Earth/Ground
Shelters
Shelter yourself well
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Table of Contents
Earth/Ground ............................................................................................................................................................1
Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................................3
Introduction to the Earth Booklet ...............................................................................................................................5
Cover .........................................................................................................................................................................6
Insulation ..................................................................................................................................................................7
Tarp Sheltering Introduction ......................................................................................................................................8
The Improvised Bivy ...................................................................................................................................................9
The Tarp Tent .......................................................................................................................................................... 10
The Tarp Hammock .................................................................................................................................................. 11
Fair weather variations ............................................................................................................................................ 12
Nature Sheltering Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 17
The Basic Hut ........................................................................................................................................................... 18
The Spider Shelter.................................................................................................................................................... 19
The Bent Stick Hut.................................................................................................................................................... 20
Combination Shelters .......................................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Who we are .............................................................................................................................................................. 22
Our Mission
We introduce nature and natural environments to those who crave
the universal peace that spending time in those places gives.
Our Vision
We see a world where calm individuals emerge from their wilderness
excursions feeling ready and capable to tackle the challenges of their
daily life while remaining connected to Nature in their heart of hearts.
Our Methods
We use classes and gatherings to engage and enhance the
understanding people in our community have of nature through
instruction and celebration.
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Introduction
Elemental Campcraft is a form of natural camping that relies upon our knowledge of basic
elements. Once we grasp of this knowledge, our camping experiences will begin to take on an
almost therapeutic nature. When camping in this way, our souls begin to relax and
decompress. We feel expansive and embraced by the wind itself. Earth rises to meet our step.
Water nourishes our thirst, and fire warms our heart.
The Elements
There are two unique elemental systems employed by Elemental Campcraft. The first system
is the Gogyo; this system uses these elements: water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. We use this
system to refer to our gear.
One of the greatest traits that separates us from other animals is our use of tools in an in-
depth way. Let’s look at some of the gear categories used in Elemental Campcraft.
In the Gogyo system, our first element is wood. We use this to refer to all the fibrous items in
our kit. This includes our clothing, bags, packs, blankets, hammocks, tents, sleeping pads,
sleeping bags, and cordage.
The next element is fire. The fire element, when it comes to gear, is all of the items related to
fire making. From the common ferro rod to the simple Bic lighter, these are all fire gear.
Often omitted but never undervalued, the next element is earth. Earth is all of our food items
as well as any kitchen utensils related to cooking.
Then there is metal. The metal element categorizes all of your tools. From your belt knife and
handsaw to any axes, hatchets, machetes, and tomahawk, these fall under the metal category.
The last element is water. The water element, is used to refer to our gear, involves all things
that make water safe for us to drink. This includes filters and all water carriers as well as
chemical or thermal purification
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The second elemental system is the Godai; this system uses these elements: Earth, water, fire,
wind, and void. We use the system to refer to our training.
In the Godai system, our first element is earth. This represents stability and strength and is the
foundation of your knowledge.
The next element is water. It represents flexibility and power, and the awareness of your
environment and situation.
A commonly favorite element is fire. Fire represents breakthrough energy and fear, and the
practical application of your knowledge.
Then there is wind. Wind represents resiliency and timing and applies to your skills
development through attentive repetition.
The last element is void. Void is a difficult one to accurately pin down but represents creativity
and communication, and your refined skills development through disciplined repetition.
The Requisite Action Plan (R.A.P.)
This is your lifeline whenever you travel. A good R.A.P. includes:
• A list at home, stating:
• Where you plan to go.
• The route you plan on taking.
• How long you plan to be gone.
• When you expect to get back.
• Any names and contact numbers of people traveling with
you.
Always make sure you have a requisite action plan.
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Introduction to the Earth Booklet
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Cover (isn’t insulation)
Cover is protection from falling water. A flat sheet of fabric is one of the oldest and
most universal of shelters.
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Insulation (can be cover)
Insulation is protecting from falling temperatures. In natural shelters, insulation is
often from the forest floor, like leaf litter or other such debris. This debris then
piled high on the shelter structure. This piling adds insulation and rain runoff.
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Tarp Sheltering Introduction
Using a waterproof fabric to endure with the elements is an age-old practice. The
value of using a tarp is its versatility. A simple tarp could be configured into a
myriad of forms to suit your needs.
