Instruction: Instruction: Teaching a Technique
Adopting the model of open source software, these set of instructions are not dogma, but something that will improve with more experience and student feedback. We encourage collaboration with other instructors. Share notes about what is successful, and what isn't. The instructions should be adapted to fit the technique or task (e.g. building an urban hide site or processing an image) that is being taught.
Instructing students about surveillance techniques presents a different set of challenges than an academic class. An instructor must be prepared to not only instruct, but also facilitate planning, logistics, material acquisition, etc.
When conducting workshops, keep notes about how workshops are conducted and received. What feedback from the students could be incorporated? What things could be clearer? What can be removed or added?
Below is a step-by-step manual explaining how to be an instructor for building a rural hide site. Use this as a template to build your own instruction workflow for a different surveillance or media processing task.
The purpose of the workshop is to teach, facilitate, and also create a space that allows students to offer feedback and suggestions. We encourage a back-and-forth dialogue that is open to alternative ways of making. With this in mind, ask your students throughout the workshop for questions and feedback about the current task. We built designated times into the schedule for feedback and debrief sessions. Incorporate feedback into the workshop and refine the process as you become conversant with the workshop material, and after leading the workshop several times.
Ideally the class should consist of 2–4 students, working in groups of two.
It is recommended that the hide-site workshop takes place over two sessions. This can be divided into a morning and afternoon session, or over two days.
- Instructor introduction
- Demo: Instructor(s) give an introduction to hide site, materials, tools. Instructor(s) will then build a hide site allowing students to watch and address questions.
- Working session: Students and instructor(s) work together to build a hide site.
- Student session & evaluation: Students build the hide site without the instructor and an evaluation occurs after the hide site is built.
- Debrief and discussion
- Mission planning / add natural camouflage / kitbag construction
- Scout site: students will pick a specific site to build a hide site. A public park might be a good place to start.
- Field construction: students build the site
- Evaluation: instructor(s) evaluate the site
- Disassembly
- Debrief and discussion
The amount of materials needed is dependent on class size. If you have a group of 2, you will need enough material for one instructor hide site, one student hide site, and prepared examples (center support, couplings, zip tie connections, etc.). Students may break the materials during the first session, so have enough extra material to anticipate this possibility. Plan in advance, and leave enough time before holding the workshop for materials to be delivered and to run through a rehearsal.
In order for students to grasp the concepts, prepared examples are necessary. Recommended examples are listed below. Keep in mind this is a working list. Feel free to add or remove examples.
- Center Support (⅜” pex tubing, duct tape, extender pole)
- Couplings (¾” pex tubing, duct tape)
- Connections (½” pex tubing, zip ties)
- Tent Stake attached to pole (duct tape)
- PEX kinked (Demo of what not to do)
- Chicken wire (folded over spare wire at the ends)
Print the following materials:
- Material and Tool Checklist (space included for student notes). Find it here.
- Map of the Field site with the perimeter outlined
- Pictures of hide site
- https://github.com/ificouldseewhatyousee/ificouldsee/blob/master/media/IMG_8351small02.jpg
- https://github.com/ificouldseewhatyousee/ificouldsee/blob/master/media/8968755040_31c27e0717_o-min_small02.jpg
- https://github.com/ificouldseewhatyousee/ificouldsee/blob/master/media/camo3_small02.jpg
Select a public park or a private site to conduct the field session. The terrain should reflect the natural environment of that specific region. For example, southern California coastal terrain would be characterized by oak trees, grasslands, coniferous forests, etc. Ensure that there is enough natural flora to hold a session at the park or private site.
It is not recommended to build a hide site at a park containing only grass.
Identify a perimeter by notating landmarks so students have an idea of the size of the site. Be explicit to avoid confusion. Distribute the printed maps during the field session with the perimeter outlined or notated.
Identify a meet-up point for students and instructor(s) as a place to give an introduction and to conduct the field debrief.
To evaluate participants, conduct a visual check with a scope and/or binoculars approximately 500 meters away. If students remain undetected at that range, they will have successfully passed the test.
- Sturdiness
- Silhouette
- Construction details
- Time
- Concealment
- Silhouette
- Use of natural camouflage
- Distance detection (At what distance can the hide site be detected? Instructor can use a spotting scope and range finder.)
- Time
Debriefs allow time for students and instructor(s) to ask and answer questions, offer suggestions, and to share experiences. The exchange of information can help different participants gain insight from their fellow peers.
This workshop is an introduction to hide site construction. We have based the design of the hide site from the actual plans of the Israeli Defense Forces hide sites. These are some pictures that describe the terrain, construction, and details of the hide site. Point to and describe the details in these images.
E.g. The soldiers are connecting the tubing together using green electrical tape. A figure 8 center support is used to provide more strength to the overall structure. The hide site appears to be sitting in a natural depression, thus the soldiers have less work as they do not need to dig.
Today’s workshop will broken up into 6 sections:
- Hide site design / materials overview
- Demo: We will show you how to build a hide site
- Working session: You will build a hide site and we will assist you
- Student session & Evaluation: You will be build a hide site with your teammate and we will evaluate your site when you finish
- Debrief: Allow students to ask questions and offer suggestions
- Mission planning / natural camouflage / kitbag construction: We will discuss how to scout a location. How to apply natural camouflage. How to make your kitbag for the field. Which materials will be pre-made and which will materials will be made in the field
Questions? Questions break
The materials used by the IDF and the ones that we have chosen are materials that can be be sourced through a hardware store and Amazon.
The hide site uses PEX tubing which is a plumbing tubing that is lightweight, easily accessible, and easy to cut using a pipe cutter or pruning shears.
