Rope Runners Come to Burlington

Rope Runners, the Girl Scout‘s answer to the , is coming to Burlington. Burlington’s fourth and fifth grade Girl Scout troops will be participating in the town’s first Rope Runners Race on Sunday, March 27th at the l from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Rope Runners are simple wooden figures that balance on a single wheel and race along 1/8 inch nylon ropes. The participants construct their Rope Runners from a kit and then decorate them according to their own design. Rope runners can be as simple as a wooden box with weights, wheel and axel, or they can be as elaborate as their creators’ dreams.  They are limited only by the imaginations of their designers.

Troops from all four elementary schools will participate in the event and over 60 entrants are anticipated.  Each scout will compete in four races after which average scores will be computed by the scouts. Ribbons will be awarded to the first, second and third place racers for each grade.  Participants will also receive recognition for best design, most creative Rope Runner, best use of color and more.  All the girls will receive a certificate and a patch.

“It’s great to be able to provide the girls with a fun, science-related activity as well promoting the town-wide Girl Scout community,” said troop leader Mary Sweeney.

fifth grade troop #71599 assembled their Rope Runners this past Sunday at the home of their leader, Mary Sweeney, and then tested them on ropes strung from Sweeney’s deck. Before the construction began, the girls received a simple physics lesson about gravity, center of mass, counter weights and wheels and axels.

“I learned how important it is for the two sides to be balanced,” said eleven-year-old Jenny Lewitzky.

“Sanding and oiling is important too,” added fifth-grader Sarah Sweeney.

The girls spent an hour or so constructing and designing their Rope Runners and then they tested them in the back yard.  They quickly learned the importance of balancing their weights and keeping the wheel and axel clear and oiled.

 “It was really fun,” smiled ten-year-old Ashley Koman.  “We worked hard to build our Rope Runners and then we got to see them actually work.”

You can learn more about Rope Runners at www.roperunners.com, or stop by the Fox Hill Elementary school next Saturday and see them in action.