If you are tired of the usual winter activities to do in the snow, such as sledding or snowball fights, try building a fort. Building a snow fort is a great family activity and a wonderful winter pastime. Remember to build it with friends and have someone stand guard outside the fort in case it collapses.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparing to Build the Fort
Step 1. Think about the structure you want to make
Snow forts range from simple single-walled to more complex forts with four walls and a roof.
- An important component of this choice is the amount of snow you have available.
- Take into account the length, height and depth of your fort when calculating the amount of snow you will need. 1.20m is a good height for a fort.
Step 2. Measure the size of the fort
Use a shovel or branch to trace the perimeter of the fort. If you don't have a lot of snow, opt for a single wall with two wings on the side.
Step 3. Find a good snowdrift
If you don't have it, create it! Use snow shoveled from the road or anywhere else.
Step 4. Make sure the snow is dense and not soft
Test the snow by making a ball out of it: if it sticks then the snow is suitable, otherwise follow the next step on how to make the snow thicker.
Step 5. Use snow bricks if you don't have good snow on hand
Pack as much snow as you can into Tupperware containers, coolers or plastic buckets, turn the containers over and open them.
Alternatively, pour cold water over the snow to form a layer of ice. If you are planning to dig a moat, do not pour the water over the chosen location for the moat to make it easier for you to dig
Part 2 of 3: Building the Snow Fort
Step 1. Build the walls
Use compacted snow or snow bricks to form the walls, making sure they are perpendicular to the inside of the fort.
- If you are using snow bricks, work like a bricklayer: lay one layer, leaving a few centimeters between each brick, and place the second layer so that each brick rests in the center of the two bricks below. Get a second person to help you compact some snow between the bricks.
- If you are digging the fort in the snowdrift use a shovel or your hands to dig your way through the snow. When you have succeeded, make an interior space with your hands or with a small shovel.
Step 2. Compress the outside of your walls with a shovel
Sand down the outside of the walls and add more support snow as needed. If you used bricks, fill in the gap between each brick, then smooth it with a shovel. Be careful not to break the snow blocks. The outer walls should be slightly sloped to last longer.
Step 3. Pour some water over the pillbox to create a protective layer of ice
The water will freeze solidifying the structure and preventing it from melting.
- Work from the bottom up to prevent the ice from weighing too heavily on the top and collapsing the structure.
- Make sure the temperature is below freezing when you pour the water over the walls so that the water freezes quickly.
Part 3 of 3: Decorating the Fort
Step 1. Spray cold water and food coloring on the fort for a personalized touch
Dye the snow blocks until you prepare them by adding colored water, spray colored water with a spray bottle, or mix food coloring with cold water to pour over the pillbox as a finishing touch.
Step 2. To light up the fort surround it with a row of low power led bulbs
Low-wattage bulbs generate very little heat and therefore reduce the chances of melting.
Step 3. Add flags, a snowman or other decorations
If you have plenty of snow, make snowmen as keepers of the fort or turrets. If you have space inside the fort, make the furniture. Dig some decorations on the outside of the walls to customize your construction.
Advice
- Buy waterproof gloves. They are available at sportswear stores and are used to keep your hands warm and dry while building the fort. If you can't find them anywhere, wear a pair of woolen gloves: when your hands get wet you can change them for another pair and put them to dry on the radiator.
- Don't be mad if the fort falls apart - you can always build another one!
- If you want to make a stable roof, find a good quality umbrella and pile the snow on top of the umbrella. You have a good chance it will hold up.
Warnings
- Don't build a roof that's too heavy or you'll risk it collapsing.
- Choose a location for the fort that is not in the sun - this will allow your fort to last longer and reduce the risk of collapsing.
- Don't stand on the fort, it could collapse.
- Do not let animals enter the fort as they could destroy it.
- ALWAYS ask someone to be present while you are building the fort, especially when you are inside. NEVER go inside if you are alone. If there was a breakdown you could risk suffocating if there is no one to help you.
- Avoid building the fort near a parking lot: carbon monoxide fumes would accumulate inside the fort and this could cause intoxication and even lead to death.
