Get ready for two days of hands-on building, problem-solving, and friendly competition! In this class, students will take on two exciting challenges that combine woodworking, engineering, design, and real-world problem-solving. The first challenge puts speed and aerodynamics to the test. Starting with a raw block of balsa or basswood, students will explore aerodynamic principles as they sketch and develop a custom CO2 dragster. After learning shop safety and precision cutting on the bandsaw, students will file, sand, and paint their vehicles to a high-gloss finish. Then it’s time to race! The completed cars will be propelled down the track by high-pressure CO2 cartridges to see how well each design performs. For the second challenge, students will step into the roles of aerospace engineers and financial managers for the “Eggronaut” Challenge. Each student will receive a virtual budget of $900,000 to design and build a high-performance air-water rocket. Along the way, students will maintain financial ledgers and write checks to purchase raw materials from the lab supply, adding a real-world budgeting component to the engineering process. But building a successful rocket is only part of the challenge. Students must also design a shock-absorbing capsule to protect their “Eggronaut” during a high-velocity landing. The goal is simple: design, build, launch, and bring the “Eggronaut” safely back to Earth without a scratch!