Upstate 4th Grade Bridge Event
COST: Please Note the Greenville convention Center will be charging $10 per vehicle for parking.
Consider using Greenlink Route 501 - North Pleasantburg Drive & Tower Drive.
Many volunteers are needed in order for our event to be successful each year. Anyone interested in volunteering on event day or the afternoon before, please contact [email protected] or sign up below. We need event greeters, bridge testers, station runners, and other volunteers to help make this event a success. We strongly encourage engineering students and professionals to volunteer however, volunteers do not need to be ASCE members or engineers to help out. Volunteers will receive breakfast and lunch following the event.
Background
The ASCE SC Upstate Branch has been hosting the Popsicle Bridge Event since 2009. The event was started by the Upstate Branch members and the Greenville County Challenge Program teachers. The Challenge program includes students that achieve high scores on academic testing. This classroom unit and event was created to help them learn more about math, science, and engineering in a fun and practical way. The students spend approximately 3 months in the classroom learning about bridge design and the challenges of creating a strong, yet lightweight bridge which is essential in today’s real world scenarios of cost efficient design. The 4th grade students construct their bridges with popsicle sticks and white craft glue and must adhere to certain constraints regarding height, length, width, and weight. The bridges are then brought to the event for final weigh-in and testing to conclude the lesson.
Typical Agenda
7:45am – Volunteer arrival and registration
8:00am – Final setup and preparation
9:00am – Testing Group 1 Begins
10:30am - Testing Group 2 Begins
Awards will be presented via video the week following the event.
Bridges are judged by a panel of judges and winners are chosen for the following categories:
1. Best Architectural Design
2. Most Original Design
3. Best Craftsmanship
4. Best Structural
The “Best Structural” category is based on load testing the bridges to failure while taking into consideration the weight of the bridge.
Vendors & Activities
- Imagination Playground from The Children's Museum of the Upstate
- Roper Mountain Science Center Science on Wheels
- Touch-a-Truck from APWA
Greenville convention Center, Conference Hall, 1 Exposition Drive, Greenville, SC 29607
Things to Keep in Mind at the Event:
- Testing will begin at 9:00 AM for Group 1. Please arrive early in order to locate your school testing station. There will be a brief break before testing for Group 2 begins.
- Bridges are NOT tested in alphabetical order by school. A listing of schools and testing locations will be sent out before the event.
- Some seating will be available along the perimeter of the event (testing is not viewable from seated areas).
- Parents attending with students must supervise them at all times.
- Please allow students to stand at the front of the line in order to watch the testing of their school’s bridges.
- Please do NOT touch any bridges prior to testing.
- The acoustics are not perfect for this type of event, so please listen carefully. Signs will be used as available to help alleviate some sound issues.
**All workers at the event are volunteers. If there are any questions or concerns about the testing or rules, please direct them to teachers or the event coordinators.**
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
The ASCE SC Upstate Branch is also inviting companies to register as a sponsor for the Annual Bridge Event. The company name & logo will appear on signage in exhibit areas, t-shirts, event flyers, and be announced during the ASCE Upstate Branch Meetings. Sponsorships can be submitted below. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]. If you would like to pay via check, please contact the bridge chair. Once registration is completed, the contact for the sponsorship will receive additional instructions. Thank you for your support! The deadline for inclusion on materials is March 10, 2026.
Foundation Sponsor $1,030
Pier Sponsor $515
Truss Sponsor $260
Deck Sponsor $130
Engineer Sponsor $50