To attach the PEX tubing together we will be using zip tie as fasteners. We will also be using duct tape when more strength is needed.
Other materials and tools such as chicken wire, tent stakes, wire cutter, extension poles, etc, can also be purchased at a hardware store.
All the other materials can be purchased through Amazon such as the camo netting.
The center support is used to support the structure’s weight and to provide a larger surface area for the headspace canopy.
The base is your footprint for the site. Once the base is positioned put the center support in the middle of the base. The coupling fastener allows you to adjust the size of your base. You can slide the pex tubing in either direction to lengthen or shorten the base.
To create a durable structure. You will need to create 4 vertices that span the length of the structure. Lay the vertices on top of the center support. Be sure to have the vertices on the outside of the base, experience indicates that the tubing slips less when it is placed outside. Also, allow vertices to extend beyond the base by a couple of inches to prevent slipping.
A note on the PEX tubing. Because of the way that the PEX is made, the tubing has a tendency to form s curves. Do not try to straighten the material by overbending it. If you kink the material it will lose strength. You can straighten the material by using this technique.
Straighten the PEX tubing by feeding the tube between your legs and bending it straight. Apply consistent and slight pressure for best results. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhtEb18XoCw)
To tie the structure together. We will be using zip ties. This example shows the method of fastening them together. Like the coupling fastener you can make small adjustments to the size of the vertices to fit the structure. Be sure to have the zip tie ends facing inwards.
Side pieces provide structural integrity and allows the chicken wire to be supported when draped on top. Fasten the side pieces at the halfway height using zip ties.
Chicken wire provides additional structural integrity when placing the camouflage netting on top. Therefore the netting does not sag in the gaps that the pex tubing does not cover. Unroll the wire and lay it on the top half of the structure.
Carefully unroll the netting. The cloth netting will face inwards and the camouflage will face outwards. Place it around half the structure and carefully drape it over the structure. Ensure that the netting fully covers the structure. Soft silhouettes are ideal. For example, in photography a hard silhouette would be a subject with direct lighting. The viewer would be able to see edges and clearly make out the subject from the background. A soft silhouette would be a subject with diffuse lighting. Edges are more difficult to detect as they would blend with the environment and the subject itself. The hide site should have a soft silhouette.
Conduct a visual check of the hide site. Walk around the whole structure.
If you see areas that can be mended, make small adjustments to fix the structure. Conduct the 360 visual check and fitting until you are satisfied.
Question Break
Break (10 min)
Now, we would like you to build a hide site. We will assist you and give feedback.
Note: Instructor(s) should place the center support for the students.
Break (10 min)
Build the hide site with your partner. We will evaluate your hide site once you finish.
Share thoughts and insights.
Identify the terrain that you will occupy. Questions to answer: Is the terrain flat or on a grade? What is the habitat of the site? (Grassy, rocky, dirt, etc.) Is the site naturally obtrusive (plant, tree, or grass cover) or unobtrusive? Is a footprint necessary for the hide site?
Determine how far you will need to be from your target. Use a mapping service (e.g. google earth pro) to measure distance and elevation of target and surveillance location. Select a site that is situated at that distance. Flat sites are the easiest to setup Natural foliage aids concealment If you have time and can make certain that will not encounter the target, go the the target location and check to see if your surveillance location is concealed.
Determine how long you will be at the hide site. For example a shorter surveillance task (2 hours) could require less comfort than a lengthier surveillance task (12 hours).
Determine the sight lines for your target and visibility for potential nuisances (animals or people). Keep in mind that you need to maintain 360 degree awareness during the duration of the surveillance task.
It is recommended that to add natural foliage such as grass, branches, leaves, etc. to create a more inconspicuous hide site. As a rule of thumb your hide site should have a 70 / 30 ratio. 70% natural and 30% unnatural visible from the outside. Symmetry may not be desired if the terrain is uneven. An irregular shape might match the site more appropriately.
2 Backpacks or one large duffel bag is needed to pack materials and tools
Items such as the center support, couplings, and base cut to length can be made in advance.
In general pre cutting the PEX tubing before building the hide site on site is desired. If terrain is flat or has a mild grade then pre cutting is ideal. Less tools are needed while on site and the task can be completed by one person.
However, if a hide site is irregular (grade or shape) then onsite cutting is more suitable. In this scenario you will need at least 2 people.
Determine what type of site you will be surveilling at and then choose whether to pre cut or not.
We will evaluate your hide site in the field.
Today’s field workshop will broken up into five sections
- Scout site: You will scout a site within the perimeter
- Hide site construction: Build your hide site. This will be your chance to use natural camouflage.
- Evaluation: Will evaluate you from a distance of 500 meters.
- Disassembly: You will disassemble and pack up the your hide site and go back to the meet-up point.
- Debrief: You will share what you learned in the field.
We have identified this area. (Describe landmarks that denote the perimeter. Be specific. Distribute maps)
Remember the site selection best practices Determine how far you will need to be from your target. Select a site that is situated at that distance. Flat sites are the easiest to setup Natural foliage aids concealment You will have 40 minutes to scout a hide site location. Once the time is up, go back to the meetup point.
Once the break is over tell students to be ready with their gear and prepare to disembark.
You will have 80 minutes to build your hide site. At x time we will evaluate your hide site at X distance. Remember to use natural camouflage to reduce your visibility to the outside world. The evaluation will take 30 minutes. Good luck!
Evaluate the hide sites at X distance. Move closer until you can identify the site. Once identified go to the field and inform the student(s). Tell them to take a 10 minute break, then disassemble the hide site, and finally go back to the meet-up point.
Allow students to share their experiences and insights while building in the field.