The first bridge kit orders for Coast schools have been delivered and at 676 kits, a new record. Kits were delivered to 37 teachers at 10 schools with a further 40 kits delivered to Gibsons Library (bringing the total up to 716 kits).
A crew of 11 volunteers worked diligently to pull together the kits, each kit including about 110 popsicle sticks, a bottle of glue and a paper road bed.
A few clothes pegs were added this year, an innovation fully supported by last year’s top bridge contestant, Luca Prekratic, a student at Davis Bay Elementary school. The clothes pegs are used to hold sticks in place as the glue sets.
“I have seen the bridge contest gather steam, growing exponentially over the past five years,” enthused Technology Festival Association of BC (TFABC) vice president, Peter Moonen. TFABC, a not-for-profit society based on the Coast, hosts the event. “The level of engagement and support from the teachers has been extraordinary. The bridge contest fits nicely with the school curriculum, helping students learn about engineering technology.”
Bridge kits are available to the community through businesses and organizations on the Coast: Gibsons Building Supplies, Home Hardware and Wheatberries in Gibsons; GBS and Pastimes Toy Store in Sechelt; and, the EarthFair Store in Madeira.
The primary focus of the contest is students, with an opportunity for the community to participate. Other categories include family and open (adult). Testing is scheduled for May 22 and 23 but may be changed to accommodate a much larger number of bridges expected this year.
Bridge testing will be videotaped so builders will be able to see their bridges being tested to failure. Yes, the bridges will break! The videos will be posted to Sunshine Coast Popsicle Stick Bridge Contest on Facebook, where builders will find the rules and other useful resources to help construct a bridge.
A new resource is a TFABC video in which Luca Prekratic demonstrates how to build a bridge. Luca’s father, Christian, was the videographer and advisor on the project.
Builders are encouraged to check in to the Facebook page for updates on the contest.
TFABC has recently expanded its events, this past year hosting an egg drop and the Skills Canada Trades and Technology public speaking competition. TFABC is looking to other activities such as robotics, catapult and LEGO competitions, technology trade shows and exhibitions, all as a means of engaging youth of all ages in activities that assist with applied learning in science and technology.
This is the 13th year of the popsicle stick bridge competition on the Coast.
