Hey, whatever floats your box

COEUR d’ALENE — For the sixth year, Woodland Middle School eighth-graders set sail across Kootenai Health’s McGrane Center pool in vessels of cardboard and duct tape.

Around 1,000 parents, grandparents, and supporters cheered some 300 amateur sailors Wednesday night as they paddled, sank and swam in a hilarious display of Yankee ingenuity.

Woodland science teachers Mike Emory and Chris Rogers devised the challenge six years ago to give students a chance to get hands-on with science and math in a memorable way.

The pair thanked math teacher David Howard, cda4kids director James Curb, Kootenai Health aquatics expert Gina Vanvoorhis and a multitude of volunteers for their help pulling off this year’s event.

The scientific voyage has become a beloved tradition at the school.

Students enter the eighth grade asking when they get to build a cardboard boat, Rogers said. It’s the No. 1 rite of passage for eighth-graders here, he said.

Rogers has taught science at Woodland for 11 years. He said the project is the perfect laboratory for students to learn about density, volume, buoyancy, and geometry.

“It’s multiple concepts tied into one event,” he said.

Howard said his geometry students are learning lessons that go hand-in-hand with what Rogers and Emory teach in their science classes. Howard volunteers at the event as an underwater videographer.

The goal is to have fun and remember science in a fun light instead of just doing paperwork, Rogers said.

Emory has taught at Woodland for 20 years. He said that students gain skills that employers want to see, such as the ability to collaborate and work as teams. They take classroom lessons and apply them to boats built in their backyards and garages. Parents volunteer to register competitors, time the races, issue awards, and haul away soggy boats, Emory said.

Rogers said the best boats were the ones made out of a single piece of cardboard, such as from a refrigerator box. Lots of seams equal lots of problems, he said.

Students Aime Ramos, Justin Hill, Chance Baldwin, and Tacy Florence were excited for the event. Ramos said her brother had built a boat that should have sunk, according to calculations. However, it floated. She and her two teammates built a large boat with an animal theme.

Hill enjoyed the event because of its competitive nature. It was his first time doing a science competition. He and his two teammates built a pontoon-style boat nicknamed “Lil’ Boat.”

They also enjoyed the chance to decorate themselves and their boats. Baldwin said he was especially happy to decorate his two-man craft, nicknamed “Shadow” for its ninja theme.

Kootenai Health certified pool operator and aquatic professional Vanvoorhis has taken part in the races five times. “This is such a fun community event! I particularly love the boats with themes such as Batman and Robin, Hawaii Cruise Boat. Creative kids bringing in cardboard that looks much like a kayak, paddling down the pool with ease. I love seeing the teachers, kids, parents and Kootenai Health staff all come together with big smiles, and laughter.”

Florence said she was a veteran of science competitions thanks to her time at Ramsey Magnet School of Science. She and her teammate built a pontoon-like boat but struggled to find materials, she said.

“It’s hard to find boxes at the last minute,” she admitted.

Ramos agreed, saying that students should start getting cardboard as soon as they start the school year.

Hill advised future competitors to “start early and don’t wait until the last minute.”