SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 83
Engineering Students Launch Pumpkins

Some Grade 10 Pleasant Valley Secondary School engineering students recently took a challenge to participate in the Great Pumpkin Launch at Armstrong's Harvest Festival on October 12. Now, the challenge has overflowed into the school, where the engineering students are competing in a school-based small-scale throwing machine competition.

The mission of the pumpkin-launching event was to build a catapult, slingshot, or trebuchet capable of sending pumpkins through the air towards a target. There are no restrictions on design in the open class other than it must be people-powered. Teams used pumpkins smaller than a soccer ball, weighing about 2.26 kg (5 lbs), which were provided at the event.

Waiting their turn to launch are Grade 10 Engineering students Adam Martens and Quinton Benge and PVSS teacher Peter Tujik

In the junior class, pumpkins were smaller, weighing just one pound, and competitors had to use the provided plans for building a trebuchet.

PVSS teacher Peter Tujik explained that the Armstrong Chamber of Commerce invited the school to participate only a couple weeks prior to the event, leaving limited time to build a trebuchet. "Because of the short timeline, they loaned us a junior trebuchet to use," he said.

Looking ahead, the students are eager to return next year with a trebuchet of their own design, incorporating improvements based on what they observed this year.

The Engineer 10 students had an opportunity to watch the trebuchet in action at the school's back field and are now designing and building their own small-scale throwing machines for a class competition.

One of our priorities in the District Strategic Plan 2023-2028 is Intellectual Development. The pumpkin catapulting challenge gives students hands-on experience in critical and creative thinking while helping them develop competencies to become their most capable selves.

The Armstrong Chamber of Commerce invites schools and youth groups to showcase their pumpkin catapulting skills at next year's festival. Information on how to register can be found here.