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{This post is sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America, however, all opinions remain solely that of the author}
As a young girl, my father and I would spend several weeks transforming a block of pine into a sleek racing car. Our school hosted a pinewood derby each Spring and it still remains one of the most memorable things my father and I did together during my childhood. He always got very passionate about our cars, tinkering with designs and strategizing over where to place the weights for speed. When my son joined our local Cub Scout pack and we started planning for his first Pinewood Derby, I pulled out the cars my father and I worked on together which was exciting and nostalgic for both of us.
The first Pinewood Derby was held by a Cub Scout pack in Los Angeles, California and has now become a tradition. Each Spring, the boys are given a Pinewood Derby Car Kit which includes a block of pine wood, four plastic wheels and four nails.
Pinewood Derby Rules
- Each scout must use all of the pieces included in the Pinewood Derby Car Kit.
- The car must not exceed 5 ounces in weight
- The car must not exceed 2 3/4 in width and 7 inches in length and fit on the track
- Scouts may use graphite as lubricant
How to Design a Pinewood Derby Car
Apart from the rules listed above, scouts are encouraged to use their creativity to design and build their very own car. Having constructed Pinewood Derby Cars with my father and now as a parent, here are my best tips for building a Pinewood Derby Car.
- Plan out the design of your car. Various designs can include the traditional racing car, a replicaof a real-life car or truck, or a car/truck used in a TV or film (my son once drew inspiration from Harry Potter?).
- Whittle the block of wood with a bandsaw. We found that this was less time-consuming then whittling with a hand knife or hand saw.
- Consider using weights to bring the car to the maximum allowable 5 ounces. Coins, lead, and steel are common weights added to the Pinewood Derby Car and can be glued into the bottom of the vehicle.
- Finish your design with paint and decals. Scouts can create their own unique design or draw inspiration from their favorite real or imagined vehicles.
4Lessons Scouts Will Learn From Building a Pinewood Derby Car
My father and I shared many experiences together. But the time we spent creating my Pinewood Derby Car each year was particularly meaningful. Boys, particularly Cub Scouts, still require significant assistance with designing and building their car. Here are some of the things I was able to teach my son as we designed his Pinewood Derby Car.
- Planning is essential. Each year, we are given the Pinewood Derby Car Kit several weeks ahead of the pack race. This particular activity requires planning and cannot easily be completed in one day. This is a great way to show scouts that building a car that looks nice and races well takes time, patience and creativity.
- There is a science to the fastest car. Because the car is propelled by gravity, it is important to consider the science involved with crafting a car that races to win. While crafting the car, parents can talk to their kids about concepts like friction, drag, energy and inertia and how those factors impact the speed of the car.
- Creativity is celebrated. In addition to awarding trophies for the fastest cars, our pack also awards scouts for their creativity. My son won “most realistic car” last year and he was incredibly proud of the fact that his design won him that award. Building a Pinewood Derby Car should be both educational and fun. Scouts should be encouraged to use their imagination to design their own unique vehicle.
- Winning isn’t everything. My son learned very early on that he is not going to excel at everything. Crafting a Pinewood Derby Car can provide moments for parents to talk to their children about sportsmanship. I like to celebrate my son’s creativity and efforts. We also talk about supporting other scouts and their designs, even when we don’t win.
In the midst of homework, sports, and life, I appreciate the opportunity to spend dedicated time building a Pinewood Derby Car with my son each year. These moments of brainstorming and creating are unique. There is great satisfaction and a sense of “pride” that comes from my son’s completed Pinewood Derby masterpiece.
The annual Pinewood Derby is just one of the engaging activities that Cub Scouts participate throughout the year. Through our pack, we’ve camped at our local lake, learned how to use a whittling knife, put together love lunches for the homeless, spent the night on the USS Midway aircraft carrier, and watched a local air show. Cub Scouts take a break during the summer, however, the Boy Scouts of America hosts a number of Cub Scout Day Camps which includenature, sports, aquatics, and crafts.
To find a local Cub Scout Pack, visit BSA.org.
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Caryn Bailey
Caryn is a NICU nurse by day, blogger by night and mom 24/7. She savors the warm Southern California sun and loves to travel, shopping, baking, reading and frequenting her local tea room. Caryn created the column Lavishly Green for Peekaboo Picks Magazine to share her best tips for going green in style, she is the Former editor for Family Review Network, former OC Family Magazine online contributor, former Orange County Moms Blog contributor, former Evenflo Savvy Parent contributor, former member of the Totsy Advisory Board and former freelance writer for CBS Los Angeles.
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a vast amount of information on various topics, including the concepts mentioned in this article. I can provide information and insights related to Pinewood Derby cars, public speaking, and speech writing. Let's dive into each concept:
Pinewood Derby Cars:
The Pinewood Derby is a popular racing event for Cub Scouts in the United States. Here are some key points related to Pinewood Derby cars:
- The Pinewood Derby was first held by a Cub Scout pack in Los Angeles, California, and has now become a tradition.
- Each Spring, Cub Scouts are given a Pinewood Derby Car Kit, which includes a block of pine wood, four plastic wheels, and four nails.
- There are specific rules that participants must follow when building their Pinewood Derby cars. Some of these rules include:
- Using all the pieces included in the Pinewood Derby Car Kit.
- Ensuring that the car does not exceed 5 ounces in weight.
- Making sure that the car does not exceed 2 3/4 inches in width and 7 inches in length, and that it fits on the track.
- Allowing the use of graphite as a lubricant.
When designing a Pinewood Derby car, scouts are encouraged to use their creativity. They can plan out the design, whittle the block of wood, consider using weights to reach the maximum allowable weight, and finish the design with paint and decals.
Public Speaking:
Public speaking is the act of delivering a speech or presentation to an audience. Here are some key points related to public speaking:
- Public speaking involves face-to-face attempts to inform, persuade, or entertain a group of people through words, physical delivery, and visual or audio aids .
- Planning is essential in public speaking. It requires time, patience, and creativity to build a speech that looks nice and engages the audience.
- There is a science to delivering an effective speech. Factors like friction, drag, energy, and inertia can impact the speed and effectiveness of a speech. Understanding these concepts can help speakers craft speeches that engage and resonate with the audience .
- Creativity is celebrated in public speaking. Speakers are encouraged to use their imagination to design unique speeches that capture the attention of the audience.
- Winning isn't everything in public speaking. It's important to teach sportsmanship and celebrate the efforts and creativity of speakers, even if they don't win .
Speech Writing:
Speech writing is the process of preparing a written text that will be delivered as a speech. Here are some key points related to speech writing:
- Planning and organization are crucial in speech writing. Speakers should carefully structure their speeches to improve clarity of thought and increase the likelihood of effectiveness .
- An introduction is an important part of a speech. It should grab the audience's attention, establish the speaker's credibility, and provide a preview of the main points to be discussed .
- The thesis statement, which appears toward the end of the introduction, helps the audience understand the speaker's stance on the topic and provides a roadmap for the rest of the speech .
- Background information, defining unfamiliar terms, and mentioning handouts (if applicable) can be included in the introduction to provide context and engage the audience .
These are some key points related to Pinewood Derby cars, public speaking, and speech writing. If you have any specific questions or would like more information on any of these topics, feel free to ask!
