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The Wacky World of Rube Goldberg Machines

Stylized 'Welcome to Camp CrunchLabs' sign with a circular red logo. The number 5 is in the lower right corner.
Logo of 'Camp CRUNCHLABS' featuring a red and white color scheme.



It's Week 8 of your least boring summer, and it must have been anything but restful if we believe your challenge submissions!


Take a moment to reflect: what has been the best experience of camp so far? What has been the most challenging activity? What has been the most fun challenge? Think about what is working and what you can improve. Make the last four weeks of camp really count–you’re doing great so far. Each week, we are blown away: your sense of fun and intelligence really shine through.


It's Week 8 of your least boring summer, and it must have been anything but restful if we believe your challenge submissions!


Take a moment to reflect: what has been the best experience of camp so far? What has been the most challenging activity? What has been the most fun challenge? Think about what is working and what you can improve. Make the last four weeks of camp really count–you’re doing great so far. Each week, we are blown away: your sense of fun and intelligence really shine through.







It's Week 8 of your least boring summer, and it must have been anything but restful if we believe your challenge submissions!


Take a moment to reflect: what has been the best experience of camp so far? What has been the most challenging activity? What has been the most fun challenge? Think about what is working and what you can improve. Make the last four weeks of camp really countyou’re doing great so far. Each week, we are blown away: your sense of fun and intelligence really shine through.





Week 8: The Home Stretch








Week 8: The Home Stretch


Week 8: The Home Stretch

Can you believe we're at Week 8 already? This past week was a blast. We saw some stunts in our Trick Shot challenge* that truly played with the odds that had us wondering: how many tries did it take the kid who made a basket backwards whilst rolling on a skateboard? How many takes did it take the kid who made a longshot basket whilst doing a backflip whilst jumping on a trampoline?


We're so excited to show off all your awesome videos and reveal the winners* on this week's livestream! We won't spoil anything, so you'll have to be sure to check out our YouTube channel at 8am PST on Saturday to join in on the fun. (and If you can't watch the episode live, don’t worry! We post every live episode as a video on our site once they're done so you can watch them whenever you want.)


Let’s dive into a brand new week brimming with fresh excitement. There’s only four more weeks of Camp CrunchLabs left, and we've got another Super Challenge for you!











INTRODUCING CHALLENGE #5:

Can you believe we're at Week 8 already? This past week was a blast. We saw some stunts in our Trick Shot challenge* that truly played with the odds that had us wondering: how many tries did it take the kid who made a basket backwards whilst rolling on a skateboard? How many takes did it take the kid who made a longshot basket whilst doing a backflip whilst jumping on a trampoline?


We're so excited to show off all your awesome videos and reveal the winners* on this week's livestream! We won't spoil anything, so you'll have to be sure to check out our YouTube channel at 8am PST on Saturday to join in on the fun. (and If you can't watch the episode live, don’t worry! We post every live episode as a video on our site once they're done so you can watch them whenever you want.)


Let’s dive into a brand new week brimming with fresh excitement. There’s only four more weeks of Camp CrunchLabs left, and we've got another Super Challenge for you!











Introducing Challenge #5:


A Rube Goldberg machine is a chain reaction. Usually, it’s an overly complex device designed to perform a very simple task giving the whole system a touch of whimsy that can only be explained by it’s namesake.


These machines are named after the American cartoonist Rube Goldberg, who illustrated such machines, or should we say, contraptions?


In a chain reaction, one action triggers the next. For instance, a ball might roll down a ramp, hitting a lever that releases a balloon, which in turn pops to spill water into a bucket, ultimately resulting in the completion of a simple task like turning off a light or pouring a cup of coffee.


The beauty of a Rube Goldberg machine lies in its intricate design and the creativity involved in linking mundane objects in unexpected ways. It's at the same time making it a feat of engineering and, dare we say it, a form of artistic expression.


This video is one of our favorite examples - you could knock down a block tower just by bumping into it, but where's the fun in that? (Okay, there's definitely fun in that too.) Give it a watch to see all of the complicated twists and turns in action!

