Learn how to set up practical tarp shelters for camping and outdoor activities, including shelter designs, positioning, knots, pitching techniques and weather protection.
A 3×3 metre tarp is one of the most useful pieces of shelter kit you can carry outdoors. With the right pitch, the same square of fabric can become an open shelter, a weather-resistant sleeping space, a cooking area or a compact shelter for one or more people. The catch is that the tarp doesn’t…
A tarp A-frame shelter is a classic and one of the simplest shelters you can build outdoors. It is a useful skill to learn because the same basic design works with very little equipment. With a tarp, some cordage and a few suitable pegs, you can create a shelter that gives you protection from rain…
A tarp shelter can be built with surprisingly little equipment, but having the right kit makes a big difference. For Scouts, choosing and organising shelter equipment is about more than simply carrying as much as possible. The aim is to have a simple, reliable and manageable shelter kit that can be used safely in the…
A tarp can be one of the most useful pieces of outdoor equipment a Scout carries, but even a good tarp can become damaged. A sharp branch can create a small tear. A guy line can pull out an attachment point. A peg can rip a corner when strong wind catches the fabric. Knowing how…
A tarp shelter can be one of the most useful pieces of outdoor equipment a Scout can carry. It is lightweight, flexible and can be pitched in several different ways. However, a tarp that works well on a calm summer afternoon may be completely unsuitable when the wind picks up or heavy rain arrives. Learning…
Building a tarp shelter is a useful Scout skill, but building one once and declaring it finished doesn’t teach the whole story. A good shelter needs to be stable, practical, weather-aware and easy to use. The Tarp Shelter Challenge turns shelter building into a practical problem-solving exercise. Scouts work in teams to design and build…
What Is a Tarp Shelter? A tarp shelter is a simple temporary shelter made using a waterproof or water-resistant sheet of material. Tarps are popular with: They’re lightweight, versatile and can be configured in several different ways. Unlike a tent, a tarp usually doesn’t have a built-in floor or enclosed walls. Instead, you use cordage,…
