Catapult
Challenge
Build a tabletop catapult from the kit, then launch a ping-pong ball for distance and accuracy. No experience needed.
- When
- Saturday, October 17, 20269:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Where
- MOST, 500 S. Franklin St., Syracuse NY 13202
- Admission
- Free for students and families arriving before 9:30 AM
- Can’t make Saturday?
- New for 2026Friday, October 16 testing sessions for school teamsChoose Friday testing when you register. We'll contact you to arrange a time.
- Who
- Junior, grades 4–8 · Senior, grades 9–12Teams of 1–4 students. No limit on teams per school.
- Team leader
- A teacher, coach, tutor, parent or guardianOr another adult with the students' guardians' permission.
- Cost
- Free registration, free kit per team
- 1Register a teamOne adult leader registers 1 to 4 students. Register as many teams as you like.
- 2Pick up your kitOne free kit per team at the MOST front desk. Support sessions by appointment.
- 3Build your catapultFrom the kit and the approved materials only, to the specs below.
- 4Test it on the dayInspection, three distance launches, three accuracy launches, and a short interview with the judges.
- Inspection first. Judges check the specs. A repair and supply station is on site.
- Distance. Three launches of a Velcro ping-pong ball from a 29″ table. The farthest counts.
- Accuracy. Three launches from 50″ at a floor bullseye: a 10″ centre and two 8″ rings. Points are totalled.
- Interview. 3 to 4 minutes with the judges on the engineering design process, Newton's laws, teamwork and creativity.
No repairs between the distance and accuracy rounds.
- Hands may operate and stabilise the catapult, but it must stand on its own.
- No counterweights, no latch, no slingshot.
- Cutting, notching and laminating approved materials is allowed.
- School or wood glue only. No hot glue.
- 20 small and 10 large craft sticks
- 10 rubber bands
- 2 plastic spoons
- 2 clothespins
- 1 bottle of wood or school glue
- 1 wooden dowel rod
- Craft sticks, any size
- Rubber bands
- Plastic spoons
- Clothespins
- Wooden dowel rod
- School or wood glue (no hot glue)
- Ping-pong ball, as the projectile
Teams may add more of the approved materials. Anything not on the list is prohibited.
Collect your team’s kit at the MOST front desk during open hours, or by appointment. Need a hand with the build? Support sessions are by appointment: eventcoordinator@most.org.
- 1st place
- 2nd place
- 3rd place
- 4th place
- Best Team Name
- 1st place
- 2nd place
- 3rd place
- 4th place
- Best Team Name
- Team Spirit & SportsmanshipAll divisions
One to four students. The team's division comes from its oldest student's grade: a team with anyone in grades 9–12 enters Senior, and a team of grades 4–8 enters Junior.
Yes. There is no limit on teams per school. Each team registers separately and gets its own kit.
A teacher, coach, tutor, parent or guardian, or another adult with the students' guardians' permission. The leader registers the team and is our contact for it.
No. Registration is free and every team can ask for a free kit. Admission to MOST on the day is free for students and families who arrive before 9:30 AM.
Tick “Request a kit for this team” when you register. Kits are ready right away, while supplies last: collect yours at the MOST front desk during open hours, or by appointment.
Only more of the approved materials: craft sticks, rubber bands, plastic spoons, clothespins, a wooden dowel rod, and school or wood glue. Anything else, hot glue included, is not allowed.
Yes. Teams build together with their leader, and support sessions are available by appointment. Let the students lead, though: they explain their design to the judges on the day.
New for 2026: school teams can test on Friday, October 16 instead. Choose Friday testing on the registration form and we'll be in touch to schedule it.
Yes. Every student needs an adult (21 or over) with them on the day. If the team leader is coming, they cover the whole team; if not, the registration form asks for a chaperone or an adult for each student.
Your finished catapult and your team number, which is in your confirmation email, for check-in. The ping-pong ball is provided at testing, and a repair and supply station is on site if anything breaks on the way.
Judges check every catapult against the specs before testing, and you can fix it at the repair and supply station. A catapult that is still off-spec can be tested, but it is not eligible for awards.
At the end of the event on Saturday, October 17. Friday teams are welcome back for the ceremony; the registration form asks if you plan to come, and “Undecided” is fine.