The Shelter Experience

A program that supports Third & Fourth Grade Shelter and Native American Studies Curriculum

In this program, Hawk Circle instructors travel to your school, and plan, construct and teach your students how to make a thatched shelter on your school’s site. Your class has options of gathering and collecting the materials for the program in your local area if you would like the full length program, or going with a shorter option where we bring bundles of grass and saplings to construct the shelter more quickly.

The frame can be a dome structure like a traditional wigwam of many nothern tribes, or it can be a modified tipi structure with short walls and a tipi-like roof. Traditionally, these shelters would hold one family, comfortably, or about 10 students in a tight fit, so larger classes will not fit inside as a whole group, unless the students really squeeze! We can make the shelter larger if necessary but this may mean collecting a great deal more materials. These details can be decided based on ambition, ability and the availability of local resources.

Students can learn to make grass mats to cover the various openings on the frame, as well as cushions inside the shelter, and backrest furniture. They will learn strong knots and how to work with natural fiber string, as well as how to make string from milkweed stalks. (These options are available in the two-day program.)

Both class options will include a campfire storytelling with Native American stories of Coyote, Raven or Spider, and our fire will be made without matches in the traditional fire by friction means. Outdoor cooking helps us celebrate our new home, and students can learn some songs as well. Parents are welcome to celebrate our new shelter too.

Some schools with land and forest/grass resources may choose the longer option, where we will stay for two or more days to create the shelter with the students, gathering most of the materials. Those schools that have fewer resources or time can have our group bring everything that is needed and do the entire program in one full school day and afternoon/early evening campfire that can include the parents if desired.

The cost for the one day program is $1,700. This includes all shelter materials, transportation and instruction for one full day at your school, including campfire program. This is due to the volume of materials needed to be gathered by our staff, stored & transportation.

Note: The cost for the longer, two day program is $2,300 and includes making natural milkweed fiber rope/string, as well as how to gather and prepare materials from a site local to the school as well as all shelter construction and campfire program. The cost can be negotiated according to distance from Hawk Circle, the amount of materials needed, the size of shelter and time spent with the class. Call us and we will try to work within your class budget for this program.

Special Note: We usually only gather materials to do one or two shelters for schools each year, but we can also build a winter snow shelter with your class, if your area has enough natural snow (4-12 inches or more). We would arrange to come after a fresh snowfall and are flexible in terms of scheduling.
Call for more information about this option.