Cornhole:
Making the Game
Introduction
I have many fond memories of playing the game of cornhole in the US, where it is a very popular outdoor activity in parks, on university campuses, and at backyard BBQs.
One of my favorite parts of Beyond is staying up late playing games with other staff members and students, strengthening friendships and building new ones. I was thus inspired to build a set of cornhole boards that would encourage people to get outside and enjoy the nice Spring weather during the last month of school.
Adam Pollock
May, 2018
Before I could start, I had to locate all the materials I needed. I wanted my boards to comply with the exact specifications outlined by the American Cornhole Association, so I had to ride my bike around town looking for certain materials we didn't have at the school, like 2x4 wood planks, primer, and high-gloss paint. Other hard-to-find materials like wing nuts and carriage bolts had to be specially ordered from Taobao. Luckily, the well-stocked DT lab had all the tools I needed for the project.
While the project wasn't particularly advanced, I did run into a number of challenges. For example, cutting a perfect circle proved quite difficult and required more thought than I had anticipated. The legs were also troublesome, as one end had to have rounded edges to allow it to fold in, while the other end had to be cut at the exact angle to prevent the board from wobbling while in use.
My half-day excursion to the paint store gave my Chinese language quite a workout, but I eventually succeeded in purchasing paint in primary colors, which then required mixing to achieve a color as close as possible to CIS's maroon. Once that was accomplished, I used painter's tape to create straight, sharp lines. I spent a lot of time sanding the boards to make them smooth before finishing with a protective coat of varnish.
You certainly can't play cornhole without anything to throw at the boards! The wonderful Mrs. Pollock cut and sewed bean bags of appropriate size and weight, in two different colors.
I was delighted that teachers and students showed immediate interest in the game. I hope it continues to encourage everyone to take a break from working once in a while to enjoy some casual but spirited fun!
