Come on guys! The YMCA's legal eagles and their insurance carrier would
have heart attacks if they found out that these kids (I'm assuming the campers are children) were going to make cardboard boats (or any other quickey lash-up) and attempt to sail them in anything but a back yard pool.
I've enjoyed watching races where the boats were made of empty milk cartons, wooden strips and duct tape. But I wouldn't put my kid in one.
The boats were described as "learning props" and I hope that they never get beyond that.
Charlie

: Why not build skin on frame kayaks instead of stitch and glue? Instead of
: cardboard you can cover the frames with inexpensive muslin, which is much
: cheaper than canvas. Or, use blue plastic tarps, or 6 mil or 8 mil
: polyethylene plastic sheeting as your covering and you can paddle these
: boats. The plastic skins won't last much longer than your week, but they
: can be easily patched should they get any leaks. Duct tape!

: Check: http://www.shelter-systems.com/kayak.html

: This link show how a kayak can be made made in 4 hours from willow shoots and
: a blue tarp. Total cast would be about $5.

: They also have a link to the model ( they spell it "modle") they
: made of the frame. Consider having your campers make such models as craft
: projects. They would make great personal souvenirs. It would probably take
: no more than 2 hours to construct the model frame, and another 1/2 hour to
: cover it with muslin.

: You just working form the pictures you should be able to resize this to
: design to any length and width you desire for your non-working boats.

: Since skin-on-frame boats are the original prototypes for the kayaks we
: paddle today I think they would be more relevant for instruction than
: stitch and glue designs. They are also very sell suited for group
: construction.

: Each person in the group can produce one component. With all the construction
: going on simultaneously, the frame can be done in 2 to 4 hours and covered
: in another hour. If yo try to follow the design of the willow framed boat
: I've mentioned, then I would suggest you break down your groups of 12-13
: into two teams of 5 to 7 campers. There are 6 frames, so each camper makes
: one. You can tell them about how wide and how tall to make them and let
: them got on their own from there. Another camper can lash together the
: sticks or willow shoots used for the stringers. Finally, all the campers
: can lash the stringers onto the frames and cover the frame with a skin,
: which is held on and sealed with duct tape.

: Now each group has an "A" boat and a "B" boat which would
: be suitable for paddling in a lake. You could even have relay races with
: all these boats.

: At the end of camp you can disassemble the boats and store the parts so they
: can be reassembled the next year. They'll go together faster the second
: time.

: If you are not near a source of willow shoots, contact a tree trimming
: service near the camp and ask if they can get you some similar materials
: from the trees they trim. Or, it will take a bit longer, but your campers
: can cut the frames out of plywood. With two campers cutting at a frame
: (one saws for 2 minutes and rests for 2 minutes, while the other saws) you
: can get 12 campers to layout the 6 frames in 1/2 hour and then cut those 6
: frames in another 1/2 hour. I'd suggest you have an adult who has a table
: saw rip the strips for the stringers ahead of time. Then the campers can
: lash the stringers to the frames and cover them with the plastic sheeting
: or the tarps.

: Hope this helps.

: PGJ