What ages is CardBoard Build Days best for?

Recommended for ages 8 and up; younger children can participate with close adult help but some techniques require fine motor skill.

Do I need to register ahead of time?

The program is drop-in between posted hours; check WonderLab Museum admission availability online to reserve entry.

How much does the event cost?

CardBoard Build Days is free with museum admission and free for WonderLab Members; check current admission pricing on the museum website.

Are materials provided?

Yes—WonderLab supplies cardboard and most crafting materials; bring only personal items like water bottles and small tools if preferred.

Is the program wheelchair accessible?

Meeting point is WonderLab Museum, Bloomington, IN; contact the museum directly for specific accessibility accommodations as not all details were provided.

Can parents stay and help?

Yes—parents and guardians are expected to supervise children and often help with cutting, measuring, and design choices.

CardBoard Build Days at WonderLab Museum: Hands-On Cardboard Engineering in Bloomington

CardBoard Build Days at WonderLab Museum in Bloomington, Indiana turns a stack of boxes into a noisy, inventive workshop where children translate imagination into structures. Held on October 15 and October 16, this drop-in program invites kids ages eight and up to explore engineering with cardboard, building castles, spaceships, marble runs, towers, bridges, and nature-inspired forms. WonderLab staff supply materials and lead themed stations that teach techniques like notching, hinging, slotting, and folding while encouraging problem solving and collaboration. Key features of the event include a pre-built marble run for inspiration, a towers-and-bridges bench for load testing, and a nature table that connects plant shapes to structural ideas. The material is corrugated cardboard, whose layered flute-and-liner construction behaves predictably under bending and compression and becomes a tactile lesson in form and force. Sessions emphasize low-cost sustainability—cardboard is recyclable and reusable—so creative play doubles as an introduction to material stewardship. For Bloomington families, CardBoard Build Days extends WonderLab Museum's role as a community learning hub by combining museum science, maker culture, and practical craft skills. Funding support from Weddle Bros. Building is noted for this program, reflecting local investment in hands-on education. Practical details are simple: drop in between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., bring curiosity, and expect to work with tape, glue, and scissors while supervising children. Because the event is hands-on and iterative, adults can scaffold learning by encouraging measurement, iterative testing, and modest risk-taking in design. Try slot-and-tab connections for simple rigidity, folded hinges for moving parts, and layered plates for added strength. Young builders gain spatial reasoning and confidence as they test and revise designs, and finished projects make satisfying photo subjects. This is not a passive craft table; it's a workshop that rewards curiosity and practical problem solving in equal measure. Parents and educators often leave with ideas for classroom projects, park installations, or scout challenges that reuse common materials. For visitors planning a weekend in Bloomington, add CardBoard Build Days to museum time to balance outdoor exploration with hands-on making. The program is welcoming to mixed-ability groups and provides a low-cost entry point into engineering thinking for children ages eight and older. Expect sticky fingers, proud beaming faces, and the occasional structural collapse that becomes the best lesson of the day. Whether you come for a single afternoon or make it a repeated family ritual, CardBoard Build Days at WonderLab Museum solidifies simple materials as powerful teaching tools. Reserve museum admission online or on arrival, plan for 30 to 90 minutes of focused building per child, and let imagination guide how far you'll push each design—small experiments deliver big learning. Bring a reusable water bottle, wear play-friendly clothes, and expect to get happily messy today.