• Survival Shelter
• Action Step 13: Shelter Check Lists
• Building a Campfire

Survival Shelter

If your family enjoys camping, you probably already own a lot of the survival equipment that you will need, including portable propane stoves, lanterns and heaters. If you are not a camper, I certainly recommend that you consider the hobby. At least once a year take a camping trip to a nice natural location, such as a state park. But don't go with the intention of hooking up to the campsite's electrical, water and sewage systems. Leave your television at home! Primitive camping will teach you many survival skills. Learn how to build a campfire (using only matches, newspapers and twigs to start it.) Learn to cook on your campfire, as well as on your portable propane camping stove. Stay in a tent—not in an air-conditioned trailer or RV! Learn what it is like to have to carry your water from the source to your campsite, and how to wash your dishes, with water heated on your stove or campfire, without the convenience of an automatic dishwasher.

Camping is a lot of fun! Part of that fun comes from the adventure of living temporarily in more primitive conditions. The lessons you will learn will be priceless! Do it regularly. You will learn what you really need to get by in times of emergency, and eventually you will accumulate everything that you will need to be more self-sufficient in an emergency.

Camping regularly will also help you keep your emergency equipment in topnotch condition. When a disaster strikes, not only will you have many of the items that you will need to make your life easier, you will also be experienced in how to use them under primitive conditions. But even more importantly, you and your family will have the confidence that comes with knowing how to get by "off the grid."

Action Step 13: Shelter Check Lists

Turn to the page in you Action Planner where you have begun your "Get" and "Do" lists for shelter and begin making your lists. On your "Do" list include home improvements to make your house more energy efficient. The camping check list below will help you with your "Get" list. This is the check list that we use every time we make a camping trip, to insure that we don't forget something.

Printer Friendly List

Camping Check List:

Shelter
1. [  ] Tent
2. [  ] Tarpaulins (can be used over tent for extra protection from rain)
3. [  ] Tent stakes with extras for tarpaulin
4. [  ] Grommet kit
5. [  ] Tent repair kit
6. [  ] Nylon cords
7. [  ] Axe hammer (to drive stakes)
8. [  ] Duct tape
9. [  ] Sleeping mats or cots
10. [  ] Sleeping bags
11. [  ] Extra blankets
12. [  ] Pillows
13. [  ] Body warmer packs (chemical hand warmers)
    Meals
14. [  ] Food
15. [  ] Coffee/Tea
16. [  ] Coffee/Tea pots, filters, etc.
17. [  ] Grill for campfire
18. [  ] Grill scraper
19. [  ] Cooking utensils - spatula, tongs, etc.
20. [  ] Ice chest with ice
21. [  ] Cooking oil or spray
22. [  ] Salt/Pepper/Condiments
23. [  ] Knife
24. [  ] Pots and Pans
25. [  ] Pot for heating/boiling water
26. [  ] Plates
27. [  ] Cups
28. [  ] Eating Utensils
29. [  ] Can opener
    Water
    
30. [  ] Drinking water (one gallon per person per day)
31. [  ] Water jug for hauling water for washing
32. [  ] Water purification tablets or water filter
33. [  ] Canteen or water bottles
    Clothing
    
34. [  ] Sun glasses
35. [  ] Clothing as appropriate for season
36. [  ] Underwear
37. [  ] Swimsuits and swim gear
38. [  ] Clothes line
39. [  ] Socks
40. [  ] Poncho
41. [  ] Sweater
42. [  ] Walking shoes
43. [  ] Handkerchiefs
44. [  ] Gloves
45. [  ] Hat
46. [  ] Body warmer packs (chemical hand warmers)
    Energy
    
47. [  ] Propane
48. [  ] "T" adapters, hoses, wrench, etc.
49. [  ] Camp stove
50. [  ] Grill
51. [  ] Lantern
52. [  ] Extra mantles for lantern
53. [  ] Heater
54. [  ] Firewood
55. [  ] Fireplace poker
56. [  ] Matches
57. [  ] Newspaper
58. [  ] Flashlight with batteries
59. [  ] Radio with batteries
60. [  ] 12-volt inverter
61. [  ] 12-volt emergency battery backup (for jump starting)
62. [  ] Solar battery charger
63. [  ] Cell phone charger
    First Aid
    
64. [  ] First Aid kit
65. [  ] Tweezers
66. [  ] Scissors
67. [  ] Sunscreen
68. [  ] Lip balm with sunscreen
69. [  ] Inset repellent
70. [  ] Snake bite kit
    Cleanup
    
71. [  ] Dish soap
72. [  ] Dish scrubber
73. [  ] Dish pan
74. [  ] Dish towel
75. [  ] Garbage bags
76. [  ] Personal toilet items, toothbrush, etc.
77. [  ] Soap
78. [  ] Shampoo
79. [  ] Towels
80. [  ] Wash cloth
81. [  ] Beach Towels
    Other
    
82. [  ] Backpacks
83. [  ] Folding Chairs
84. [  ] Books, playing cards or other entertainment
85. [  ] Cash
86. [  ] Maps
87. [  ] Address book
88. [  ] Towelettes
89. [  ] Compass
90. [  ] Pocket knife
91. [  ] Knife sharpener
92. [  ] Waterproof matches
93. [  ] Vitamins
94. [  ] Emergency flasher
95. [  ] Waterproof matches
96. [  ] Binoculars
97. [  ] Small and large plastic bags
98. [  ] Notebook & pen
99. [  ] Fishing kit
100. [  ] Rechargeable batteries
101. [  ] Butane lighters
102. [  ] Space Blanket
103. [  ] Marshmallows

Building a Campfire

You should be able to light a campfire with only one or two matches without using lighter fluid or gasoline. They key is proper planning and preparation, using the materials that are easier to ignite to start the materials that are more difficult to ignite. First, select a suitable location where there is little danger of creating a wildfire. Avoid starting a fire when conditions are very dry and windy. Begin by collecting the materials that you will need to start your fire. Place newspapers, dead leaves, or other easily-ignitable dry material on the bottom. If you are using newspaper it must be crumpled so that air can easily get to it. On top of the newspaper place dry twigs and small sticks. Then place larger sticks on top of the smaller sticks, leaving plenty of spaces for air. This is easily accomplished by placing the larger sticks in a teepee formation over the newspaper and smaller sticks (as in the photograph below.) Use one match, or hold two matches together, and light the newspaper first. The newspaper will ignite the twigs, which will ignite the smaller sticks, which will ignite the larger ones.

Once the larger sticks are burning well you can add larger and larger pieces, until your fire is finally ready for the largest long-burning logs.

A fire place poker is helpful for moving the logs around to improve the flow of air and keep the fire going strongly.