The Ambler Farm Pumpkin Warriors trebuchet team that recently competed in the “Punkin Chunkin” World Championships in early November will be presenting a talk about their experience at the Wilton Library on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m.. The 10-student team, led by Kevin Meehan, took fifth place in the 17-and-under trebuchet category, in the pumpkin throwing competition that will be televised on the Science Channel at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving night.
This video, below, supplied by team member Kateleen Meehan, shows a bit of the process leading up to the Pumpkin Warriors’ participation in the Championships.
A trebuchet is a version of the catapult that uses a counterweight to propel the arm. The team has been working on the trebuchet for two years and finally had the chance to compete after last year’s trip was cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy.
The Pumpkin Warriors are inviting people (first grade and older, with a caregiver) to their talk on Wednesday to learn about their machine, the competition and the results of their amazing trip. Meehan will be forming a new team to compete again next year, and anyone interested in joining the team is encouraged to attend and ask questions, as is anyone who loves physics, or watching pumpkins smash into smithereens. There is no registration or fee for the talk at the Wilton Library (137 Old Ridgefield Road), sponsored by Ambler Farm.
(photo credit: Jonathan Woods; video credit: Kateleen Meehan)