For the 12th year, the 2023 Popsicle Stick Bridge Contest is off to a great start with 500 kits assembled and ready for bridge building enthusiasts to try their hand at building a bridge. Whether a seasoned builder or someone who’s never tried it before, the organizers promise a great time in building a popsicle stick bridge. There are four bridge building categories: elementary, secondary, family and open: a place for builders no matter the age.
“It is time for Coasters of all ages to try their hand at building a bridge out of popsicle sticks,” said John Leech, President of Technology Festival Association of BC, the group that has organized the event since 2019. “We have bumped up the prizes again this year, notably increasing the cash prizes for elementary school age builders to 10 awards. To enhance excitement and as a little incentive to enter bridges for testing, the organizers will arrange pizza for the three school classes with the greatest number of bridges tested, a big hit in 2021. Overall TechFest is providing $2,000 in cash and other prizes.
Sam DiGiandomenico, responsible for bridge registrations, added, “In 2021 we registered 177 bridges for testing, a large increase over the previous year. We will again deliver kits to schools that request them, making it easier for students to obtain their kits. This worked extremely well last time, with positive feedback from teachers.”
The organizers will deliver bridge kits to teachers upon their return from the spring break and students will commence building their bridges. As in the past, bridge building kits will be available as of March 28 at a number of businesses on the Coast. A list of all businesses is posted on the organization’s Facebook page. Details of key dates along with the rules, sticks and glue are included in the bridge building kit. There is a small cost of $5 to get a kit, a fee that remains unchanged.
To enter a bridge for testing, the builder must register the bridge between May 1 and May 12 and get a number for the bridge. The testing will take place on June 4 at Chatelech Secondary School starting at 1:30 p.m. Builders are always eager to see just how strong their bridges are. Testing the bridge could well be the greatest part of the whole process, when all bridges entered for testing will have pressure applied to the bridge deck by one of two test rigs until the bridge cannot take any more pressure or it is destroyed. Yes, destroyed! Now how much fun is that!
For current information watch for notices in the Coast Reporter and go to Sunshine Coast Popsicle Stick Bridge Contest on Facebook.
