Strongest shelter challenge

Before you begin

1. Gather your equipment and make sure you are in a space that can get wet or where water can drain away.
   
   
2. Download or print a story about refugees or displaced children from the
   ‘strongest shelter challenge stories’ sheet.
3. Download or print the ‘What makes a good shelter? Information sheet'.

Run the activity

1. Set the scene by talking about having to leave home in a hurry to escape a dangerous situation and ending up without shelter. Ask the group how they would protect themselves and what they might use to build a shelter?
   Use the ‘What makes a good shelter? Information sheet’ sheet to help.
2. Everyone should split into small groups of no more than six people.
3. Explain to everyone that they’ll be building shelters against the clock, so they’ll need to work as a team and use the materials they have to build a shelter that can stand up to all weather conditions.
4. Explain to everyone that the outdoor shelter should be large enough to fit the entire group in without falling over. If indoors, explain that the table-top shelters should be large enough to protect all of the mini-figures.
5. Everyone should be given a time limit to build the shelter. Younger groups should have 20-30 minutes to complete the task, while older groups should have 15-20 minutes.
6. Everyone should now build their shelters.
7. When they are finished or have run out of time, test each shelter for waterproofing using the watering can or hose. The winner is the group that worked together the best and made a shelter that kept the people or the mini-figures driest.
8. Everyone should gather together in a circle to listen to one of the stories on the 'Strongest shelter challenge stories'. For bigger groups, you could split into small groups and read a story each.
9. Once everyone has heard one of the stories, discuss the following questions as a group:
   

   - How difficult did you find the challenge?
   - What did you think about when working out how to build their shelter?
   - What would it be like to sleep in your shelter outdoors for one night or a whole week?
   - How do you feel about the story of the refugees or displaced children who live in temporary camps?

This activity helps contribute towards some of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Find out more about the SDGs, and how Scouts across the world are getting involved.