The Cardboard Boat Building Challenge
One of Jambar’s most popular activities, The Cardboard Boat Building Challenge is a memorable bonding experience you won’t find anywhere else in Singapore
A snapshot of the activities characteristics on how it may impact your team
Collective problem solving through aquatic innovation
The Cardboard Boat Building Challenge is a high-stakes test of creativity and resourcefulness where teams must engineer a seaworthy vessel using nothing but cardboard and packing tape. With a strict one-hour deadline, participants are forced to move quickly from design to construction, relying on rapid prototyping and collective problem-solving to ensure their boat survives the final race. This hands-on activity builds team synergy by requiring participants to leverage every member’s unique skills while adapting to extreme resource constraints. Success is measured not just by aesthetic design, but by the functional reality of staying afloat, making it a powerful metaphor for productivity and resilience under pressure.
Moments from the Sail
Teams setting sail in their cardboard creations
Program details
It takes a whole team to stay afloat in The Cardboard Boat Building Challenge. Armed with limited (and we mean limited) materials, players are forced to work together and creatively in this wild and watery team building activity.
This half-day event sees teams tasked with building a functional boat out of nothing but cardboard and packing tape.
Each team is given a limited timeframe to design and build a sea-worthy vessel. Teams must work quickly and think creatively to meet the challenge. After building their boat, teams present the results to one another. Boats are scored on design, presentation, and functionality, and then brought to the water and put to the ultimate test: a boat race. Paddle fast and reach the finish line before you spring a leak!
One of Jambar’s most popular activities, The Cardboard Boat Building Challenge is a memorable bonding experience you won’t find anywhere else in Singapore.
Looking to customise The Cardboard Boat Building Challenge for your next corporate function? Contact us, and we’ll be happy to discuss how this activity can be tailored to fit your needs.
Want to see what else works outdoors? Browse all our outdoor team building activities in Singapore.
We have plenty more where this came from. Browse all 40 team building activities we run in Singapore.
Activity Specifications
| Format | Outdoor |
| Duration | Up to 3 hours |
| Group Size | 10 to 500 pax |
| Suitability | Suitable for all age groups and genders |
| Delivery | Physical materials |
Frequently Asked Questions, answered
What happens in Cardboard Boat Building?
Teams are given a limited pile of materials and the challenge of building a boat that really floats with a person on board. The build is the first half of the fun, and the second half is the big splash, where every team finds out whose boat makes it across the water.
Does someone have to get in the water?
Yes, and it’s usually the most photographed and most cheered moment of the day! Teams choose their own sailor, so it’s always a volunteer who’s excited to take the plunge.
What should people wear?
Comfortable clothes that can handle a few splashes, and a spare set is a smart idea for whoever ends up sailing. We’ll share all the details in the joining instructions so everyone arrives ready.
What kind of teams is it best for?
It’s a great fit for teams who want to grow their collaboration, communication and creativity, all through a hands on build. The materials are deliberately limited, so teams need to plan together, share ideas, solve problems on the spot and make smart choices as a group. Leaders emerge, quieter voices get heard, and trust builds as everyone works toward a shared goal. Afterwards, the conversation about how each team handled the constraint makes for great reflection on resourcefulness and teamwork back in the workplace.
