Civil Engineering Students from across the United States have been building canoes out of concrete for 23-years. Learn about this fascinating competition.

It seems improbable to build canoes from concrete, but Civil Engineering students in America have been doing it for years. The ASCE National Concrete Canoe Competition has been inspiring students to use engineering principles and apply them to canoe building since 1970.

Students learn real-world team and project management skills while they build 20-foot canoes that seat four students. It’s difficult because the students have to find the right concrete mix that is both lightweight (relatively speaking) and strong.

Competitions range from the best of men’s and women’s slalom and sprint races to the best academic paper designs and presentations.

“The best aspect of the project for everyone is getting their hands dirty in the lab with what we have been learning in classes,” says Rooney, a student for California State University who will be entering the competition this year. And according to ASCE National Concrete Canoe Competition website, the winners will be awarded anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000.

Now an annual event, this year’s competition will be held by California Polytechnic State University from June 17^th to June 19^th.

Watch a mini 4-minute video about the 2009 Concrete Canoe Competition.

Sources: Napa Valley Register, ASCE Concrete Canoe Competion

Photo Credit: Last year's first place winners at the University of Alabama competition