build a raft

We did this for a science project in high school.

We were supposed to use only (95%) recycled/recyclable materials. I remember one of my group members found some kind of loophole that allowed us to use long planks of wood (reclaimed?), in addition to the 5-gallon and 1-gallon jugs. I wish I had suited up and taken a ride on it, but anyway it was cool to watch them race across a pool against other “teams”.

I built a raft with a couple of my friends two years ago and it was quite fun. Our raft consisted of old wood planks, as many noodles that we could find, rope, empty milk jugs, nails, a broken hockey stick, and a sock we found on the side of the highway (it was our flag).

Maybe those who have this goal had a slightly different vision of their future raft, but the hours I spent hammering and hauling and laughing with my friends made it one of my most special memories growing up in this small town.

P.S. we took our raft out in the flooded ditches and then went swimming in the putrid spring river water.
Also it only floated properly when there were two or less people on it :)