Important note: tarp ratio is important
In this section, we have a few examples of tarp configurations is that, if flown well,
can make your camping experience more comfortable.
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The Improvised Bivy
Gear – the tarp and 1 Ridgeline, 2 cinch cords (10ft each), and 6 stakes
1. Lay the tarp on the ground and position it 2/5 between two trees.
2. Tether ridge line about 2 1/2 to 3 ft above the ground between the two trees.
3. Fold the tarp from the shorter end to split the 2/5 by the ridgeline. Stake to the
ground.
4. Fill the fold with debris. This is your sleeping pad.
5. Lift the longer end over the Ridgeline and stake it on the other side.
6. Finished
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The Tarp Tent
Gear – the tarp and 1 ridgeline, a cut pole slightly longer than halfway of one tarp edge,
and 2 stakes
1. Lay the tarp on the ground and stake one corner with the cut pole.
2. Beginning at the staked corner, measure up to the halfway point and tie off to the
second stake.
3. On perpendicular edge of the tarp measure halfway again and bring that point above
and to the first stakes corner.
4. Tie #3 to the tip of the cut pole that is stuck in the ground at the first stakes point.
5. Finished
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The Tarp Hammock
Gear – the tarp and 2 ropes about 20 ft long and two toggles
1. Fold the tarp in half and lay it out between two trees with a approximately 2 foot of
spacing between the end of each tarp edge and the tree.
2. “Accordion” the tarp on one side.
3. With one of the ropes, tie a sack knot onto the accordioned tarp
4. Repeat step 3 on the other side of the tarp.
5. Close to the sack knot, tie a marlin spike knot onto the rope on both ends.
6. Wrap the rope around the tree and comeback to the marlin spike knot the tie a couple
of half hitches.
7. Repeat step 6 on the other side of the tarp.
8. Finished
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Fair weather variations
The lean to
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The lean to with a back wall
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The lean too with a back wall and floor
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The “A” frame
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The Diamond
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Nature Sheltering Introduction
Using natural materials to endure with the elements is the oldest form of
sheltering. From ancient beginnings, people have used what they had around
them. Knowing the easiest and most effective way to do that will make your
experience just that much more enjoyable.
Below there are a few construction examples that you can use to build to grow
your natural sheltering skill set
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The Basic Hut
Supply:
1. A ridge pole approximately 10 ft long without branches.
2. Rib sticks graduating in length from 4 inches to 3 feet. without branches.
3. A tree or other self-standing vertical object (a tripod with one “leg” as the ridge pole will
work)
4. Debris, leaf-litter, and/or dirt.
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The Spider Shelter
Supply:
1. A basic Debris Hut with the ridge pole extended beyond the tree about 3 extra feet.
2. Rib sticks to follow a circle around the extended pole.
3. Debris, leaf-litter, and/or dirt.
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The Bent Stick Hut
Supply:
1. At least 9 green, bendable sticks
2. A form of cordage
3. Debris, leaf-litter, and/or dirt.
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Class List
Elemental Campcraft Core Classes
• Earth - Shelter Building
• Water - Filtration and Purification
• Fire - Campfire Construction
• Wind - Weather and Environment
• Void - Stewardship
Modern Camping Basics
Buy and bring your own gear
Take home your gear (with optional payment plan)
Extracurricular Education
• Blade Safety and Bushcraft Carving
• Seasonal Foraging
• Knots and More
• Basic Basketry
• Spoon Carving
Woodland Warriors Protector Program
• Intro Class
• Monthly classes
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Who we are
The Old Ways Training school is based in Fort Valley, Georgia where we teach
Elemental Campcraft. It carries a focus on nature immersion through responsible nature
camping, while the Woodland Warrior Protector Program focuses on the protection of
self and loved ones. We also have various classes on wilderness skills and knowledge,
and our Modern Camping Basics class is fun and exciting.
The Old Ways Training school operates differently than most survival, bushcraft, and
wilderness skills schools. Ours is an ongoing class focusing on nature camping and
wilderness martial arts instruction.
We currently don’t have any of those “come for a week of training and write down as
much notes as you can” seminars where you don’t get any personalized training. My
focus is you, your skills, and your growth, period.
Events, get-togethers, gatherings, seminars, and general fun times in the great outdoors
are scheduled throughout the year.
Come have some outdoor fun!!!
Check us out at www.oldwaystraining.com
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