An Olympic-themed engineering challenge

In honor of the winter games, children at the Maritime Explorium are using everyday craft supplies to create their own Olympic event.

The children’s museum created two engineering challenges geared towards young designers between 2-and-12 years of age.

In the skiing challenge, children are asked to build their custom skier out of Popsicle sticks or clothes pins, before loading them on a hill created out of snow or a toy track. Their mission is to make the skier go as far as possible.

As for the bobsled challenge, children use magnets to keep their decorated car on a track made of paper towel tubes.

Lyndsay McCabe, a museum educator, said the kids learn through trial and error.

“They’re completing engineering challenges,” McCabe said. “What changes would you have to make your skier go faster and further?”

McCabe added that the children are having fun with the bobsled designs.

“One kid drew a Jamaican flag on the side of his bobsled,” she said.

Children can take home their bobsled or skier as a souvenir.

The Olympic program runs through Sunday and admission is $5.