Throughout the semester, the Michigan Concrete Canoe team works together to design, fabricate and race a canoe made from concrete as part of the annual North Central Regional Competition. The purpose of this event is to promote developments in concrete mix designs and encourage undergraduate involvement in advanced research, project management, and intercollegiate competition. The contest, which is both academic and physical, stretches the engineering skills of all participants and intensifies the rivalries between schools commonly seen in athletics.

Sponsored by both the American Society of Civil Engineers and Master Builders Inc., the competition requires each school to build a concrete canoe every year. However, along with fabrication of the canoe, each team must write a detailed design report and present their work in a multimedia presentation during the competition. Furthermore, each team must build a display to present their canoe, and the innovative methods used in its construction.

Finally, each team must race their canoe in a regatta during which the teams go head to head in sprint and slalom races. Winning the canoe competition not only takes the best thinkers, but some ok athletes as well!