BT: Cardboard Race Regatta 2026
Butterfield Trail Cardboard Boat Race 2026
Saturday, July 25, 2026
This year's event is being held at Nimrod Lake and NOT at Blue Mountain Lake. Due to ongoing work at Blue Mountain Lake and the lake being drawn down, the event has been relocated. If you have attended in previous years, please note this is a different location.
Location
US Army Corps of Engineers – Nimrod-Blue Mountain Project
GS01 – Carden Point Group Shelter (Electric)
3 AR-7
Plainview, AR 72857
Registration Fees
- $5 per participant
- Additional $15 per prebuilt boat entered
Schedule
- 10:00 AM – On-Site Boat Building Begins
- 1:00 PM – Racing Begins
About the Event
The Butterfield Trail Cardboard Boat Race is a day of fun, teamwork, creativity, and friendly competition. Scouts and leaders will work together to design, build, and race cardboard boats while testing their engineering skills on the water.
Participants must bring their own duct tape and markers.
Duct Tape Requirement
Bring your own duct tape this year. Traditional duct tape is required. Colored duct tape is allowed.
Permitted Tape:
- Traditional cloth-backed duct tape
- Colored duct tape
- Printed or decorative duct tape
Not Permitted:
- Foil HVAC duct sealing tape
- Silver metal-backed sealing tape
- Insulation tape
- Waterproof sealing tape
- Construction adhesives, caulks, sprays, or sealants
- Any material intended primarily for waterproofing or permanent sealing
The spirit of the event is to build and race cardboard boats, not waterproof them with specialty materials.
Divisions
- Pack vs. Pack
- Den vs. Den
- Troop vs. Troop
- On-Site Built Division
- Prebuilt Division
Units entering a prebuilt boat must also participate in the On-Site Built Division.
Rules and regulations for both divisions are available for download on the registration page. Requirements differ between divisions.
Prizes and Awards
Prizes and awards will be presented by Pack, Den, and Troop divisions.
- 1st Place
- 2nd Place
- 3rd Place
- Fastest to Sink
Lunch
Lunch will be provided for all registered participants.
- Hot Dogs
- Chips
- Condiments
- Water
Camping
Camping is not available at the event site.
Units wishing to make a weekend outing of the event will find several nearby camping opportunities around Nimrod Lake, including multiple US Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds. Units are responsible for making their own camping arrangements and reservations.
Safety
Lifeguards will be on duty throughout the event.
All participants, including Scouts and adults, must wear a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while in a boat.
The minimum acceptable life jacket is a Type III Personal Flotation Device (PFD) or Performance Level 70 under current labeling standards.
Participants without an approved life jacket will not be permitted to participate in boating activities.
Event Host
Chris Noble
479-629-6571
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BT: Cardboard Race 2026 July 25, 2026