GUELPH – Aberfoyle Public School and Erin Public School competed at the provincial championship of the Skills Cardboard Boat Race in Waterloo on March 6.
The Skills Ontario Provincial Cardboard Boat Championships were held at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex and brought together 112 Grade 7 and 8 students from across the province.
In groups of four, teams started the day with a two-hour boat build on a dry floor surface. In the afternoon, teams were tested on speed and a weight challenge in the pool.
Teams designed their boats prior to the competition and then during the day, assembled the boat, decorated it in the chosen theme and answered questions about nine essential skills. Boat decorations were then removed prior to the speed and weight challenges.
Weight is determined by totalling the weights of all team members and volunteer members and seeing what maximum weight the boat can hold for at least 60 seconds.
Aberfoyle Public School Team 1 reached a maximum weight of 227kg (500 pounds) and total of 48 points, whileAberfoyle Public Team 2 reached a maximum weight of 218kg (418 pounds) and 44 points, placing them 13th and 15th overall.
The Aberfoyle participants include Liam Derderian, Jonathan Sharpe, Asad Syed, Campbell Schnurr, Myles Klassen, Jocelyn Grant, Sydney Huether and Zain Patel.
Students from Erin Public School topped their personal best with a maximum weight of over 272kg (600 pounds), placing 6th and 11th in the provincial competition.
The Erin participants include: Jared Leitch, Isabelle Villeneuve, Torah Ladouceur, Ella Cole, Carson Kilner, Ferguson Groves, Mr. Paul Nethery, Shelden Paolucci, Chloe Ringler, Bronson Barnes and Zachary Mattar.