12th 4-H BRIDGE BUST
Note: Team registration opens early November!
Join us for the 12th 4-H Bridge Busting Competition. This hands-on, challenging program tests bridge-building prowess, and encourages math, engineering, design, & teamwork skills. Watch our video to learn a little more.
The competition will be on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at Parkview Christian Academy - Upper Campus,202 E Countryside Pkwy, Yorkville, IL 60560.
How to join the fun
- Put together a team
- Sign up online (open now)
- Check out the new resource center (see below)
- Pick up your kit in January
- Plan & build a bridge
- Participate on Bust Day
- Have fun and win cool stuff
Ways to participate
- Youth Competition Teams (all team members must be ages 10 and up)
- Family or 4-H Club Competition Teams (including adults and youth ages 5 and up)
- School Competition teams (5th to 12th grades)
You will register once as a team (not as individuals). Teams must have at least two members. Cost is $40 per team.
Next steps for your team
In December, following registration and payment, you will receive information for Bridge Bust Contest Packet Pick-Up, which starts in early January.
- Packets will include: contest rules, general information about bridge busting, and project supplies.
- Bridges will be judged on their structural efficiency and aesthetics (contest packet will have more details).
- Make sure to look for our 4-H Bridge Bust Resource Center
Bridge Bust Resource Center
- Bridge Bust FAQ GUIDE
- VIDEO: Planning and Building | Balsa Wood Bridge Tips and Tricks | Purdue University
- 2024-2025 CONTEST RULES (Updated 2025-2026 rules will be available soon!)
Bridge Bust Day
The competition will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 at Parkview Christian Academy - Upper Campus, 202 E Countryside Pkwy, Yorkville, IL 60560.
Note: A more specific tentative schedule will be shared following registration, as it depends on number of participants and time needed to bust bridges.
Questions
For any questions, contact 4-H Program Coordinator Katie McFarland at (630) 553-5823 or ksm@illinois.edu. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, contact your local University of Illinois Extension office or event coordinator. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs.