A Family’s Winter Adventure: Building an Igloo in St. Thomas

For years, countless Canadian kids have gazed out at the snowy landscape and dreamed about crafting a snow fort big enough for everyone, yet only a few make that dream come true.

This winter, a family from St. Thomas, Ont., decided to turn that dream into action by taking advantage of the frigid temperatures and constructing a full-sized igloo entirely made from slush and ice.

Standing around five and a half feet tall, this igloo comfortably accommodates three people, complete with colorful bricks that add a unique touch against the bright white snow surrounding it.

“We experienced quite a bit of cold weather and were looking for something fun to do outside. We found an inspiring photo online and went from there,” said Abe Knelsen, the dad who collaborated with his wife and two sons to create this impressive ice structure.

What started as a spontaneous family project soon turned into quite an endeavor, with building taking about 25 hours in total.

Once inspiration struck, they filled approximately 30 empty lasagna trays with water mixed with food coloring, waited for them to freeze solid, then set them up in their front yard in sections.

Afterward, they used slush as mortar to secure each brick in place.

“If you look closely at the colorful mosaic it became, it’s really quite an interesting final product,” Knelsen noted. “It’s much warmer inside without the wind or chillier air.”

The Knelsen family’s igloo, as seen at night. (Abe Knelsen)

The igloo served not just as a bonding experience for father and sons; it also turned into an educational opportunity for Sam and Lucas Knelsen, ages 12 and 10 respectively.

The boys are homeschooled and mentioned learning plenty throughout the process.

“First we took a stake to measure the radius before laying down the base blocks,” explained Sam, noting that these measurements were incorporated into his math lessons.

The uneven colors of their creation provided another lesson altogether.

“It’s really cool how vibrant the colors are; however on one side they’ve faded due to sunlight,” Lucas added.

The Knelsen family’s igloo during its construction. (Abe Knelsen)

A Community Attraction

Abe mentioned that their igloo has caught the eye of neighbors and other local residents alike.

“With all this cold weather lately I think everyone is feeling it more than usual; we intentionally built it in our front yard,” he shared.

“We thought if we did well enough it might attract some positive attention – which it certainly did.”

class=”text-muted”>The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive according to Abe, who noted that several locals stopping by have even asked if they could check out what’s inside the igloo themselves!>

Looking ahead brings mixed feelings among family members regarding future projects like this one:>

Abe stated he feels satisfied with their current accomplishment after reflecting on how much time went into making it all happen!>Left to right: Lucas, Abe, and Sam Knelsen enjoying cookies together inside their igloo. (Abe Knelsen) class=”text-muted”>However, the kids have different ideas for next year! They’re dreaming bigger – envisioning an even larger igloo constructed in shaded areas so those bright colors don’t wash away too quickly!>

No matter where life takes them next regarding outdoor adventures, Abe remarked that memories created while building this particular structure will last long after its eventual melting occurs..>

“We truly had an amazing time together as a family despite braving some seriously chilly conditions! I’m confident these will be cherished memories for years down the line.”