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The Cardboard Carnival

Design & Build a Cardboard Carnival Game

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  • Challenge Support
    • Tutorials
    • Workshops
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    • Cardboard Carnival 2022
    • Marble Adventure 2021
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Design & Build a Cardboard Game

Get Started

Your Cardboard Carnival game needs to include the four basic requirements. Other than that you have complete freedom to design your game.

We have identified four basic types of cardboard games to help inspire you. Feel free to duplicate, remix, or design a completely different game.

Demo Games

Ball Run Illustration
Ball Run
Ball Drop Illustration
Ball Drop
Ball Launcher Illustration
Ball Launcher
Pinball Illustration
Pinball Style

You can find tutorials for many of the design elements highlighted in demo games below.

Game Element Tutorials

Obstacle Elements

  • Peg obstacle
  • Spinner obstacle
  • Stationary obstacle
  • Rubber Band Bumpers
  • Funnel
  • Multi-track switch
  • Mini-Catapult
  • Pinball Launcher

Motor Elements

  • Wire a Servo
  • Code a Positional Servo
  • Code a Rotational Servo
  • Starting Gate
  • Servo Gate
  • Servo Spinning Obstacle
  • Servo Swinging Obstacle
  • Servo control board

Design Elements

  • Add sound
  • Touch circuits
  • Create a theme
  • Create a sign with your game’s name
  • Add circuit board lights
  • Button controls
  • NeoPixel Lights
  • Paint, draw, stencil

Workshops

We will offer a number of workshops throughout the challenge beginning on Monday, February 12th.

Some workshops will feature limited specialty supplies. Workshop attendees will get the first chance to work with these materials, such as adding NeoPixel light strips or a speaker to their project. You can earn a prize token for attending each workshop.

Sign-up for the workshops through the below link.

Workshop Sign-Up

Dates

MON, February 12 4:00 – 5:30PM

MON, February 19 1:00 – 3:00PM OR 4:00 – 6:00PM

MON, February 26 4:00 – 6:00PM

MON, March 4 —- 4:00 – 5:30PM

Wed, March 6 —- 1:00 – 3:00PM

MON, March 11 4:00 – 5:30PM

Mon, March 18 4:00 – 5:30PM

Spring Break Week

SAT, April 6 —- 2:00 – 3:30PM

Workshops

Get Started with Servo Motors ——-Robert Crown

General Help & Laser Cut Parts ——-Main Library Branch — Third Floor Falcon Room

Getting started with buttons ———-Robert Crown

NeoPixel Light Strips ——————–Robert Crown

Open Shop & Decorating with Cricut Robert Crown

Sound & Speakers ———————–Robert Crown

Last Chance Workshop! —————-Robert Crown

Open Workshop Hours (12PM-8PM) Teen Loft at EPL Main Branch

CARNIVAL ARCADE SHOWCASE ——Fleetwood Jourdain

Help Form

You can also submit any questions through our Help Form. Please give us 1-2 days to respond. Someone may have already asked your question so be sure to check our FAQ page first.

HELP FORM
FAQ PAGE

Evanston Public Library, District 65, and our partners are committed to creating safe and welcoming spaces, programs, and services for all Evanston youth.  Just like Evanston youth, the staff who work on the Citywide STEM challenges come from a variety of races, cultures, experiences, sexual orientation, and gender identities.  By being intentional with our staffing and program structure we hope that youth see themselves reflected and feel supported when they take part. 

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