Free Cardboard Boat Building Workshop at Hastings Public Library

Hastings, NE Kool-Aid Days will hold a free workshop on cardboard boat construction in the Hastings Public Library auditorium this Thursday, June 21, from 7-8:30 pm. Ben Hinds, organizer of the Kool-Aid Kardboard Boat Races, will present tips and techniques for using corrugated cardboard to build boats that are less likely to sink (or at least sink more slowly) than others. The Kool-Aid Kardboard Boat Races were a new, featured event for Kool-Aid Days last year, and will be held again on Lake Hastings, Sunday afternoon, August 12th. Trophies will be awarded in many categories, including fastest times in each age class, best design, best Kool-Aid Days theme, and most spectacular sinking. We were very pleased with last year's turnout, said Hinds. Even with a week's delay because of rain, almost a dozen boats raced and hundreds of folks showed up to cheer them on. This year, we expect a much larger roster of boats. We've already received emails from surrounding states regarding participating in the races. Like every event at Kool-Aid Days, rules and entry forms for the Kardboard Boat Races can be found on the web athttp://www.Kool-AidDays.com.

Safety First, but Fun, Too!

Although the overall goal of the Kardboard Boat Races is to have a lot of fun, we must have strict rules for the safety of the participants, said Hinds. In our workshop, well not only cover the rules, but will also share a lot of tips from experienced cardboard boat racers which will help racers make their boats faster, more buoyant, and, we hope, make the event more fun for everyone.

The complete rules for the Kool-Aid Kardboard Boat Races and entry forms are available on the Kool-Aid Days website at www.Kool-AidDays.com, but Hinds outlined some of the most important: The entire boat must be built of corrugated cardboard. The cardboard may be as thick as you want and layered together, but you may not use cardboard processed to make it waterproof. The hull of the boat may not contain wood, plastic, or other floating waterproof materials. You may waterproof your boat with any paintable, one-part substance such as varnish or polyurethane. Metal or plastic staples, clamps, nails, screws, or other similar fasteners may NOT be used anywhere on the boats because they are potentially dangerous to the crew and the lake. The propulsion system and decorations, including oars and paddles, need not be made of cardboard and may be attached to the cardboard hull as long as it doesnt add to the strength or buoyancy of the boat. Every person in every boat must wear an appropriately sized PFD (personal floatation device). There are a few other rules, said Hinds, and anyone planning to enter should be sure to read them thoroughly. The judges have total discretion in enforcing the rules the day of the race, and all entrants will be treated equally.

Video Help Also Available

In addition to next weeks workshop, a video of last years cardboard boat races and a short how-to-build tutorial will soon be broadcast on Hastings Public Access Channel 12 and will be broadcast on other public access channels across Nebraska. The videos will also be available later this week on DVD for checkout from the Hastings Public Library.

For further information, racers may contact Hinds at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at (402) 469-8817.

Kool-Aid Jammers Races for the Younger Set

We added two exciting boat races to Kool-Aid Days last year and couldn't have been happier with the response, said Randal Kottwitz, executive director of the festival. For the younger kids (ages 5-12), we'll be repeating the Jammers Boat Races at the Hastings City Aquacourt Lazy River floating channel on Friday afternoon, August 10th. Well be awarding a lot of prizes to division winners and the grand prize in the Jammers Cup Race is custom pair of Nike Air Force One Kool-Aid Shoes (photos attached) courtesy of OnlyUrbanCustoms.com of Salt Lake City. Every child who enters a boat will receive a bag of gifts courtesy of the Aquacourt. Like every event at Kool-Aid Days, rules and entry forms for the Jammers Races can be found on the web at http://www.Kool-AidDays.com . The rules are the same as last year with one important addition, said Kottwitz. "Kids can now build their boats not only from Kool-Aid Jammers packets, but from Kool-Aid Bursts bottles, as well."

One-hour workshops to help kids design and build their "Jammers" boats will be held at the Hastings City Aquacourt at 3 pm on three Thursdays this summer: June 28th, July 19th, and August 2nd. The workshops will be identical and are optional, but will help children with design ideas and construction techniques to make their boats more likely to succeed on race day. For further information on the Jammers Races and workshops, racers and/or their parents may contact Susan Spady at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at(402) 984-2881.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: There is a special section of the Kool-Aid Days website that includes resources for the press, including high-resolution photos of the festival and performers, the text of press releases, and Kool-Aid and Kool-Aid Days graphics. You will find it at the bottom of the main menu on the left side of any page of the www.Kool-AidDays.com website, or if you're reading this online, click here.

For more information, contact:
Randal L Kottwitz, Executive Director
Kool-Aid Days & Nebraska's Official Soft Drink Heritage Foundation
301 S. Burlington Avenue
Hastings, NE 68901

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.kool-aiddays.com

(402) 461-8405 (for publication)
cell: (402) 462-0172 (preferred for press contact, but not for publication)