Annual Bridge Building Contest to showcase youth engineering in action

Innovators in the Schools in partnership with the Association of Professional Engineers of Yukon are pleased to welcome everyone to the 18th Annual Bridge Building Competition this Saturday, April 9, at Porter Creek Secondary School in the gym. Bridge viewing happens between 12 and 1:00 pm followed by bridge testing. This year 12 schools participated in building just over 135 different bridges. Join us to witness the loads these bridges can endure before they break.

“We are really excited to see this program in its18th year, said Heather Dundas, Coordinator of the Innovators in the Schools program at the Yukon Research Centre – Yukon College. “
“There is so much passion that goes into this event. The youth and families that compete are learning engineering principles, design concepts, building skills, and teamwork, and having a great time. It’s really a spectacular show.”

During the past 3 months approximately 190 Yukon and BC students and members of the public have been building bridges out of wooden coffee stir sticks, white glue and - in some cases - dental floss. Teams of up to 4 individuals have worked on each bridge and a few teams have built more than one bridge.

The goal? To build the lightest bridge that can hold the most weight using the bridge criteria as set out in the official rules

Hidden Valley Elementary School and Robert Service School entered the largest number of bridges this year.

All competitors receive a certificate (that includes a photo of their bridge before testing) and a participation prize. Prizes will also be awarded in each category and there are special prizes for best narrative, best looking, strongest and lightest bridge.

More details on the competition can be found at:

http://dl1.yukoncollege.yk.ca/innovators/bridgebuilding/