Arrow Cardboard Engineering Challenge

Oct 24, 2014 12:45 PM ET

Catapults, spaceships, a 50s-era diner, even a working violin – all were made from cardboard and other scrap materials by Colorado schoolchildren as part of a global cardboard engineering challenge.

Arrow Electronics is the title sponsor of the Cardboard Engineering Challenge at the Cherry Creek School District, the public school district serving the company’s headquarters location in southeast metro Denver. The October 8th competition featured 680 teams with 750 participating student innovators.

Now in its third year, similar challenges were held during October in schools, youth centers and libraries in 50 nations. More than 100,000 children around the world participated.

The Cardboard Challenge is a celebration of child creativity inspired by the popular short film, “Caine’s Arcade.” Kids are challenged to create and build using cardboard, recycled materials and imagination. 

“The cardboard engineering challenge is an ideal first step in our program to nurture new innovators,” said Joe Verrengia, director of corporate social responsibility for Arrow Electronics. “There are no barriers in terms of money or tools. That means the kids can focus all their energy into transforming their ideas into fun, working models. We hope to expand this challenge to other Arrow communities here and abroad.”

http://imagination.is/our-projects/cardboard-challenge/

http://cainesarcade.com/

http://denver.cbslocal.com/2014/10/09/cardboard-challenge-sparks-creativity-in-cherry-creek-schools/