Ingenuity and adaptation landed four Lakeland teams success at the 2018 Skills Canada Alberta Cardboard Boat Races in Edmonton. Schools from across the region made the trip to the city for the event on Wednesday, Jan. 31.
Ingenuity and adaptation landed four Lakeland teams success at the 2018 Skills Canada Alberta Cardboard Boat Races in Edmonton.
Schools from across the region made the trip to the city for the event on Wednesday, Jan. 31.
With little help from their coaches on race day, teams from H.E. Bourgoin Middle School, Dr. Bernard Brosseau School, Bonnyville Centralized High School (BCHS), and Glendon School had to go-it on their own.
"The Cardboard Boat Races are an awesome experience, with 30 teams from across the province participating.
The kids design the boat with two sheets of cardboard and a limited amount of tape. From there, they take their plans to the competition and they're given an hour-and-a-half to build their boat, without any coaching," detailed Glendon School coach Josh Backer.
Event organizers threw-in a twist this year, when they informed students they would have to incorporate a pylon into their design.
Thinking on their feet, students from Glendon referenced what their teachers instilled in them, and used the pylons to their advantage.
"It was hard, but when you thought about it there were a few different things we could do. We thought about what Mr. Backer said and decided to use it as an air pocket," Connor Nakonechny from Glendon school.
When the clock ran out, all four schools had overcome the last minute obstacle and put together a vessel that successfully made the trip across the test pool.
During the second part of the competition, teams experienced difficulty getting their ship to stay afloat during the weight test.
"We did well in the race, but as soon as they added weight, we sunk right to the bottom of the pool," laughed Glendon student Kolby Kwiatkowski.
Glendon's boat earned them a spot in the top 10, while H.E. Bourgoin found themselves in 12th place with Dr. Bernard Brosseau not far behind in 16th.
In the senior division, BCHS ranked 11th out of 13 teams.
Regardless of their placing, teachers were happy to provide their students with the chance to take what they learn in the classroom into the real world.
"These really help engage students in the learning process, and it really ties the skills they learn in school to problem solving in the real world," expressed Lisa Shankowski, coach for H.E.B.
When you add in the reward of jumping in the pool at NAIT to race your project after finding out it floats, students shared their teachers' excitement.
H.E.B. student Madison Sartain said, "It was a great opportunity, and we got to do it with friends. Jumping in the pool and racing the boat was so much fun. It's such an adrenaline rush, wanting to win and wondering if your boat will fall apart or not."
