Gingerboard House Contest

What is this?

Put your creativity to the test in the Connecticut Science Center’s annual Gingerboard Contest by crafting a holiday home using only recycled or upcycled materials. While there are no limitations on the structure’s design, refrain from using food items and ensure the overall footprint stays within 24″ x 24″. You may utilize standard art supplies for decoration but remember that the primary materials used must be recycled.

How to Enter?

After completing your masterpiece, snap a photo and upload it here on the official contest page. After entering the contest, bring your house to the Connecticut Science Center located at 250 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT. 06103, to be showcased in the Gingerboard Town exhibit, where all Science Center visitors can appreciate your hard work until January 1, 2024. Remember, you must enter the contest online before delivering your house to the Science Center. The Science Center cannot assist with contest entries, and any house dropped off will not be returned.

Contest Timeline:

Contest submissions will be accepted online until 11:59PM on December 10, 2023.
Contest voting will occur from 12:00AM on December 11, 2023, until 11:59PM on December 17, 2023.
Winners will be announced on December 18, 2023.

The Rules:

The contest is only open to Connecticut residents – valid Connecticut identification is required.
Contest entries can only be submitted by a Connecticut Resident, age 18 or older, with a valid Connecticut identification and Connecticut residential address.
Only one (1) entry per individual, family, household, and/or Connecticut residential address is allowed – circumventing this rule will void all entries – we encourage you to work together!
Only one (1) entry per Connecticut School Classroom and/or Teacher is allowed. School Classroom must be affiliated with a registered Connecticut K-12 School.
Houses must be made primarily of Recycled materials; however, you can decorate and embellish with standard art supplies such as paint, markers, or crayons.
Houses must be durable and self-supporting.
Nothing perishable, no food/candy, nothing odor-emitting.
Houses must not have an overall footprint larger than 24” x 24”.
Houses must be submitted online to the official contest page by no later than 11:59PM (EST) on December 10, 2023, to be officially entered into the contest for voting.

Categories, Voting, & Prizes:

CONNECTICUT FAMILY/INDIVIDUAL/HOUSEHOLD CATEGORY

Only one (1) entry into this category per individual, family, household, and/or Connecticut residential address is allowed – circumventing this rule will void all entries – we encourage you to work together!
Entries can only be submitted by a Connecticut Resident, age 18 or older, with valid Connecticut identification
Prizes awarded to the top three (3) highest vote-getters as first, second, and third place, respectively. No ties. Prizes in this category are as follows:
- One (1) First Place Prize: 1 Year, 4-Person Membership to the Connecticut Science Center.
  Membership is non-transferable and cannot be given as a gift to another family. Membership will be active as of January 1, 2024 and expire on December 31, 2024. The expiration date cannot be extended and is not connected to usage. Certificate cannot be replaced if lost/stolen. Approximate retail value of $205
- One (1) Second Place Prize: Family 4-pack of General Admission Tickets to the Connecticut Science Center and a Connecticut Science Center swag bag.
  4 General Admission tickets (youth or adult) good for any operating day in 2024. Tickets cannot be replaced if lost/stolen nor extended past the expiration date printed. Merchandise included with this prize, including clothing, is not exchangeable or eligible for returns. Approximate retail value of $150.
- One (1) Third Place Prize: Connecticut Science Center swag bag
  Merchandise included with this prize, including clothing, is not exchangeable or eligible for returns. Approximate retail value of $90.
Contest entries can only be submitted by a Connecticut Resident, age 18 or older, with valid Connecticut identification.
Contest entry must be received online, through the official contest entry page, on or before 11:59PM on December 10, 2023.

CONNECTICUT SCHOOL CLASSROOM CATEGORY

Only one (1) entry per Connecticut School Classroom and/or Teacher is allowed.
The School Classroom must be affiliated with a registered Connecticut K-12 School system. Sorry, homeschool families are not eligible to enter in this category.
Entries can only be submitted by a Connecticut Resident, age 18 or older, with valid Connecticut identification. School must have a Connecticut address.
The overall class size should not be larger than 25 students (based on the prize being awarded).
One (1) prize will be awarded in this category to the highest vote-getter. No ties. Prizes in this category are as follows:
- One (1) First Place Prize: 2 General Admission tickets, per student in the classroom, up to a maximum of 25 students. Provided as 1 youth General Admission ticket for each student, and 1 adult General Admission ticket for a parent or guardian of each student, good any operating day in 2024.
  Prize will consist of a maximum, not to exceed, 50 General Admission tickets consisting of up to 25 youth tickets and up to 25 adult General Admission tickets. Tickets cannot be allocated toward a field trip to the Connecticut Science Center. Tickets cannot be replaced if lost/stolen nor extended past the expiration date printed. Approximate retail value of $1,097.
Contest entries can only be submitted by a Connecticut Resident, age 18 or older, with valid Connecticut identification.
Contest entry must be received online, through the official contest entry page, on or before 11:59PM on December 10, 2023.

VOTING:

Voting will occur online through the Official Contest Page
Only one (1) vote can be submitted per contest category, in a 24-hour day, by the same individual.
Contest voting will occur from 12:00AM on December 11, 2023, until 11:59PM on December 17, 2023.