You’ve heard the story of Caine’s Arcade, yes? No? Click here for the heartwarming video. In a nutshell, Caine, a lonely 9-year-old boy in East LA, fashioned an entire Chuck E. Cheesey-worthy arcade out of corrugated boxes at his dad’s used car parts store. It’s amazing. But Caine never had any customers until the right person walked through the door and bought a fun pass.
The best part came after the video, when a scholarship fund was started for Caine. It’s raised nearly $200 thousand dollars.
The video’s producers realized they had started something. Something more than a viral video or scholarship fund for Caine, they had started a movement. Kids all around the world were inspired by Caine to make and post their cardboard creations.
That spurred the formation of The Imagination Foundation and
The Global Cardboard Challenge
Their mission is “to find, foster, and fund creativity and entrepreneurship in kids.” They’re running a pilot program in 100 schools and now they’re inviting the world to play along.
October 6, 2012 is the Global Cardboard Challenge
I knew The Maker Mom needed to be a part of this, so I talked to the folks at the local Farmer’s Market. Without a lot of time to plan, we started brainstorming about where to get boxes and how big we could make this event.
And then we had a windstorm at the market this past Saturday.
So we scaled back a bit and decided that we’d think more shoebox and less refrigerator box.
We’re hoping for sunny, crisp fall weather that will draw a crowd on the 6th from 9 – noon, but we also recognition that it might be so cold that the most inspiring idea is to dump the cardboard in a trash can and light it on fire to warm ourselves. God forbid.
Sun spots aside, virtual worlds are not weather-dependent, so I’m adding an online component as well.
Whether you involve your kids, your class or your community, join in!
Imagine. Play. Create.
I’d love to see what you cardboard creations you dream up, so email me, tag The Maker Mom in a Facebook photo.>
And, of course, sign up to host an event of your own.
Locals take note: I’m holding a BUILD day this Sunday, 9/30, so we can bring some fun cardboard games and inventions to the market. Contact me if you and your kids would like to join in!
We did the same with the old boxes and cardboard from engine parts uk were used for recycling. Nowadays, even car parts can be used as functional furniture.