CPW Swingset

Sandbox backhoes weren't the only building project happening during CPW. Jennie and I also decided to teach prefrosh how to build a swingset: we would cut the wood beforehand, and prefrosh would drill holes and attach pieces.

For a few prefrosh, this was their first time using a drill

We were originally going to stake down the base frames, but it turns out that the courtyard dirt is ridiculously packed for wooden stakes. We searched for metal stakes, but ended up building pontoon-style stabilizers instead. Since the ground was also slightly uneven, one frame still ended up rocking a bit if two people were on the swing at the same time.

Blueprint given to prefrosh. They rolled with it

The double 2x8 crossbeam turned out to be a good decision. Even though it was firmly seated on the A-frames by bolted supports and screwed directly to the 4x4 frame, the crossbeam still visibly twisted when two riders were out of sync. I doubt a thinner crossbeam would have sustained our abuse as well.

We had to replace our swing ropes every day since the wooden beams would fray the ropes and the ropes would wear grooves into the crossbeam, even with protective t-shirt padding. In the future we will replace the ropes with something like a webbing-light chain system that rubs less.

In the meantime, we enjoyed our functional swingset and the lovely weather of CPW.

CPW chairs being small children