Team Building

Cardboard Boat Building Challenge

Unleash your team’s ingenuity in the Cardboard Boat Building Challenge, a thrilling activity where collaboration meets creativity as you design, construct, and race boats from cardboard.

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Activity: Moderate Group Size: 25-2,000+ Team Size: 2-8 Duration: 2-3 hrs Best Venue: Indoor/Outdoor Season: year-round
Cardboard Boat Building Challenge is recommended by organizations, such as:
About

What Is Cardboard Boat Building Challenge

Ready to test your team’s creativity, engineering skills, and sense of adventure? The Cardboard Boat Building Challenge is an exciting facilitator-led experience where your group will work together to build functional boats using only cardboard and basic supplies.

With expert guidance and a ticking clock, teams will dive into brainstorming, sketching designs, and putting their construction skills to the test. Once the boats are complete, it’s race time! Watch as your creations hit the water to determine which team’s ingenuity and teamwork lead them to victory—and which boats turn into an unexpected splash.

Packed with excitement, problem-solving, and plenty of laughs, this challenge is perfect for teams looking to strengthen communication, think outside the box, and have a fantastic time together.

Cardboard Boat Building Challenge Agenda

Welcome and Team Formation

The event will begin with a welcome from your event host, who will assist in organizing the group into teams at the specified location. Following this, participants will receive a detailed briefing on the activity.

10 minutes

Cardboard Boat Building Launch

The event host provides detailed instructions for the Cardboard Boat Build. Teams are tasked with creating a functional boat from cardboard and tape, marketing their creation effectively, and then piloting it in a race.

5 minutes

Cardboard Boat Building

Teams brainstorm and design their boats, which must be approved before purchasing materials from the Outback store with their designated budget. Teams will also prepare marketing presentations. During the challenge, the Host may introduce additional elements (e.g., a hat, a flag) to boost competition. This phase promotes problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork.

75-90 minutes

Cardboard Boat Building Marketing Presentations

Participants will gather to experience each team’s marketing presentation. Event hosts will score presentations.

30 minutes

Cardboard Boat Race

Teams race their boats, with one member from each team piloting. The goal is to complete a set distance while ensuring the boat remains water-worthy and performs the fastest.

20 minutes

Wrap Up, Recognition and Photo Op

Teams will reconvene to exchange experiences and review their efforts. The host will facilitate discussions on key takeaways and lessons learned throughout the process. The event will wrap up with congratulations all around to commemorate a successful event.

10 minutes

What's Included With Your Cardboard Boat Building Challenge

Included

Professional Event Host

Event Set Up and Tear Down

Team Photos

Medals For The Winning Team

Dedicated Event Planner

Required From You

Venue For Your Activity With Access To A Nearby Body Of Water

Any Necessary Park Permits

Weather-Appropriate Clothing And Footwear For Outdoors

Suitable Clothing That Can Get Wet

Cardboard Boat Building Challenge Brochure

Enter your details below to receive the event brochure:

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Cardboard Boat Building Challenge Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if we have inclement weather on the day of our activity? (For outdoor activities)

We appreciate that weather is not always predictable, so we have a back-up plan in the event of poor weather.  We can switch your event to our indoor app-based Team Pursuit event at no extra charge.  You would need to arrange a backup space for the activity, and we need notice of 2 hours to make the switch.

What if I need to change the date of my event?

We understand that plans can change, so please reach out as early as possible, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your needs. Date changes may incur a change fee, please reach out to your Sales Engagement Consultant to discuss further.

What if I need to make a last-minute change to my activity?

Depending on what the change is, we recommend discussing all changes with your dedicated Event Manager to see if we can accommodate the change.

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Testimonials

What Our Clients Are Saying

Red Hat – Cardboard Boat Building Challenge

Many thanks to you and your team

The feedback from the team was very positive. Many thanks to you and your team for creating an enjoyable learning experience

Red Hat
Kaplan – Cardboard Boat Building Challenge

Every single employee was engaged

This event was a company-wide hit! It was so much fun. Teams were laughing, talking, strategizing, and generally having a great deal of fun. Every single employee was engaged – some were building boats, some were creating marketing material, and some were negotiating for better prices of materials! It was really amazing to see every single person working hard on their team.

Kaplan
The Westin Bonaventure – Cardboard Boat Building

The facilitator was very professional and on point

Our entire team thought the team building activity was excellent. The timing was great, and the facilitator was very professional and on point. Thank you for the assistance, and when the time and need arises, we will definitely call and/or recommend your organization.

The Westin Bonaventure
Charlotte Country Day School – Cardboard Boat Building – Miami

Your team was extremely attentive to our group

It was an awesome event that met our goals, level of enjoyment, and was engaging for all participants. The event was pure fun! Your team was extremely attentive to our group. They were available and willing to answer all questions. Friendly and supportive!

Charlotte Country Day School
Scotiabank – Cardboard Boat Building Challenge

The day really achieved all my expectations in terms of learning and having fun

I never would have dreamed that a cardboard boat could float – amazing! There were lots of great lessons learned – especially the idea that even a ‘no’ could be negotiated, so always keep trying! The day really achieved all my expectations in terms of learning and having fun.

Scotiabank
Capco – Cardboard Boat Building Challenge – Puerto Rico

Everyone really enjoyed the activity

Everyone said they really enjoyed getting to know people that they probably never would have known otherwise. One of my favorite parts was watching all of the super-serious and usually more reserved senior partners get really into the activities and even paddle their team’s cardboard boat!

Capco
Carnival Casino – Cardboard Boat Building

Your team was great at making it fun and engaging both times

The facilitator did a great job with the Cardboard Boat Building Challenge. We have done the same event twice now, and your team was great at making it fun and engaging both times…even for people who had done it before! We would be happy to do this event again. 10/10!

Carnival Casino
Lululemon – Cardboard Boat Building

Best team building event we have ever done

Overall, this was the best team building event we have ever done because it was challenging, fun, and creative. We all laughed together and got to know each other on a more personal level, which has brought us closer together as a group.

Lululemon
TCEQ – Cardboard Boat Building Challenge

The event was well organized.

Our staff had a great time. The event was well organized and the event facilitators did a great job of explaining the process/rules/etc.

TCEQ
SHAPE – Cardboard Boat Building Challenge

We loved the cardboard boat building challenge and found this to be our favourite event so far that we have participated in with Outback Team Building!

We loved the cardboard boat building challenge and found this to be our favourite event so far that we have participated in with Outback Team Building! The strategy, bartering, construction, marketing campaign, and the boat race made it extremely fun and competitive and allowed every person to participate!

SHAPE
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