How to Make a Block Form for a Snow Fort

You can never be too careful when seeking protection against snowball fights.

Snow forts are a major protection against the bad guys. When deep winter and deep snow comes, any child without a proper snow fort leaves himself open to depredation of all kinds. The basic building material is all around -- snow -- but getting it into a usable form takes a bit of work and ingenuity. You can just pile it all up in a row, but that lacks a certain ambiance. Another, better technique is to create blocks of snow that are used as real block are, placed on top of one another to create that just-right "fort" look for the coming battles.

Things You'll Need

• 1 gallon clean plastic milk cartons
• Marking pen
• Scissors or other cutting instrument
• Cooking spray

Instructions

1. Set the milk just on the work table with the handle facing away from you.

2. Outline with the pen where you will cut to create a block form. The goal is to retain the handle and surrounding areas along with the lid opening and cap on the block form. The bottom of the marking should be even with the lowest part of the handle.

3. Visualize the marked off section being cut out of the jug and note if there is enough of the bottom of the jug to make a form for a snow brick. Adjust the line drawing if necessary so that the bottom of the jug will create a block that is easy to slide out.

4. Cut around the marking with a pair of scissors or other sharp object.

5. Spray the inside of the jug with cooking spray so the snow block will easily come out.

6. Test the block form by packing it full of snow. Turn it over and slide the block out.

Tips & Warnings

• Place the blocks so that the snow on the bottom of the milk jug is facing upwards. Many milk jugs have indentations on the bottom that will be molded into your blocks. Putting another block on top of this allows the top block to melt down into the indentations, holding the blocks together much better.

• Saving up milk jugs throughout the autumn allows you to create multiple blocks for the really big forts.