Make your own Hammock

You’ll need

A waterproof tarp (2.5-3m is ideal)
15 meters of durable rope or paracord
2 Carabiners (optional)
Tree Straps (Optional, but highly recommended for protecting the trees.)
Scissors for cutting the rope or paracord.

Before you begin

Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Take a look at our guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.
Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help if you’re short on helpers.

Planning and setting up this activity

Make sure the outdoor area you visit is accessible for everyone, choosing a suitable place for drop off and collection. You may need to think about avoiding steps, being close to public transport, or steep gradients or including frequent breaks. This will require the young people to test the hammock on trees, so you may wish to choose a more wooded area.
Set up the space safely, making sure there’s lots of room for everyone to move around in without knocking or bumping into things.
Check the forecast and sunset times but be prepared for the weather to change. It’s best to run this activity on lighter evenings, such as in summer.
Make sure everyone knows where and when to meet, knows what to bring, and comes dressed for the weather and the task. People should wear outdoor clothing and sturdy shoes.

Running this activity

Gather everyone together and explain that you’ll be making hammocks. Explain the boundaries of the area and where the no-go zones are, as well as which trees people can use.
Tell people how they can use the space respectfully. If you’re outside, remind people to be calm and quiet, so you don’t disturb wildlife or other people, and not to pick any flowers or plants. They should tread carefully, handle wildlife gently, take litter home, and put things gently back where they were found.
Ask everyone to get into groups. When ready, each group should collect their equipment and find a space.
First, lay the tarp on the ground. Make sure it's clean and free of any debris.
Fold the tarp in half lengthwise. This’ll add extra strength and durability.
Gather each end of the folded tarp together and wrap a length of rope around the gathered end several times, then tie a secure knot. A bowline or double fisherman’s knot works well.
Repeat this on both ends of the tarp, creating a bunch. If the tarp has grommets (a hole with metal ring), you can thread the rope through these for added security.
Next, cut two lengths of rope or paracord. They should each be around 3-4 metres long.
Tie one end of the paracord to the secured end of the tarp. Use a strong knot, such as a clove hitch or a figure-eight knot. When you’ve done one side, repeat this on the other end of the tarp.
If you’re using carabiners, tie them to the ends of the ropes attached to the tarp. This makes it easier to set up and adjust your hammock.
Find two sturdy trees that are approximately 10-15 feet apart. The trees should be strong enough to support your weight and make sure an adult checks them.
Wrap the free end of one paracord around the first tree or post. Tie a secure knot, such as a taut-line hitch, which allows for adjustment. When you’ve done one side, repeat for this for the other side on the opposite tree.
Make sure the hammock is hanging at a comfortable height. The middle of the tarp should be about 45 cm off the ground when you sit in it.
One person should slowly and carefully sit in the hammock to test its stability. You should make any necessary adjustments to the ropes or knots and keep testing it to make sure it’s safe, secure and comfortable.
When you’ve finished testing your hammock, lie back, relax, and enjoy your hammock, making sure everyone behaves sensibly while using them!

Reflection

This activity was all about creating a DIY hammock. How easy was it to make from the tarp and ropes? What did you find easy and what did you find hard? Is your finished hammock comfortable and stable? What do you think you could use it for?

You also had to practice knot tying. How did you find tying the knots? How easy was it to adjust the height and tension of the hammock? Did you know which knots to use?

You also had to work as a team. How did you divide the tasks and help each other? Did anyone lead the team? How did you make sure everyone had a go and could do what they enjoyed? How well did you communicate? What could you have done better?

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

Scissors: Supervise young people appropriately when they’re using scissors. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.
Sharp objects: Teach young people how to use sharp objects safely. Supervise them appropriately throughout. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.
Visits away from your meeting place: Complete a thorough risk assessment and include hazards, such as roads, woodland, plants, animals, and bodies of water (for example, rivers, ponds, lakes, and seas). You’ll probably need more adult helpers than usual. Your risk assessment should include how many adults you need. The young people to adult ratios are a minimum requirement. When you do your risk assessment, you might decide that you need more adults than the ratio specifies. Think about extra equipment that you may need to take with you, such as high visibility clothing, a first aid kit, water, and waterproofs. Throughout the activity, watch out for changes in the weather and do regular headcounts.