Cardboard Boats Race for Life Skills

Build a boat out of cardboard. Have it carry at least two people over the whole length of the Inuvik swimming pool, and pass a 2-minute buoyancy test with three people in it. That was Skills Canada’s challenge to the students of Samuel Hearne Secondary School in Inuvik. Students formed teams and made many inventive floatation devices – some stayed afloat quite awhile, others sank or became pulp before it reached the third quarter of the pool. There were no paddles, just hands; coordination between the “captains” determined if the boat traveled with speed in the right direction. The afternoon was filled with laughs and cheers, both for these competitors and their supportive audience.

Jan Fullerton, Executive Director of Skills Canada NWT said, “It’s a good chance for youth to see if they like to problem solve and to work with their hands If they like the mental and physical challenge, we suggest they might want to look into technology and skills trades, which is what we promote for Northern Youth.” The year before, the cardboard challenge was toboggans.

Nicole Lindsay, a competitor said, “It’s really fun to watch the races. We’ve a really well built compact. I’m not going on it as we’ve two other team members who are way lighter. I hope it will last the whole race past the buoyancy test.” Her willingness to play the observer role so as to create better chances for her team is an admirable instance putting team before self.

Donny Amos, whose team won the buoyancy test said, “Our team spent most of our time refining the design of the boat. We re-made the front when we realized there was too much of a vertical angle, it pushed water instead of helping us float. The other two in our boat weigh 120lbs each and I am 224lbs. We surprised ourselves.” He said building the boats were not life skills for on the land living, but “We learnt how to cooperate and how to get out of water when we sink.”

“The kids all did a great job, everyone had a fantastic attitude and worked well as teams,” said Fullerton. Prizes were given out after for creativity, speed and buoyancy.

Team

Team