It's the 4th annual and always awesome

The boats and races:
There is not a requirement for each grade to make a boat this year.  Instead we're just telling everyone to make a boat if you're willing.  Each family can make a boat.  Or each student can make a boat.  Or you can make multiple boats and then let other students race them for you.  Or hire someone to make a boat for you.  Oh, now, you wouldn't really do that would you? We didn't think so.  So start working on some plans and get after it!

Boats must be constructed of cardboard.  Glue and duct tape can be used to hold them together.  No water sealer paint.  Duct tape, paint, or markers can be used for decorating the boat - as long as the paint doesn't also double as water sealer in a significant way.  Each boat is allowed to have 4 standard size pool noodles attached.  The pool noodles can be cut into pieces. (but from experience last year, the pool noodles did not seem to matter at all when it came to the boats floating or sinking.)  There aren't too many rules about the boat as long as the main ingredient is cardboard.

Students can paddle with their hands or with homemade cardboard and duct tape paddles.  Regular paddles are not allowed to be used.  Homemade paddles (of cardboard and duct tape) can be no longer than 2 ft in length and 1 foot in width.  Paddles which cover the hand seem to have worked the best in previous years.  Paddles must be flat.  Ping-pong paddles are also allowed this year.  We have 12 waterproof ping-pong paddles which can be borrowed by students to use.  You are welcome to provide your own as well.

A large selection of cardboard is available in hallway behind the HS room at the church building.    You can also use your own cardboard.  Or look for cardboard being thrown away on bulk trash pick-up day in your neighborhood.  If your family has recently purchased a refrigerator, you're in great shape! 

If you need help transporting your boat to Lake Bryan, we might can help.  We're taking the youth trailer so we can take the grill to grill burgers.  If you can transport your boat in your family's vehicle, great.  If not, let us know and we'll try to help. 



Some construction tips:
1) You can use multiple layers of cardboard, alternating
the direction of the corrugations for more strength.
2) Score your cardboard along the line of folds for the
straightest bends.
3) Seal the edges of your cardboard with caulk or duct
tape to prevent water from getting in.
4) Don't make the sides of your boat too tall for the
crew to be able to reach over and paddle. 
5) Look at youtube or other websites for info on how to
make a cardboard boat. 
6) Make it fun.  Paint it up.  Have a theme or something funny or goofy.


A few additional bits of info:

Bring a towel.  Whether you have a boat or not, bring a towel.  A lot of students (and parents) have gotten in the water in years past, but not all of them had a towel to dry off with before they got in their car to go home.

The entrance fee for Lake Bryan has gone up.  It is now $5 per person.  They have also changed when you pay - you now pay upon exiting the park, if we understand correctly.  Transportation is on your own...so get to Lake Bryan the same way you get to other places you go to.  If you can not get to the lake, talk to us and we'll see what we can do to help. 

For info on Lake Bryan or how to get there (or where to go once you're there) go to lakebryan.com

We are planning to grill burgers for everyone.  Dinner will be served at least by 7:00.  The meal is free.  The race will likely begin around 7:30-7:45 or shortly after.  We have learned in previous years that sunset was a pretty good time to race because other people were leaving the swim beach at that time. 

If you want to come early or stay late and hang out at the lake, you're more than welcome to do so.  There are plenty of places to swim.  It might be a fun night for families to get to hang out together.  Or just a fun night for your family to have some lake time before the hot weather goes away.

If you want to bring floats, boats, canoes, kayaks, etc., that's great.  In the past there have been stand-up paddleboards and kayaks available for rent at the lake.  The paddleboards and kayaks rentals were $18 per hour each (at last check) and are on a self-service basis.  You can find out details or even reserve your kayak or paddleboard in advance at paddleEZ.com or click the Kayak/Paddleboard link on the lakebryan.com webpage. 


And...if you have not already done so, you can RSVP for supper by clicking here:
                                  Cardboard Boat Race Supper RSVP page on CCB