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Step 1
Make the frame for the shelter by standing 4 logs or small tree trunks into holes in the ground (or you can use 1 or more existing trees) to form a rectangle. Make sure the frame is tall enough for your height and long enough to fit your body comfortably when lying down.
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Step 2
Strap 4 branches or smaller logs onto your frame with rope, vines, or strong, flexible branches high enough off the ground that small animals can run underneath and rain won't splash up onto the bed. Cut notches in the upright posts to sit the branches on for a more sturdy construction. The branches will run horizontally between the posts.
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Step 3
Gather many small branches and stretch them across your bed frame horizontally and side by side. Take more branches and perpendicularly weave them into the small branches to make a strong bed.
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Step 4
Create the frame for the roof by using branches to form an A-frame. A good method that ensures rain will run off properly is to have 1 pole as the center ridge, fitted in the front and back with A's made from 2 branches each. Then 2 more branches will connect the front A to the back (1 on the right and 1 on the left). Cut more notches in the upright frame posts and attach the roof to the frame with more twine, rope, or flexible branches.
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Step 5
Attach more branches on the roof frame, stretching from the front to the back, to serve as support for the leaves.
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Step 6
Hang large leaves upside-down from the newest branches. The shiny sides should face up for rain deflection. Begin with the lowest layer first so that each consecutive layer will fall on top of the previous. The leaves should also overlap each other on their sides.
