Energy Windows LLC was proud to recently support students at Mountain Vista Governor’s School as they took on a unique hands-on engineering challenge: designing and building self-propelled paddle boats powered entirely by rubber bands.
For the challenge, student teams had to apply creativity, problem-solving, and engineering principles to build boats capable of traveling down a water-filled raceway. Energy Windows provided the custom-length, sealed gutters used to create those raceways, giving students a reliable testing environment for designing, racing, and improving their boats.
The project was about much more than simply seeing which boat could cross the finish line first. Students tested their designs, encountered problems, made adjustments, and tried again. The activity tied directly into Mountain Vista Governor’s School’s theme for the year, “Overcoming Obstacles,” and gave students a chance to experience an important part of engineering firsthand: things rarely work perfectly on the first attempt.
Some boats traveled straight and fast. Others required a little more persuasion. But every team had an opportunity to learn from setbacks and use those lessons to improve its design.
At Energy Windows, we know that strong communities depend on people and businesses being willing to invest in the next generation. We were glad to provide the materials needed to help Mountain Vista Governor’s School turn this engineering lesson into a memorable hands-on experience.
We appreciate the opportunity to support local students as they develop the creativity, perseverance, and problem-solving skills that will serve them well far beyond the classroom. To learn more about Mountain Vista Governor’s School, check out their website at mvgshome.org.
Congratulations to all of the MVGS students who took part in the Paddle Boat Challenge!
