Box Kite Dreams

Our May Cub Scout Pack meeting was actually a Kite Derby...or at least it was supposed to be. We didn't have a big turn out, but I thought it was fun. (Thank you to the Freestones for coming through and attending the event, complete with parent-and-cub-made kite.)

I was perfectly happy to help Panda create one of the kites described in the Wolf handbook. Those are fairly simple designs. But, MustangMan got the idea to make a box kite. When given the option, Panda chose the box kite. MustangMan was nervous about the whole deal and was unsure he could accomplish this creation.

I surfed the net and found some designs and blueprints. Then, I set to work with Panda and together we successfully created a kite. It was more difficult than I had anticipated, but I was so pleased that we'd actually done it!

The next hurdle would be achieving flight. The kite was a fairly delicate creation considering it was made from wrapping paper. We decided not to do a trial run. I know Panda and I were smiling that we had made it this far. In hindsight, I really should have taken a picture at this point. (The kite pictured here is NOT our creation. Panda's kite was actually a Shrek design.)

I was excited at the park when I was holding onto the kite by the bridle and it wanted to take right off in the wind. There was a glimmer of hope that our creation would actually fly!

We waited for a little while to see if any other Cub Scouts would show up. Finally, Panda and his Wolf friend both took their kites and set to work on getting them in the air. Panda hurried down the hill, pulling his kite behind him. At the bottom of the hill, the kite hit the ground and pretty much exploded. (Another awesome photo op missed. It was pretty cool to watch.)

I tried to do a repair job, thinking I just needed to get the supports back inside the ends. However, the paper had torn. It was over.

We watched Panda's Wolf friend try to get his creation soaring. Eventually, Panda headed back to the car and grabbed one of the "professionally made" kites out of the trunk. Some of the siblings joined us too. It was a fun afternoon.

I have some ideas to improve our next box kite design. Maybe it will last longer than a run down the hill. More importantly, we have a great memory.

I'm proud of these two boys who came out and did their best! Go Cub Scouts!