Teams from Aberfoyle Public School and Erin Public School put their skills and teamwork to the test during the Skills Ontario Cardboard Boat Race Championships on March 2 at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex.
Aberfoyle’s team of Shaan Uppal, Sebastian Harman-Denhoed, Caroline Widdecombe and Sean (last name withheld at request of parents) placed first at the regional competition on Feb. 3 at Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute.
Aberfoyle’s other team of Mason Hill, Ehsan Patel, Aidan Derderian and Wade Schnurr placed second, and Erin’s team of Aaron Lutz, Ryan Shen, Joel Klassen and Alexa Downey placed third.
All three teams were scheduled to compete in the championships on March 2.
The Skills Ontario Cardboard Boat Races seek to introduce students to skills such as construction and building, planning and design, teamwork and workplace safety that are required for today’s workforce.
The cardboard boat races connect education, hands-on experience and employability skills, officials state.
“Skills Ontario is committed to preparing Ontario’s youth for the highly-skilled economy of tomorrow,” said Gail Smyth, executive director of Skills Ontario, in a press release.
“The Cardboard Boat Races is such a fun way to connect education, hands-on experience, and employability skills for young people.”
The races draw nearly 1,500 competitors in 14 cities from 250 schools in Ontario each year. Fifty-nine teams – a total of 236 students – were to compete at the championships over the two-day event in Waterloo.
The premise of the races is simple: teams of four are provided all the necessary materials to build a boat in just two hours.
Students must bring their problem-solving, teamwork and design skills as they create a seaworthy structure out of two sheets of corrugated cardboard and some duct tape.
Students are judged on construction, speed, weight and team spirit categories.
These races represent the culmination of planning, testing and practicing by students throughout the school year, many building prototypes and practicing during their lunch and after school.
