The 1st Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta took place Sunday, July 24 at Hucklberry Campground outside of New London.
Scott Crain took on the roll of Summertime Pack Event Coordinator for Pack 3249 (Sugar Bush Elem. School) and came up with this activity for one of our three summertime pack events. The other events were EAA Airventure Museum in June, and Wolf River Tubing Trip at Wolf River Trips in August.
Scouts that attend all three summer pack events earn the National Summertime Pack Event Award and will receive a pin for their uniform and special recognition at our September pack meeting.
There were a few rules for the regatta: The only materials that could be used were cardboard, duct tape, packing tape, wood glue, paint (one part), and cardboard tubes. Wood or plastic could not be used to cap the ends of tubes. Children must wear a life jacket. Team members that start the race must finish the race without leaving the interior of the boat.
Divisions were set up like this: 1) Scouts & Siblings with 1 – 4 crew members; 2) Scouts and Parents; 3) Parents.
Awards were given out for: 1) Speed Boat Award – for the team who completes the course in the fastest time; 2) Titanic Award – for the most spectacular sinking; and 3) Design Star Award – for the best design and theme, including boat and crew.
The day started at 10:30 a.m. with arrival of boats and last minute touch ups, followed by a picnic lunch at 11 a.m.. The scouts and siblings class started off the first race at 12 p.m. and was immediately followed by the scouts and parents class and then the parents only class. Some of the boats were actually used in all three class races and were still floating at the end.
Speed Boat Award went to Myles and Morgan O’Brien; Design Star Award went to the Roland family and the Titanic Award went to Tru Ulman.
This event had never been done before in our pack and yet had the highest turnout – 23 out of 28 scouts and their family members showed up for this fun-filled event.
Campers from the campground lined the beach to cheer the scouts on and some also served as the judges for the three awards. Everyone had so much fun and the turnout was so great that this will most likely become a permanent summer pack event.