Students are being invited to design, build and race their own boats — but they have to be made out of cardboard.

Bermuda’s first Cardboard Boat Challenge is being organised by the Institute of Bermuda Architects and Bermuda Association of Professional Engineers.

The event, on Thursday next week, features high school students designing, building and racing a boat made from cardboard at the National Sports Centre Aquatics Centre.

The organisations welcome everyone to attend and cheer on the teams in what promises to be an exciting afternoon.

Interested high school students should contact their design or science teachers who can provide entry forms and more information.

Entries are due by Friday. There are 48 teams in total, with spots distributed based on school size.

Krystal Rodrigues, the president of IBA, said: “To our knowledge, this is the first activity of its kind in Bermuda, but it is a popular exercise in the United States and Canada among science and technology departments because it encourages participants to work together as a team, use critical thinking and to apply design and engineering theories.

“The results are sometimes successful, sometimes disastrous, often funny and always a lot of fun.

“We are pleased to work with BAPE to bring this to students, particularly those who are interested in design and engineering. We hope the public will come out and cheer them on.”

Stephanie Simons, the BAPE committee secretary and co-organiser, said: “At BAPE we are always looking for ways to introduce kids to engineering as an interesting career option and this event is a fun and creative way to get them thinking like an engineer or architect.

“We are pleased to partner with IBA to bring this competition to the Island, and we look forward to seeing the boats on November 19.”

The challenge begins with a participant briefing at 1pm, boat-building from 1.15pm to 3.15pm and races at 3.30pm. The event is being sponsored by Belco.