Spend quality time with friends and family this winter break, and register your team for the 2020 Bridge Bust Contest with 4-H. The 8th annual event puts your creativity, design, engineering and team skills to the test!

Bridge Bust provides an excellent learning and team-building opportunity for families, youth, teens, classes, clubs, and other groups. Registered teams will design and construct bridges according to competition rules with provided supplies that they will pick up in early December.

In January, entries will be judged on aesthetics and tested for structural strength. Competition participants may enter in one of three categories: youth teams (ages 10 and older), family teams including adults and youth, and school teams for grades 5 to 12. Teams must have a minimum of two members. The contest also offers a demonstration entry choice, which is intended to give younger participants the opportunity to practice engineering and design skills without competition. These groups will have the option to conference with judges and/or break their bridge as a demonstration only. Teams may include one to two adults and any number of youth between ages 5 and 9 only. Space is very limited for this option, which is in its third year.

This fun, educational challenge is facilitated by the University of Illinois Extension and 4-H Youth Development of DuPage, Kane and Kendall Counties, and it is supported by Rural King of Plano and Cross Lutheran School in Yorkville.

To learn more and register your team, visit go.illinois.edu/bridgebust4Hdkk. Space is limited. Registration extended to Dec. 9, or when the program meets capacity. The cost is $40 per team. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please notify at registration or contact the Extension Office at (630) 553-5823. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs.