A Kids' Guide to Building Forts

INTRODUCTION

PEOPLE HAVE BUILT FORTS FOR CENTURIES. HISTORICALLY, THEY WERE USED TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES OR EVEN WHOLE KINGDOMS FROM INVADING ARMIES, AND WERE THE SITE OF MANY TERRIBLE. SIEGES AND HEROIC LAST STANDS.

IN ENGLAND, THE FORT WAS THE LORD’S OR KING’S CASTLE. BUILT OF STONE, WITH HGHH TURRETS, GREAT HALLS, AND DEEP MOATS CROSSED ONLY BY A DRAWBRIDGE, IT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT BU1LDING IN ANY TCWM. KING ARTHUR AND HIS LEGENDARY KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE LIVED IN SUCH A FORT.

IN JAPAN, FORTS WERE BUILT OF HUGE. WOODEN TIMBERS SET ON STONE FOUNDATIONS. THEY HAD TILE ROOFS, TRAP DOORS TO DROP STONES ON THE ENEMY, AND SQUEAKY NIGHTINGALE FLOORS THAT ALERTED THE GUARDS IF A NINJA ASSASSIN SNEAKED IN DURING THE NIGHT.

JAPANESE FEUDAL LORDS AND THEIR LOYAL SAMURAI WARRIORS, THE FAMOUS SWORDSMEN OF JAPAN, LIVED IN THESE HUGE, MULTISTORIED FORTS, DEFENDING THEM TO DEATH IF NEED BE.

AND, IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, FORTS WERE MADE OF LOGS STOOD ON END. THERE WERE HIGH BLOCK HOUSES ON THE CORNERS FROM WHICH TO FIGHT. LIVING QUARTERS INSIDE THE WALLS HOUSED THE CAVALRY SOLDIERS, WHOSE JOB IT WAS TO PROTECT WAGON TRAINS AND PIONEERS FROM ATTACK.

AS YOU CAN SEE, FORTS WERE NOT ALL ALIKE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD AND AT VARIOUS TIMES IN HISTORY. BUT THEIR MAIN PURPOSE WAS ALWAYS THE SAME: THE SERIOUS BUSINESS OF WAR, WEAPONS, AND FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL.

THESE DAYS A FORT CAN ALSO BE SOMETHING ELSE, SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL—A HANDMADE, PRIVATE, OFTEN SECRET PLACE FOR KIDS.

IT IS . . .

A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN SIT, TALK, PRETEND, BE ALONE, MAKE DECISIONS, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE. IT IS A PLACE BUILT BY USING