Shelters, Shacks, and Shanties: A Guide to Building Shelters in the Wilderness

If only this book would of fell into my hands 30 years ago! I was lucky enough to be raised on 38 acres of land that was partially used for farming. A large portion of this land was just "woods" and it was here where my some of my best childhood memories were formed. The place was literally my playground and I can remember going back in those woods to build forts and pretending to be Daniel Boone. I was never in the Boy Scouts but participated in a very similar program for boys known as the "Royal Rangers" for many years. I've always loved camping and being outdoors and I have continued this interest to the present day. Unfortunately, gone are the days of the fields, farms, and "the woods" for me. Today, my job has taken me away from my childhood home and into the city where I live on a piece of property about the size of a postage stamp. I have a five year old son and I have been determined to give him the opportunity to experience the outdoors by taking him camping. Whenever possible, I still travel back to my childhood home, and it is here that I think this book by D.C. Beard will become a valuable resource of ideas for my son and I.The book was written nearly a 100 years ago by a man who is considered to be one of the founders of The Boy Scouts. The book is very conversational, easy to read, and you feel like the author is speaking to the imaginative child within us all. There aren't a lot of technical details about how to build these "shelters, shacks, and shanties", just enough information, advice, and great illustrations to get you pointed in the right direction. As I am reading this book, I can't help but to think of the ideas and possibilities of how I could start building these things and it really makes me want to rush out and start building my next fort/campsite. It's like my inner child looking at a toy catalog! The book has a lot of good advice too. I can remember being a kid and building my lean-to shelters with my branches just thrown on the top and sides in any way they would lay. Beard gives advice on laying the branches in a way so that water runs off of them easily (ends pointing down). The book is full of facts and practical advice that is really helpful. I had a lot of fun reading through it, making notes all along the way of things that I want to try out when we next venture back home. As my son grows older, I hope to incorporate more of these lessons, ideas, and the enjoyment of the outdoors suggested by D.C. Beard. Just reading the book certainly gets me excited about our annual camping trip to the mountains of North Carolina as well. I look forward to reading some of the other books by this author and I highly recommend this one!

I did not read anyone else's reviews on this book before writing this review. I call this a Boy Scout Book, because it appeared that someone has taken a fair bit of content as in grammar and illustrations from a Boy Scout manual. Then I read on the back cover of the book (who reads the back cover online?) when I received the book that states Beard is/was one of the founders of the Boy Scouts of America, so that made sense. I was originally wondering how Beard could print this book without copyright infringement, lol. That being said, it is a pretty good book for covering the basics, generally, as it relates to varies types of shelters. Some of the illustrations are about 100 years old, and not completely easy to follow for the average person, in my opinion, and certainly not for a child or teenager. Some of the illustrations are too cluttered or too "busy", also in my opinion, Overall, tho, the book has some nifty ideas, and I award 4 stars for creativity, especially from ideas generated about 100 years ago. It's worth the money to buy this book.

I didn't like this book right off. It was originally made for experienced boy scouts who have some training and understanding of field craft. That and the author's ramblings sort of torqued me.I gave it a few days and thoroughly reread it. Still not the best book, but there is some good information and sketches, you just have to shift through it all.Not as good as I expected, but still an ok resource for those interested in survival shelters or primitive construction.

This book was written in the early 1900s. From basic lean tos to large cabins it covers them all. It's very basic and that's what made it so much fun to read. The author spends a bit of time talking about the history of the shelters and how young boys of the day can build their forts, tree houses, and underground shelters. It reminds me of my own childhood. I need to go out and be a twelve year old kid again build a fort in my woods .

This book is "Old School" and one of the best I have seen for making shelters. It has a good bit of detail and pictures that really help. I got it for my Nephews but started reading it and was very pleased. It is a lot more than just shelters. The book talks about building ladders, Long term shelters even how to build a proper fireplace, doors and much much more. You could do well with this book. Many of the newer books do not carry this kind of instruction but just skim over a subject. This book is great! If you are serious about making it when the time comes then you will need this book along with many others but this one is a high value item. After water, shelter and food are what you are going to need and this one book covers shelter nicely.

If you want to know how to build a shelter from what you find in the forest... look no further, you’ve found your book. Old school language to say the least but the methods and detail in which they are explained can’t be beat. Great sketches that are easy to understand and help to visualize the description the author of putting forth. I highly recommend...great knowledge in this book!

Lots of great ideas and techniques for building a woodland retreat. Some very simple that kids could manage, plus a few more complex which some adults might find challenging. Great fun and a good old fashioned read.

Brilliant book,great detail good price too,thanks

Bit disappointed in this. Very American in its presentation and references. I was hoping for ideas for u.k bushcraft and it's not much use for that.

From novice to expert, this has shelters for everyone. I would have preferred a smaller format just for easy of carry, but then the illustrations would have suffered I guess

A piece of history for the interested.