Laughter and excitement filled the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center as children played brightly painted games during the sixth annual Cardboard Carnival showcase Saturday.
The event was the culmination of a multi-week program where Evanston/Skokie School District 65 fifth through eighth graders designed carnival-style games with cardboard and other everyday materials featuring at least one motorized element. At the final showcase, which was hosted by the Evanston Public Library and District 65, students had the opportunity to play each other’s games.
Kirby Callam, director of strategic project management at District 65, said the program prioritizes accessibility. Callam said that each participant received a free kit with building tools and materials and could also receive additional support through partnerships with Northwestern volunteers.
“This whole program started based on the premise of working with kids who were underrepresented in STEM,” Callam said. “Our goal is when they get to high school, there’s a class called Introduction to Engineering Design, and we want a lot more kids of color and kids who are underrepresented to say, ‘Oh, I know what that is, I’m good at it and it’s fun.’”
EPL offered weekly workshops to guide students through the design process, covering skills like creating buttons and adding sound.
Evanston resident Andrea Lamilla’s daughter built a basketball-style game with rotating hoops, where players aim to shoot ping pong balls through the moving targets.
Lamilla said her daughter attended five sessions and completed most of the project independently, relying primarily on what she learned at the library. Aside from the ping pong balls, Lamilla said all materials — including motors, lights and paint — were provided.
“It’s amazing for the kids,” Lamilla said. “It’s a wonderful experience to get involved in this and participate with the other kids and share thoughts and ideas.”
Colin Vestal, a sixth grader at Haven Middle School, created a pinball-style game.
He said he built most of the game himself, with some help from his parents. While Vestal said the project was time-consuming and challenging, he ultimately found it rewarding.
“It was truly awesome,” Vestal said. “I always like doing big community events, and they’re always so fun.”
EPL Innovation and Digital Learning Manager Elacsha Madison said many families have already shared how eager they are to return next year. She said the carnival has become a “tradition” for these families.
Throughout the program, Madison said she’s watched kids grow a lot more confident in their STEM skills.
Still, she said the program aims to go beyond technical growth and also strives to strengthen students’ abilities to adapt and problem-solve.
“We want them to understand that these skills can be applied to everyday life,” Madison said. “In life, sometimes things happen, and you have to be able to get up and go with it and keep it moving. And that’s what we’re showing them. We’re giving them the confidence to be able to make those decisions quickly.”
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