Driftwood Fort

Remember the satisfying process of  building forts as a kid? A hand-built driftwood fort at the seaside is much more than wood stacked into a shelter: call it Zen, call it fun, call it a hands-on lesson in engineering. 

Walk the beach and check out the driftwood with your child for its fort building possibilities. There are many basic shapes to consider as you survey the driftwood stacks: A-frame, lean-to, dugout, teepee, log cabin, or simply wood leaned against a mother log. The process is self-directed and can be a satisfying collaboration between kids and adults. 

Tips and Tricks 

• Use only found materials from the beach and no tools or nails. Rope is okay 

• Start with bigger pieces of driftwood at the foundation and build 

• from there. 

• Bring a blanket and picnic supplies to the beach with you. 

• Do not dismantle someone else’s fort to make your own. You can remodel or add to it, however.