CAMP CRUNCHLABS SAVES THE DAY




















Can you believe we're at Week 8 already? This past week was a blast. We saw some stunts in our Trick Shot challenge* that truly played with the odds that had us wondering: how many tries did it take the kid who made a basket backwards whilst rolling on a skateboard? How many takes did it take the kid who made a longshot basket whilst doing a backflip whilst jumping on a trampoline?


We're so excited to show off all your awesome videos and reveal the winners* on this week's livestream! We won't spoil anything, so you'll have to be sure to check out our YouTube channel at 8am PST on Saturday to join in on the fun (and If you can't watch the episode live, don’t worry! We post every live episode as a video on our site once they're done so you can watch them whenever you want).


Let’s dive into a brand new week brimming with fresh excitement. There’s only four more weeks of Camp CrunchLabs left, and we've got another Super Challenge for you!

A cheerful cartoon squirrel wearing a hat and vest, with a fishing rod on its shoulder.

Introducing Challenge #5:

'Rube Goldberg Machine' title with dominoes and simple machine illustrations.


A Rube Goldberg machine is a chain reaction. Usually, it’s an overly complex device designed to perform a very simple task giving the whole system a touch of whimsy that can only be explained by it’s namesake.


These machines are named after the American cartoonist Rube Goldberg, who illustrated such machines, or should we say, contraptions?


In a chain reaction, one action triggers the next. For instance, a ball might roll down a ramp, hitting a lever that releases a balloon, which in turn pops to spill water into a bucket, ultimately resulting in the completion of a simple task like turning off a light or pouring a cup of coffee.


The beauty of a Rube Goldberg machine lies in its intricate design and the creativity involved in linking mundane objects in unexpected ways. It's at the same time making it a feat of engineering and, dare we say it, a form of artistic expression.


This video is one of our favorite examples - you could knock down a block tower just by bumping into it, but where's the fun in that? (Okay, there's definitely fun in that too.) Give it a watch to see all of the complicated twists and turns in action!


Inspired to get started on the challenge? Parents and guardians can head over to the entry page to share their family's contraption with us once it’s ready!


Winners* will receive a signed patch, a signed backpack, and a signed Phat Gus. The best entry of the summer gets an exclusive visit to the lab*! Have fun and let your creativity shine.



A Rube Goldberg machine is a chain reaction. Usually, it’s an overly complex device designed to perform a very simple task giving the whole system a touch of whimsy that can only be explained by it’s namesake. These machines are named after the American cartoonist Rube Goldberg, who illustrated such machines, or should we say, contraptions?


In a chain reaction, one action triggers the next. For instance, a ball might roll down a ramp, hitting a lever that releases a balloon, which in turn pops to spill water into a bucket, ultimately resulting in the completion of a simple task like turning off a light or pouring a cup of coffee.


The beauty of a Rube Goldberg machine lies in its intricate design and the creativity involved in linking mundane objects in unexpected ways. It's at the same time making it a feat of engineering and, dare we say it, a form of artistic expression.


This video is one of our favorite examples - you could knock down a block tower just by bumping into it, but where's the fun in that? (Okay, there's definitely fun in that too.) Give it a watch to see all of the complicated twists and turns in action!




Inspired to get started on the challenge? Parents and guardians can head over to the entry page to share their family's contraption with us once it’s ready!


Winners* will receive a signed patch, a signed backpack, and a signed Phat Gus. The best entry of the summer gets an exclusive visit to the lab*! Have fun and let your creativity shine.



Inspired to get started on the challenge? Parents and guardians can head over to the entry page to share their family's contraption with us once it’s ready!


Winners* will receive a signed patch, a signed backpack, and a signed Phat Gus. The best entry of the summer gets an exclusive visit to the lab*! Have fun and let your creativity shine.



