This shelter started off as a "house" that my three children (aged 6, 4, and 3) created in the course of their explorations.  They showed it to me and I thought, "perfect teaching opportunity"!!!

We built it bigger than necessary for a survival shelter -- it's their summer home! 

The frame is of drought-killed trembling aspen, aka poplar - very brittle when sun dried for 3 years!   Over this framework we piled on hay from the nearby hayfield. The height of the grasses before they were cut was approx. 16 - 18 inches. We picked up what the baling machinery left behind.

The first night was a little cold for the boys (-1C) (but its a dry cold out west!!), so the next day we scrounged more hay to give a thicker layer.  I added the heavier branches on the outside to help pack it tighter to cut the drafts.

All in all, a cozy little shelter with room to sit or even kneel in.  Future plans are to build a debris wall enclosing a campfire pit - a full blown primitive camp!!  (no campfires when dad's not around though!!!!)

[This is a great example of how to engage children in the techniques of wilderness survival!]