Design & Build Structures
Quick Intro
Designing and Building Structures gives kids and families the chance to explore engineering, architecture, and creativity by planning and constructing bridges, towers, houses, and other structures using blocks, kits, cardboard, wood, or everyday materials. These activities encourage spatial reasoning, problem-solving, and iterative thinking as participants test stability, balance, and strength. When shared with family and friends, building structures becomes a collaborative experience that promotes teamwork, communication, and idea-sharing. It builds confidence, patience, and real-world engineering skills while creating a fun, hands-on way to learn together and celebrate successful designs.
More Info on Designing and Building Structures
Designing and building structures involves planning, testing, and constructing stable forms that can support weight and withstand forces such as gravity, wind, and movement. This area of engineering focuses on concepts like balance, load distribution, tension, compression, and the strength of different materials. From houses and bridges to towers and shelters, structural design blends creativity with problem-solving, teaching how shapes, joints, and supports work together to create safe and functional designs.
Friends and families can explore structural design through hands-on building activities that encourage teamwork and experimentation. Projects like constructing bridges from craft sticks, towers from spaghetti and marshmallows, or model houses from cardboard help demonstrate real-world engineering principles. Families can test designs by adding weight, simulating earthquakes, or experimenting with different shapes and supports. These shared activities promote collaboration, critical thinking, and resilience while showing how thoughtful design and iteration lead to stronger, more successful structures. 🏗️
Helicopter exploration
When I was working for a helicopter tour company, I had an opportunity for my kids to jump in and see the controls. I think I was just as excited as they were to get into one, haha.
Meteor Crater fun
They found some great ways to make it fun to learn about a big dent in the ground. And it sounds like they've updated the kids' area so we will have to check it out again
Dining chair fort
The kids loved using the dining chairs to build a fort
Soccer Summer
The summer Colton tried soccer and decided it wasn't really for him
My silly trampoline kid
This kid is always dressing up or creating a costume or plushie, so it's a common occurrence for him to be dressed up or have a plushie in his arms no matter where he is
Archery at Grandma & Grandpa’s
My grandparents live out in the boonies so it's a great place to practice our archery
Checking out a helicopter
I worked for a helicopter tour company in Sedona for a while and so my kids got a chance to climb inside and take a look.
Replacing my Power Supply Unit
My PSU died and I ended up having to replace it. It was a good learning experience for everybody.
Rollerblading at Pioneer Park in Prescott AZ
Pioneer Park in Prescott has a roller hockey rink that they use for hockey games but it is also available for rollerblading and skating
Batting Cages at Full Swing in Prescott AZ
Full Swing in Prescott Arizona has batting cages, arcade games, a trampoline bungee jump, and some snack foods. The last time I played softball was in high school, so it was fun to test out my skills. This is my 12 year old, who's never played on a team, trying it out.