Long Term Shelters: Off Grid

Long Term Shelters: Off Grid

Shape shelter from earth, stone, fire, and wood. Inspired by Indigenous shelter traditions, this course teaches the principles and practices of cold-climate shelter design. From siting and framing to insulation and heating, you’ll work with cob, daub, rocket stoves, and passive solar layouts. This is for those who want to build something real and lasting—with their own hands, and from their own landscape.

This immersive 5-day course is your gateway into the time-honored craft of natural shelter building.

Inspired by the shelter wisdom of the Cree, Passamaquoddy, and Sami traditions—and guided by internationally respected survival expert Michael Douglas—you’ll gain hands-on experience designing and constructing cold-climate shelters that actually work. You’ll be working with cob, clay, poles, bark, and thatch, learning how to shape natural materials into warm, breathable, and lasting living spaces.

This course gives you more than theory—it gives you muscle memory. Each day builds your understanding step-by-step, from selecting the right site to sealing in warmth with sustainable techniques. Whether you're preparing for off-grid living, seeking long-term resilience, or simply want to know that you can build shelter with your own hands, this is where knowledge becomes structure—and skill becomes confidence.

You’ll walk away not only with the ability to build sustainably, but with a renewed connection to land, to self, and to a way of life rooted in capability and place. Come build something real. Something lasting. Something that feels like home.

Course Skills:

Foundation & Site Selection

• Choosing optimal shelter sites based on terrain, wind, sun, and drainage

• Clearing land with ecological respect

• Laying solid, insulated foundations

Shelter Design & Layout

• Passive solar planning, airflow systems, and floor plans for warmth and efficiency

• Cold-climate shelter concepts from Cree, Sami, and Passamaquoddy traditions

Materials Gathering & Processing

• Tree species selection for poles and beams

• Processing wood and bark by hand

• Mixing and testing cob (conductive vs. insulative)

Wall & Frame Construction

• Wattle and daub wall systems

• Framing shelters using both natural and hand-cut joinery

• Application of vapor barriers and insulation

Heat Systems & Energy Efficiency

• Building a rocket stove and managing thermal drafts

• Chimney safety, radiant heat design, and smoke control

• Cob bench/radiant thermal mass integration

Roofing & Flooring

• Natural and man-made floor options: pros and cons

• Thatch, bark, and cob roof systems

• Insulation and moisture control from the ground up

Maintenance & Sustainability

• Long-term upkeep techniques

• Shelter safety protocols

• Living lightly and regeneratively on the land