Improvised shelter

When I was younger, I had joined impromptu camping trips. Called such because the only things we bring is the gun. Very challenging but we were able to survive and even enjoy. The bed is usually a any spread like a blanket over grass and dried leaves. For the hovel, small branches woven by twigs. It's hard to describe but a camper would surely understand. However, that improvised shelter is good only against the morning dew. When it rains, we get wet.

 

Across the creek (stream) from my parent's home are some reeds. Anyway, I figure since they look like commercial tent poles, they'd be good for making a tent. So has anyone tried to use them? Well, as a kid, I tried to make some tents, but they were never as good as the commercial, not even coming close!

Oh, anyway, what are some possible other building materials for a tent?