Cardboard Boat Build
Build it. Float it. Race it. Teams engineer a seaworthy vessel from nothing but cardboard, tape, and ingenuity - then put it to the ultimate test on the water.
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Is the Cardboard Boat Build right for your team?
HR and People Teams
Leadership Offsites
Large Groups and Conferences
Everything you need to know about the Cardboard Boat Build
And the finale is the best part: teams launch their boats and race them on the water - a pool, lake, or ocean.
Guaranteed to be a highlight.
How the Cardboard Boat Build works
What your team will experience during the Cardboard Boat Build
Welcome and team formation
Teams meet each other and the facilitators, get divided into balanced groups, and receive an overview of the mission.
The mission and the rules
Teams learn the one rule that matters — cardboard and tape only — and the standard their boat will be tested against on the water.
Design and Planning
Each team sketches and plans its hull, deciding how to make humble materials hold real weight and stay afloat.
Build the Hull
Teams construct their vessel, dividing the work and racing the clock to turn the plan into a boat.
Test, reinforce & decorate
Teams reinforce weak points, add finishing touches, and decorate — part engineering, part showmanship.
Launch and race on the water
The moment of truth: boats hit the water and race. Some glide, some sink, and everyone laughs.
Awards & debrief
Winners are celebrated, then the group reflects on the planning, communication, and bias to action that decided the day.
Your team walks away from the Cardboard Boat Build with more than a completed activity.
Planning a team-building event? Let's make it easy.
We’ve built custom experiences
for some of the world’s leading brands.
You seek memorable experiences that foster genuine trust. We've heard your concerns and frustrations, and we have the dynamic solution you crave.
Real teams. Real results. Real impact.
Microsoft
End Hunger Games
Capco
Beach Olympic Games
Teranet
Cross Boundary Comms Training
FCCS Consulting
Cross Boundary Comms Training
AstraZeneca
Cross Boundary Comms Training
Thank you so much - we will definitely reach out in the future!”
Elekta
Cross Boundary Comms Training
I will definitely share the feedback survey and pics with our team. Thank you for your help setting this all up and please let Kerri know we thought he did an amazing job!
I think the good word will spread and you will be getting some requests for info on your events.”
Spero Therapeutics
BetterUp
Vice President, Head of Clinical Operations
We really appreciate you taking pictures and videos for us!!”
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Tokio Marine
The whole event was managed very well, the team learned a little more about each other as well as about themselves. Easy to follow activities creating a sense of understanding that while the activities were a game for us, to others it is their reality day in and day out.
Tom and August did a lovely job and we go to meet the non-profit from where the chairs will be distributed.”
AirBus
Cross Boundary Comms Training
Again, thank you so much; it was an absolute pleasure working with you all!"
Capital Impact Partners
Cross Boundary Comms Training
#team #culture #fun
PepsiCo
Thank you!"
Pitney Bowes
Cross Boundary Comms Training
Reynolds America
Helping Hands Program
Abbott ITPDP
Art of Flight
Expedia Group
Mission Incredible
Cognizant Technology Solutions
Mini Golf Masters
Walker Environmental
Iron Chef
Motherson
Fantasy Island
I think, time was the only thing that we were short of but I know we were trying to cover a lot of topics within the limited time that we had."
ECE - DCPS
Optimal Time Management
Cat Financial
The Art of Presenting
DC Public Schools
8 productive Practices
Want to see some
of our Team Building events?
From thrilling challenges to immersive professional workshops, explore our gallery of past events that transformed teams at leading global brands.
The Art of Flight is a dynamic team building activity where participants design and build airworthy planes using cardboard and basic materials. Teams enhance communication, creativity, and problem-solving skills while fostering camaraderie.
Mission Incredible is a flexible, adventure-filled team building activity designed to suit any location. Tailored to your goals, it fosters collaboration, communication, planning, and time management, making it ideal for conferences and meetings.
Elevated Raceway is a team building challenge where groups design and race cardboard racetracks. Teams collaborate, problem-solve, and manage projects, with the option to support charity through a "Meals on Wheels" donation drive.
Have questions about the Cardboard Boat Build? We've got answers.
We've got answers.
What is the Cardboard Boat Build team building activity?
The Cardboard Boat Build is a hands-on team building activity where teams engineer a seaworthy vessel using only cardboard, tape, and a few basic materials — then race their boats on the water.
How does the Cardboard Boat Build work?
Teams are formed and briefed, then design, build, and reinforce a boat from cardboard and tape. The event finishes with a race on the water and a debrief on what made each team succeed.
Do the cardboard boats actually float?
That's the challenge! Built well, they really do float and race. Part of the fun is seeing which designs glide and which take on water — it's a genuine test of planning and engineering.
What does the Cardboard Boat Build need for the water finale?
It requires access to a body of water — a pool, lake, or ocean — for roughly the last 20 minutes. Full Tilt coordinates the water logistics with your venue, including pool usage.
How many people can do the Cardboard Boat Build?
It scales from about 12 participants to 500 or more, in teams of 4–6, so it works for a single team or a large conference group.
How long does the Cardboard Boat Build take?
Most events run 1–3 hours, including the briefing, design, build, and the race finale. Timing can be tailored to your schedule.
Is the Cardboard Boat Build indoor or outdoor?
The build can happen indoors in a conference room or outdoors in open space, but the finale needs access to water, so it's effectively an indoor-and-outdoor activity.
What skills does the Cardboard Boat Build develop?
It builds collaboration, communication, planning, and execution under pressure — and it rewards a bias to action, since teams that start building early tend to finish strongest.
How much does the Cardboard Boat Build cost?
Cost depends on group size, location, and customization. Request a custom quote with your headcount and date for an accurate figure.
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