Last year at winter camp I gave the boys a rough drawing of a dog sled made out of 1/2 in PVC pipe. We had 20 kids in three teams. The drawings had no measurements so the kids had to measure and calculate how much pipe they had and how big the sled could be.
None of the sleds matched the drawing exactly, but they all looked good. When the building was done, we raced the sleds on the road that looped around the front of the cabin. For the first race, (and the kids didn't know this was coming) the Dog was blind folded and only knew where to go by listening to the musher. The other kids on the team ran beside the DOG to keep him from leaving the road and getting hurt.
The second race was a team race and I was the 21st dog! Twenty boys and 3 sleds I had no choice.
All that being said, it's time to get on subject.
This year at winter camp the idea is simular. Rough drawings and two designs can work out to 4 variations of the same idea. I/2 in. PVC and all the fitting the boys need to build a catapult or a trebushay. A few 90 and 45 degree elbows, a couple of T's A 1/2 in. to 3/4 in 90 degree elbow for the pivit and a x or cross for the counter weight or bungee cord and a large serving spoon. I will also include a rope and cup design in place of the spoon.
The teams will be judged on the longest throw. The most accurate throw and then it will be all out war This should be fun! The sleds went over so well last year that I am expecting 35 kids at this winter camp.
