CARDBOARD BOAT RACES

OFF TO THE RACES!

Do you think your students have what it takes to build a boat that floats—out of cardboard? Skills Canada NWT is thrilled to bring the excitement of our Cardboard Boat Races to schools across the Northwest Territories! This action-packed event is designed to be hands-on, team-based, and loads of fun. It’s not just about building; it’s about problem-solving, teamwork, and maybe a little friendly competition.

How to get involved

  • Express Interest

    Reach out to us to set up a Cardboard Boat Race day at your school. We’ll work with you to coordinate dates, discuss location logistics, and tailor the event to your students’ needs.

  • register your students

    Gather student teams of two and register them for the race day. We’ll help you get organized and provide tips to get everyone excited.

  • Prep for Race Day!

    We bring all the materials you’ll need to make a splash—cardboard, duct tape, and some friendly Skills Canada NWT staff members to keep the energy high and the race running smoothly.

  • Get Ready to Race!

    On race day, students will have a set amount of time to build their boats, followed by the highly-anticipated races where teams see how long their boat floats and how far it can go.

Educators - get in touch!

2025 Cardboard Boat races

Mildred Hall School

Vs.

On December 5th we took kids from Range Lake North School, and kids from Mildred Hall School to the pool for cardboard boat races. We owe a huge thank you to Matco Moving Solutions for providing us with the cardboard needed for this event. It truly wouldn’t have been possible without their support! A huge shout out goes to Northshore Waste Management for supporting our cleanup efforts with their donation of a bin to contain all those soggy boats! Another thank you goes to Tenaquip, for their generous donation of duct tape. 

Overall the event was a great success, the teams showcased their creativity and engineering skills. Some boats floated and some boats sank, and some even made it across the pool twice! 

  • Fastest Boat Award: RLN students, Lucas, Mason, and Logan - 'Titanic 2'

  • Creativity & Engineering Award: MHS students, Sarah, Mackenzie, and Vanessa - Team 'The Eagles'

  • Team Spirit Award: RLN students, Carey and Elliott - Team 'Kitty Whiskers'

Range Lake North School