Individual Designs

Top: Andrew Elias, Bottom: Abby Schukei
In addition to working together on group designs, students developed their own individual designs and presented them with schematic drawings and budgets. 

Above: Abigail Schukei

Above: Sara Tonjes

Team 1 - Final Design

Team 1's final design is a tent-like shelter that is expandable from a backpack.
The shelter expands from the backpack and is supported inside by gauged wire. The material is a water resistant nylon. 
The opening of the shelter is two layers, one waterproof nylon and one mesh for ventilation. It fastens with snaps. The entire structure is 7ft by 1.5ft. Inside of the structure there is a small pillow built into the back of the backpack. There are also two windows on the side reinforced with mesh and plastic flaps. 

Team 2 - Final Design

Team 2's final design takes the form of a suitcase. 
A weather proof tarp covers the exterior of the shelter that is supported inside by PVC pipes. This structure was the fastest to set up and store. 
The structure leaves extra room inside the suitcase for additional bedding and belongings.

Team 3 - Final Design

Team 3's final design was a triangular shaped tent-like structure created out of waterproof tarp and a PVC pipe frame.
Here the tarp is laid flat before slipping PVC pipe into sleeves that reinforced the structure. The shelter included pockets on the inside for belongings.
The team used kitchen knives as stakes to keep the structure stable.

Team 4 - Final Design

Team 4's final shelter design consisted of four plastic barrel rings and a tunnel created from inflatable pool floats. 

The entrance to the structure is covered with mesh for ventilation. A pool float on the inside acts as an inflatable bed for the inhabitant. A separate feature the team devised was a shade umbrella that attaches to a stake in the ground and is weighted to provide an extra area of sun protection in warm weather.

Shelters in Progress - 4/7

Team 1 added small windows for airflow to their shelter. The tent-like tube collapses into a backpack.


Team 3 working on their triangular tent-like structure. 

Team 4 taking their shelter for a test run outside.

Team 2 revisited their design and decided on pvc arches that collapse into an old suitcase. They found the suitcase at Good Will for $7. 

Shelters in Progress - 4/2

Team 1 creating their camouflage sleeping structure reinforced with wire. The sleeping area collapses into a backpack.

Team 4 working on their collapsible sleeping tunnel made of inflatable pool floats. The rings are made from a found plastic barrel. 

Team 2 spent most of the class period in the wood shop working on the wooden base of their shelter. They also wrapped these pieces of wood in a waterproof tarp to see how it would work as a base.
Team 3 created two triangular side panels out of a vinyl tarp and cut mosquito netting for the windows. 
The students have one week left to complete their shelters.