into this short course. I would like to see more courses from frank as he seems to be extremely knowledgeable instructor

keith farrar

Excellent course on debris shelter construction

Learn how to make a Natural Woven Door!

 You’ll learn the art and practice of making an insulated woven door to your shelter that will make you more comfortable because it will make your debris shelter more efficient!

Course Objectives

Learn how to mitigate the massive and subtle risks involved in choosing a safe location for your shelter.

  • How to predict weather patterns and choose the best location for your debris hut
  • How to assess the relative safety of your surroundings
  • How to harvest all the materials you’ll need to make your shelter with ease
  • What to look for in the woods you choose for your ridgepole and ribbing
  • How to identify points of entry for water into your shelter and correct them
  • The science of filing in your structure with debris and proper shaping to avoid disaster
  • How to conserve your body heat once you’re inside your debris hut
  • Tips for adding a larger debris covered work room as an addition to your original shelter
  • And more!!!

[BONUS] Wilderness Survival Shelter Checklist Download

It’s hard to think clearly during an emergency, so the last thing you want to do is forget the steps you need to take in building your Wilderness Survival Shelter. Use this checklist to remember the steps you need to take and prepare today for what might happen tomorrow.

[BONUS SKILL] Split Root Cordage

Learn a bonus skill of harvesting roots and using them for lashings to make your debris hut even more stable and secure—especially if you need it for multiple nights!

Course Curriculum

Shelter Location, Sizing, and Layout

  • Setting Up Your Shelter: 4 Things You Need
  • Choosing A Safe Location
  • Choosing the Best Location
  • Placement and Orientation

Building the Debris Hut Shelter

  • Construction: Ridgepole and Ribs 
  • Construction: Ridgepole and Ribs 
  • Covering and Insulating Your Shelter 
  • Creating a Door Part 1: Preparation 
  • Creating A Door Part 2: Creating And Weaving 
  • Tips for Making Waterproof - Beyond Shelter Covering 
  • [BONUS VIDEO] Harvesting and Lashing with Roots 

Final Thoughts

  • How It Holds Up After 3 Days of Rain 
  • BONUS VIDEO: What to do when you are LOST? 

[BONUS DOWNLOAD] Wilderness Survival Shelter Checklist

  • FREE WORD DOC Wilderness Survival Checklist

COURSE TERMS

  • Terms & Conditions, Disclaimers, and Waiver of Liability 

Meet Your Instructor

Frank Grindrod

Wilderness Guide and Survival Instructor, Frank Grindrod has been dedicated to teaching earth skills since founding Earthwork Programs in 1999. Some of his focuses include nature awareness, tracking, wilderness living skills and earth philosophy. He is a graduate of Greenfield Community College’s nationally-recognized Outdoor Leadership Program. Frank maintains his own education studying with respected mentors; Tom Brown, Jon Young, Paul Rezendes and others.

He has been trained as a Wilderness First Responder and is a certified facilitator for the Nurtured Heart Approach. As an Advance Trainer of the Nurtured Heart Approach, Frank has studied with national trainers including Gabrielli Lachiara, LSW., Lisa Bravo, Tom Grove and Howard Glasser, MA. He is recognized as an advanced trainer and coach with energy parenting and Howard Glasser’s, The Inner Wealth Initiative and the Children’s Success Foundation.  Frank is currently working as a professor at Smith College, a lead facilitator of wilderness education programs and the Nurtured Heart Approach, as well as consulting for camps, museums, conferences, schools and environmental education centers throughout New England.  

© Earthwork Programs LLC 2024

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