Space Derby Alternatives?

[JillKB 10]

Our Pack is considering doing our first Space Derby. We already have a big Pinewood Derby so the Space Derby would be done very informally... the boys would build their rockets at the event, we wouldn't keep track of winners, etc. In other words, just for fun. But when I went to the scout shop today to take a look at the kits they were $6.00 each! That is absurd in my opinion. If the Pack paid for the kits and added refreshments it would all add up to almost $400.00!

 

Does anyone know of alternatives to the BSA kits? How about something with recycled materials like TP tubes that we'd still be able to race in some way? Even if it wasn't a rocket... any other suggestions for a craft the kids could make and be able to race would be highly appreciated. Thanks!

[AnniePoo 13]

Minnow races. Use sealed sections of rain gutter (just like with a Rain Gutter Regatta).

[JillKB 10]

We're doing it in the hall of the church during the winter months... so the minnows wouldn't work out too well. (and I don't think the church would appreciate it too much either).

[ScoutNut 147]

Straws with balloons attached.

 

Funnel shaped paper cups either blown by lung power, pushed by fingers, or attached to balloons.

 

[SSScout 1615]

Make the "rocket"...

 

Take TP tube, or paper towel tube. decorate wih fins, etc. Bend paper clips appropriately and tape to tube. Stretch smooth strings the length of your room. Place a looong balloon in the rocket tube and blow it up. Hold on to the open end. Hook paper clips over the strings, aiming the rocket tubes down the string. Let go the open ends. Stand back.

Repeat as necessary.

[Pack212Scouter 10]

I like the idea of baloon propulsion. I'd recommend fishing line and not smooth string though.

[JillKB 10]

I was wondering if there was a way to still make a rocket but I was having trouble finding anything online that could be done indoors.Thanks SS & Pack212...sounds like a plan.

[SSScout 1615]

Outdoor and Adult stuff:::

 

Need ::: Paper Match Book, Straight pin , Aluminum foil, Big paper clips.

 

Cut out a small 2" by 2" piece of foil. Tear out a match. Place and hold straight pin on paper match so point is on match head and pin lies along paper stock. Carefully wrap foil around match and pin so match head is covered in two layers of foil and paper stock is only partially covered. Crimp around pin to make a channel. Carefully pull pin out. Make a Launch rack out of paper clip to hold up match rocket, head up, tail down. Angle about 45degrees up. Aim away from people, face, into open area outdoors. Light match and hold under rocket head. WHOOOOSH!

[ScoutNut 147]

Some Baloon rockets -

 

http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/balloonrocket.html

 

http://www.amnh.org/rose/mars/balloon.html

 

Stomp air rockets -

 

http://www.sciencetoymaker.org/airRocket/index.html

 

 

[frank10 12]

Won't work indoors and not for the winter, but how about soda bottle rockets?

[Karen_216 10]

Can't they purchase their own kits??

 

[ManyHats 10]

At our last Pinewood Derby we had a concession stand. Not really to make that much $, but to cover the cost of food instead of supplying snacks. We sold a hot dog combo for $2.00. If you buy hot dogs in bulk, go to the bread store, get the small bags of chips on sale and get soft drinks on sale you still make a little profit. It was a big hit.

#1 - $2.00 for a big hot dog, chips and drink was cheap

#2 - parents didn't have to cook

[JillKB 10]

We have a concession stand at our pinewood derby. And since we go all out for pinewood we were wanting to keep the space derby extremely basic and easy.

 

I don't want the parents to have to pay for kits because I think that if they do good on popcorn sales the pack owes them some fun events without more expense to the families. And I would also be embaressed to charge them $6 for a space derby kit because I think the price is way out of line. So I love the ideas given for alternate types of rockets made from recycled materials... very scout like and just as much fun with little or no expense.

[Rythos 10]

If cost is the primary concern why not subsidize the cost to some degree. Why not have the Pack pay 3.00 and the Scout pay 3.00 or something similar.

 

Rythos