Today Nature For Kids  is going to share with you how to build a killer snow fort! This specific type of snow fort we’ll be talking about is called a Quinzee. It’s not an igloo, which is made up of blocks of snow piled on top of each other in a circular pattern, and it’s not a snow cave, a naturally formed mound of snow that’s dug out, but it is a combination of the two.

Let’s go through the steps of how to build a quinzee together. Remember Boy Scout and survival expert credentials not needed, but you must be a kid …or a kid at heart to take part in this family outing. P.S. please excuse the graphics. I only know how to draw in 2D not 3D, but hopefully you get the picture.

1. Mark a circle in the snow that’s about 10 to 12 feet in diameter



2. Using a shovel pile the snow inside the circle, making a nice shaped dome, until the center reaches about 6 feet tall. 



3. Find some sticks and break them so each stick is about 1 foot in length. Poke them through the top and sides of the mound of snow until just above the surface. Be sure they are evenly distributed.



4. Let your huge mound of snow settle for an hour or two. (Hot chocolate and marshmallows are advised)
5. Grab your shovel again and dig your entrance to the snow cave. You want it to be only big enough for you to crawl in. The entrance should also sit a bit lower than the floor of the quinzee. This helps trap warm air inside the quinzee and keep wind out.



6. Start hollowing out your quinzee. Once you reach the outer edges dig carefully, looking for the sticks you poked into the dome. Once you reach the sticks STOP! You want the walls and roof to be the width of the sticks (about 1 foot). This allows it to be thick enough to support itself but in the case of a collapse it’s easier to get out of. Just use caution by having adult supervision and not digging alone.

Now, just so your quinzee doesn’t look like any other on the block consider building a chair, bed, table or mailbox out of snow. Now you’re ready to spend the night in your own winter wonderland. Grab some candles and light inside for a soft snowy glow. Then grab a sleeping pad and sleeping bag. It will be warmer than you think!

Hint: Fill a nalgene with boiling water and hot cocoa. Sleep with it in your sleeping bag to keep super warm. In the morning you’ll have a yummy drink that’s the perfect temperature and you won’t even have to leave your quinzee to get it.

Quinzees allow for some fun winter camping and cover during snowball fights. Let’s hope for at least one more big snowstorm this winter so we can all practice our quinzee making skills. If you’ve already made a quinzee and have pictures of it send them in and we’ll post them at Nature For Kids!

Other points of Interest:

• Cross Country Skiing
• Winter Wear For Kids
• Exercises To Prepare For Snow Sports

nature for kids, family outing, winter, snow fort, quinzee, how to, igloo, snow cave, winter camping

Share

Tweet