Cardboard regatta a wild end to Gurnee summer camp
Young campers watched the cardboard boats race across the Hunt Club Aquatic Center pool.
It was the eighth annual Gurnee Park District Cardboard Pirate-Palooza Regatta, held Wednesday, a favorite activity for both the kids and their camp counselors.
Using only cardboard, packing tape, duct tape and plastic wrap, counselors and campers built “pirate ships” to compete in the regatta — a culmination of the Gurnee Park District summer camp.
“Our boat sank which I did not like,” said 9-year-old Olivia Pas. “It was fun to see all the things that happened and all the funny boats.”
The children screamed and clapped as the counselors rowed the boats across the pool. Some of them smoothly navigated the water and others sank shortly after launch.
After a round robin tournament, The Hunt Club Teen Campers pirate ship won the regatta. Camp counselor Mason Robertson captained the vessel.
“It feels good to win two years in a row,” said Robertson. “ We let the kids help us build the boat and decorate it.
“Seeing them get this happy and put smiles on their faces is the best feeling ever.”