Don’t miss the LEAP Sandcastle contest on Ocean Beach this Saturday

This Saturday, LEAP will hold their 29th annual Sandcastle Contest for elementary schools. Each year, LEAP teams up architects, designers, contractors, corporations, engineers and local elementary school students for the contest.

Before the event, teams meet with students in the classroom to develop ideas based on a set theme. Plans are finalized, clay models are shaped, team structure and schedules are defined, and tasks are assigned, all in preparation for the big day.

On Saturday morning, the teams and students will arrive and await the whistle that signals the start of the contest at 10am. From there, four hours of intensive building begins and results in over two dozen creatures and structures all made from sand.

This year’s theme is “Leap Year 2012 (things that jump)!” so be prepared for lots of frogs and other jumpy characters. Two of our own neighborhood schools will be in the competition – Lafayette Elementary and George Peabody.

Teams and sponsors involved in last year’s Sandcastle Contest raised $205,000, which goes towards funding LEAP’s programs which serve over 8,000 students in over 40 schools across the Bay Area with hands-on learning experiences in the arts.

Stop by Ocean Beach on Saturday between 10am and 4pm to watch the action – it’s free! If you just want to see the finished designs, we recommend arriving after 2pm.

Sarah B.