Our Take on a Rube Goldberg Machine


If you have the Domino Catapult Build Box you may have created a setup that was a Rube Goldberg Machine without knowing! Science Bob and Mark Rober (and some help from their friends, of course) created the World’s Largest Toy Catapult for our Youtube channel by making a catapult just like the ones you'd build with the box, only much bigger. And as you may already know, they made quite the chain reaction with it!


Their Rube Goldberg machine took 10 hours to set up, and is launched by shooting a Nerf Gun at the first trigger - nice aim Mark! After that, the triggers include many Build Boxes, a slime drop, a domino chain of empty Build Box boxes, and more until finally confetti canons explode. What will your chain reaction do?


NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Contest begins at 9:00 a.m. PT on 6/1/24 & ends 11:59 p.m. PT on 8/13/24; but, to be eligible to win Grand Prize, one must enter by 11:59 p.m. PT on 7/30/24. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., who are 18+ and the parent or legal guardian of at least (1) child between 8-16 years of age. Grand Prize winner must travel 8/16/24-8/18/24. See Official Rules for full details including entry periods, entry requirements, prize descriptions and judging criteria. Void where prohibited.

let the summer fun begin!

Our Take on a Rube Goldberg Machine







If you have the Domino Catapult Build Box you may have created a setup that was a Rube Goldberg Machine without knowing! Science Bob and Mark Rober (and some help from their friends, of course) created the World’s Largest Toy Catapult for our Youtube channel by making a catapult just like the ones you'd build with the box, only much bigger. And as you may already know, they made quite the chain reaction with it!


Their Rube Goldberg machine took 10 hours to set up, and is launched by shooting a Nerf Gun at the first trigger - nice aim Mark! After that, the triggers include many Build Boxes, a slime drop, a domino chain of empty Build Box boxes, and more until finally confetti canons explode. What will your chain reaction do?


This week, we’re exploring the fascinating world of forced perspective! Your challenge for Week 2 of summer camp is to create a forced perspective illusion that really wows us. Can you make your tallest friend look shorter than your shortest friend? Can you make your cat look taller than you? Get creative with placing objects closer and farther away to shoot a video using forced perspective that's got us doing double takes of disbelief. Use angles and distance to create optical illusions, making objects appear larger, smaller, closer, or farther away than they really are.


There will be four winners for each of the summer's six super challenges. Challenge winners will receive a challenge prize pack: a signed patch, a signed backpack, and a signed Phat Gus.


Then, from those winners, Mark will choose the grand prize winner who will be invited to the real-life CrunchLab and star in the 12th and final video with Mark Rober himself.


Ready to participate? Head over to campcrunchlabs.com/challenges to submit your creation.

We hope this inspires you to tackle Week 8 of Camp CrunchLabs! Think outside the box, have fun, and who knows—you might be the next winner to visit the lab*. Good luck!

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Not Subscribed? Not a Problem!

A drawing of a CrunchLabs box with a bow tied around it.

Whether your kids are new to STEM or practically professionals, the Build Box and the Hack Pack are the perfect way to foster their love for science and engineering! Each Box comes with an awesome build-it-yourself toy, and we'll teach them how to build it AND the STEM principles at work! 

US Shipping Cost FREE

A drawing of a CrunchLabs box with a bow tied around it.

Not Subscribed? Not a Problem!

Whether your kids are new to STEM or practically professionals, the Build Box and the Hack Pack are the perfect way to foster their love for science and engineering! Each box comes with an awesome build-it-yourself toy, and we'll teach them how to build it AND the STEM principles at work! 

US Shipping Cost FREE


* Camp CrunchLabs Contest: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Contest begins at 9:00 a.m. PT on 6/1/24 & ends 11:59 p.m. PT on 8/13/24; but, to be eligible to win Grand Prize, one must enter by 11:59 p.m. PT on 7/30/24. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., who are 18+ and the parent or legal guardian of at least (1) child between 8-16 years of age. Grand Prize winner must travel 8/16/24-8/18/24. See Official Rules for full details including entry periods, entry requirements, prize descriptions and judging criteria. Void where prohibited.

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