The United Way of Southwest Michigan is now taking registrations for this summer’s Rock the Boat cardboard boat races.
The United Way’s Erin Glaske tells us the races are a chance for teams to sign up to build their own boats out of cardboard and then race them in the St. Joseph River Channel to raise funds for the organization. Each team can choose whatever boat design they like, as long as it’s cardboard.
“It’s really such a fun event,” Glaske said. “You can make the boat sturdy if you want, you can make it really fast, or you can just go for the fun, creative side. So, it’s kind of whatever you want.”
Glaske says it’s always fun to see what the teams come up with, telling us she remembers last year’s winner quite well.
“One that stand out was actually the winner — and it’s not because it was so creative — it was honestly looked like a legitimate speed, like a crew boat, and they just zipped right past the finish line.”
That’s why the carboard boat races course this year will have a couple of obstacles.
Glaske says the theme for the races on July 17 will be a Hawaiian luau, but it’s not a requirement that boats follow.
You can register a team to be part of the Rock the Boat races right here. Glaske says they had 25 teams last year, and they’re hoping for 50 this time around.
