Mission of Cal Poly Pomona’s Concrete Canoe Team
In 1971, the University of Illinois held the first Concrete Canoe Competition against Purdue University students and became was the first intercollegiate race. As Cal Poly Pomona students our goal is to support each other as a team and make it to nationals! Our concrete canoe team hasn’t made it to nationals in nine years, but we plan to change that! Due to the pandemic our team has not been able to build a canoe in two years which has set us back tremendously; however, we have gotten back into researching the structural and hull design portion of the canoe, began testing mix-designs, and began setting up training for canoe paddling. Our mission this year is to learn to work together and grow as a team.
Who are we?
We are a group of students working to make a concrete canoe. In March 2023 we will be going to the Pacific Southwest Symposium at California University, Northridge (CSUN) to present and compete with the canoe we build. We have competed in the ASCE National Concrete Canoe Competition since 1993.
The Concrete Canoe competition is broken into four judged portions:
Why Do We Need Your Help?
As previously stated, our Concrete Canoe team has not been able to build a canoe for two years which means we do not have sufficient funds to build a canoe. Our Cal Poly Pomona Concrete Canoe team wants to continue our team’s legacy of attending nationals. Since our team has not been to nationals in nine years our main focus is to make a canoe that our school and team can be proud of. Through the help of our families, friends, alumni, faculty members, and organizations we can meet our $10,000 goal to build our canoe! Our team’s budget can be found below!
Expenses | Price |
Concrete Supplies (Cement, Admixtures, CC Mold, Post Tensioning Cables, PPE) | $8,000 |
Display and Construction Supplies | $1,100 |
Officer Polos and Competition Gear | $930 |
Paddling Practices Expenses | $500 |
Total | $10,530 |
Letter from the Concrete Canoe Project Manager's
To all our supporters,
Our names are Natalia Salazar and Luis Manuel, the project managers for Cal Poly Pomona’s Concrete Canoe team. We are looking for the support of our friends, family, faculty, staff, alumni, and other donors to have the opportunity of building a concrete canoe for the Pacific Southwest Symposium (PSWS) that will be held in California State University, Northridge in March 2023.
Last year our team did not have the ability to design, construct, or race a canoe due to the pandemic. However, this year we want to demonstrate the dedication Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) students have by building a canoe that will float, and make our fellow team members and our faculty advisors proud. Through the help of your donations, we will be able to purchase the necessary equipment needed to construct a canoe for PSWS next March and go to nationals in June 2023.
Being back in-person after two years of online schooling gives us the amazing opportunity to work alongside fellow students and have fun while working towards a larger goal: going to nationals to represent CPP. Our goal this semester is to construct a canoe that represents the changes we had to undergo after returning from fully online courses and extracurriculars. The impact of the pandemic has changed each and everyone of us, but as we continue working together, we learn to grow. Our theme this year is the monarch butterfly; however, we will utilize La Monarca as it is known in Spanish. This year we wanted our team’s theme to be a symbol of change, transformation, hope, and positivity. Through the help of all our donors, including yourself, we the opportunity to demonstrate what CPP students are capable of.
This semester our team has been working toward creating a canoe that will represent our school in a positive light that gives other students hope of being a part of an amazing community. We want our impact to not only those within our community, but those outside of it as well. If you can support us on our life-changing journey, donate today!
Best wishes,
Natalia T Salazar and Luis Manuel
Concrete Canoe Project Managers 2022-2023
Questions, Comments, Concerns?
Contact Natalia Salazar or Luis Manuel at cppcanoe.projectmanagers@gmail.com
Thank you for your humble contribution! Your donation will help the Concrete Canoe cover travel expenses and personal protective equipment for one team member!
Thank you for your humble contribution! At this level you are helping pay for our team polos which are essential for representing our team and school pride!
Thank you for your humble donation! At this level you are contributing toward our display and construction supplies needed when we begin building our canoe this semester.
Thank you for your humble contribution to our team! At this level you are contributing materials necessary to make a canoe which includes admixtures, portland cement, and post tensioning cable.
Thank you for your humble contribution! At this level you are contributing toward any additional costs related to concrete materials, display and stand materials, and any additional expenses such as travel.