As with most survival skills, we must be resourceful for this task. It's important to make what you have around you work without compromising your safety or the structure of the shelter. While branches on their own might not seem like a secure option, when they're combined in the correct way, your life could be saved!

Lean-to Survival Shelter

A lean-to shelter is a pretty basic design and it’s quite easy to make, even if you don’t have a lot of tools in your gear. But the basic thing is it’s leaning against something and one side is open.

A-frame Survival Shelter

An a-frame survival shelter is basically a double lean-to shelter. You need to use more branches to build it but it’s still fairly easy to make. The essential materials to construct this type of shelter are long, pole-like tree branches to use as the ridge. You also need sturdy, forked branches.

Teepee Survival Shelter

Find a slim tree trunk, which you can use as the center support; then, create a cone-shaped structure using branches. If there are no slender trees around, make a stand-alone teepee instead. Just look for three long, sturdy, pole-like branches to use as the foundation. Use thin branches, leaves, or twigs to cover your teepee.

Basic Tips

• Don’t build your shelter in a ditch, a ravine, or any other place where rainwater could potentially accumulate. Keep distant from rivers.

• Make sure the ground is not damp. If it is, cover the ground with leaves and smooth twigs.

• Remove the sharp edges of the branches to keep yourself from getting injured.

• Don’t use rotten or extremely dry branches. Aside from being a fire hazard, they are not exactly sturdy.

• Don’t hurt living trees as much as possible.

Have you been able to build any shelters out of tree branches? Which method do you find is the easiest and safest?

Article and Photo Source: Survival Life