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The Engineering Olympics
The Engineering Olympics is a fast paced competition to design and build structures that meet certain criteria –within tight deadlines. In each contest, the teams are given the materials, tools, objectives and deadline. For this 2.5 hour event, there are 3 engineering competitions like: Marshmallow Shooter, Rocket Launchers, The Ball Machine, The Tower, Marshmallow Catapult, Walking on Eggs, Mousetrap Cars, and more.
Demolition Derby
The Demolition Derby is very exciting and creative competition that is also very flexible in terms of space and time. Each team is supplied with a very zippy radio controlled car. They must build armor for their car—out of paper, foamcore board, tape, glue and other supplies. These have to be strong enough to withstand battering, but light enough to allow maneuverability. Points are also awarded for best style!
Building Bridges
Building Bridges is a highly popular group problem-solving activity where teams act as design-engineering firms competing to win a city contract to build a functional bridge, using only cardboard, tape, and string. With limited initial information, teams must seek out answers from “city and state representatives” located in different areas. The challenge culminates in constructing a bridge that can hold the weight of several people, and presenting a persuasive sales pitch to the "government officials."
Outrageous Frog Catapulting
A spirited competition in which teams must design and build catapult devices that will fling bean bag frogs 50 feet toward a target. Catapults are built out of PVC pipe and surgical tubing. Testing, trial and error, brainstorming are all part of this fun event. Teams must also design and sew their own frogs. How aerodynamic they are and make a difference, and there are definitely points for the best looking frogs. Another fun variation on this event is "Egg Catapulting"--using real eggs.
The Great Auto Race
This event is fabulous for groups of as small as 25 or large as 150. Each team of 7-10 people puts together a "car" that will carry two people, provide steering and braking. The construction requires creativity, group problem solving and "buying" parts to make the car. At the end of the construction phase (about 2+ hours), there is a race. Helmet and pads are provided for safety. The team with the highest combined score for spirit, design and fastest driving time wins!
Par for the Course
This is an incredibly creative and fun team event, in which each team is challenged with building a hole for a miniature golf course. The real lesson to be learned is the vital importance of all teams communicating with each other in order to build an entire course together. The competition for the most creative hole as well as the best golf score can get intense! Great for indoors or outdoors, and you don't need to know how to golf in order to participate.
Sandcastle Wars
This challenge is new twist on building sandcastles. It relies on creativity, resourcefulness and strategy. Each team of 6-8 people is given a number of building implements and some play money. Their challenge is to build a strong sand castle that will withstand assault by a variety of weapons. With the money, teams must make purchasing decisions about building materials and weapons for the war (for the final battle). There is a time limit, so planning and execution are of utmost importance.
Castaways - Boat Building
This is a great outdoor event in which teams must build boats out of cardboard, tape and plastic that will actually carry two people and stay afloat. We supply the basic blueprints for the boats, but teams can modify these in any way they choose. Because there is a real boat race in the end (with life jackets), it is a particularly exciting event!
A-MAZE-ING!
Design and construct large labyrinths that need to be operated by at least 4 people tilting it so a ball can roll through the maze—without falling into any traps! Each team constructs a complex, 3-dimensional maze—limited only by their imagination. We have seen mini-villages built as part of these detailed labyrinths. After the construction phase, teams get to try the mazes built by the other teams. Lots of fun and surprises.
Mousetrap Car Grand Prix
This is a fun, spirited design competition where teams build, experiment, and race their own Mousetrap car. Each Mousetrap car is built from basic materials we provide. The spring of a mouse trap provides the main power for the car, though we also provide other materials to make key racing modifications. This event offers great flexibility in terms of space requirements, venue and time frame so it can be done virtually anywhere – in time frames ranging from 90 minutes to 3 hours.
Towering Objectives
A fabulous group problem solving game that is perfect for meetings that have only 60-90 minutes for an effective team building/experiential learning event. The activity challenges teams of 8 people to design and construct a tower out of cards and tape-- that will hold the weight of up to 40 oz. of water resting on top of it.
Walking on Eggs
One of our most entertaining events! Teams are challenged with designing and making shoes that will actually walk on real eggs! There are a lot of decisions that need to be made as a group, including which eggs to walk on and what materials they can purchase or bargain for. A final relay race, where all team members must take turn wearing their shoe designs and walk on eggs caps off this fantastic event.
