Thursday and Friday, November 6 & 7, 2008
University of Colorado at Boulder

Online Registration - Registration Will Open in September 2008!
Registration Deadline - Friday, October 24, 2008

This two-day event brings over 250 high school students from nearly 30 Colorado MESA high schools around the state to the University of Colorado at Boulder campus to compete in two separate engineering team challenges: the 2008-09 MESA USA National Multi-Task Trebuchet Design Challenge and a Boat Building Design Challenge.  

Scheduled for Thursday, November 6th and Friday, November 7th, 2008 and Co-Sponsored by the CU Boulder Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP), the event will offer a valuable experience for your MESA students to work in teams applying their engineering skills to challenge other MESA students from around the state.  Please read the following prior to registering online. 

Once again, thank you for your continued support of Colorado MESA and we look forward to seeing you in November!

Possible Activities for Thursday, Prior to Arriving at Fall Fling

Our partner at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) have a possible activity for our MESA programs on Thursday, prior to arriving at Fall Fling.  

National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR Tour)
NCAR’s Mesa Lab, located at the west end of Table Mesa Drive in Boulder, Colorado, and is a working research laboratory.  The inspiring setting is worth a visit in itself. NCAR maintains the site as a nature preserve. Mule deer, fox, and other wildlife range over the area and adjoining mountain parks.  NCAR’s laboratory offers a wealth of hands-on educational exhibits that visitors are welcome to explore on their own, on a tour, or with an audiotour.  If you are interested in visiting NCAR on Thursday morning/early afternoon, please contact victor.vialpando@cudenver.edu or by phone at 303.352.3869.  Space is limited!

Team Composition

Only eight (8) students and two advisors from each high school will be allowed to participate, unless approved in advance by Colorado MESA.   Trebuchet teams must be a minimum of 4 students.  Please keep in mind an odd number of students will result in room sharing. Students in these rooms may not be located near their advisors.

Design Challenge Rules and Guidelines

The Multi-Task Trebuchet Design Challenge will adhere the revised 2008-09 Rules and Guidelines.  Please read, re-read and adhere to the rules and guidelines.  Teams that are not in compliance with the guidelines are not eligible for the national competition. Click here to learn about the Rules & Guidelines for the 2008-09 Multi-Task Trebuchet Challenge

In an effort to foster creativity and enthusiasm in support of your MESA’s team(s), please prepare the following in accordance with the 2008-09 Multi-Task Trebuchet Rules and Guidelines prior to your arrival at Fall Fling:

• Design, build and test your Trebuchet
• Design and prepare your Academic Display
• Prepare your oral presentation
• Read and sign the Student Code of Conduct (must be completed for each student attending the event) Click here to download >>

Registration, Lodging and Cost

Lodging will be at the Boulder Outlook Hotel, located at 800 28th Street across the street from the University of Colorado at Boulder Campus.  A registration fee of $35.00 per student is requested, and should be paid in advance unless approved before your arrival on November 6, 2008.  The registration fee includes:  

• Lodging on Thursday, November 5 at the Boulder Outlook Hotel
• Dinner Thursday, November 6
• Continental Breakfast Friday, November 7
• Lunch Friday, November 7
• All materials and supplies associated with the Boat Building Design Challenge

Due to the large number of students attending this event; some student’s hotel rooms may not be located near their advisor on Thursday night.  We will make every effort to group your students together; however uneven numbers of females and males may result in room sharing with students from other schools.  

Attire

On Thursday evening, students will design, build and compete in a Boat Building Challenge.  The event will be held at the campus pool and require students to wear appropriate attire while in the pool area.  Swim suits and flip flops are suggested.  Please note that all students are required to assist with the design and construction of the boat, but are not required to be in the pool during the competition.

Registration Deadline

The online registration deadline is Friday, October 24, 2008.  Due to the popularity of this event we cannot guarantee a spot for your school even if it is submitted by the deadline because spaces are filled on a first-come first-serve basis.  We suggest registering as early as possible as schools were turned away last year before the deadline arrived.  Late and/or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Agenda (tentative)

Day 1: Thursday, November 6, 2008

2:00 - 3:00PM ------------- Arrival, Hotel Check-In
3:00 - 3:30PM-------------- Fall Fling Registration
3:30 - 4:00PM-------------- Welcome/Opening Remarks
4:00 - 4:30PM-------------- Guest Speaker
4:30 - 4:55PM-------------- Overview of Activities
5:00 - 6:00PM-------------- Dinner for Students and Advisors
6:15 - 9:45PM-------------- Boat Building and Rescue Mission Challenge
9:45 - 10:00PM------------- Event Clean-Up

Day 2: Friday, November 7, 2008

7:00AM----------------------- Hotel Check-Out and Continental Breakfast
7:30 - 8:50AM-------------- Trebuchet Judges Training Workshop w/Breakfast
7:30 - 8:00AM-------------- Academic Display Set-Up
8:00 - 8:50AM-------------- Trebuchet Impounding/Qualification
12:00 - 1:00PM------------- Lunch
1:00 - 2:30PM-------------- College Preparation Workshop and Campus Tours
2:30PM ---------------------- Awards Presentation
3:00PM----------------------- Adjourn

Additional Information

For more information or questions, please contact Victor Vialpando at victor.vialpando@cudenver.edu or by phone at 303.352.3869.

Registration Will Open in September 2008!