Meridian Village’s Annual Cardboard Boat Races return on July 25
Eighth annual Cardboard Boat Races partner team members and residents for bow-to-stern fun
EverTrue Meridian Village in Glen Carbon, Ill., is hosting its 8th Annual Cardboard Boat Races at 2 p.m. Friday, July 25 featuring six to 10 employee-manned boats that are designed to make it two laps in the community’s pool.
This annual activity draws not only Meridian Village residents and team members, but also friends, families and community members as everyone cheers on the manned cardboard creations trying to remain buoyant for the duration of the “race.”
Boats are judged for creativity and craftsmanship, and wins for fastest time and the Titanic Award for Most Dramatic Sinking.
“This has been one of the most popular activities we do every year, with some of our residents even in the pool helping our team members keep afloat and away from the walls,” said Gianna Killingbeck-Cedeno, a Lifestyle Enrichment coordinator for the community. “People hide their boats until the day of the race to keep things fun and competitive.”
In addition to the single-man cardboard boat races, the residents and team members also have the opportunities to enter unmanned cardboard boats into a second race. Those boats must be pushed and/or guided by an individual for the length of the pool.
“We see a lot of our residents entering boats in the unmanned races,” Killingbeck-Cedeno added. “It’s a fun day that brings our community together.”
