The Paper Airplane that Won the Drone

Orcas Island abounds with unique events throughout the year. The Paper Airplane Contest held in the public school gym is nothing frilly. Simply a lot of kids with five sheets of paper each, forming planes for three contests – distance, time aloft, and accuracy. First-, second-, and third-place winners in each category go home with ribbons and see their photos in the Wednesday newspaper. It’s so very Orcas, and so kind of all the people who volunteer to make it happen.

There’s always a final contest in which a large basket is set in center of the gym. All the kids stand on the bleachers and throw as many airplanes as they have, hoping to hit inside the basket and win a drone. It’s only been done twice in 22 years. That’s why we were shocked to see a plane land in the basket and realize it was our older son’s. Woohoo! Thank you Kiwanis Club and San Juan Insurance for supporting our son’s flying and technology passions!