KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— Row, row, row your cardboard boat at the Cardboard Cruise benefiting Knoxville Zoo on Sunday, April 26 at the lake at Chilhowee Park. The Cardboard Cruise challenges teams of four to design and build a cardboard boat that can navigate a 250 meter course on the lake at Chilhowee Park. Registration begins at noon, and racing begins at 2:00 p.m. Boats will be on display by 1:00 p.m.

Boats must be constructed of cardboard, paint, tape, glue, caulk and varnish or polyurethane. Teams are encouraged to decorate their boats as well as themselves! Awards will be given for first, second, and third place finishers. For teams that are more into form than function, there will also be awards for most stylish boat, ugliest boat, and best sink.

Registration for the Cardboard Cruise is required by April 22. The $200 entry fee for a team of four is donated to Knoxville Zoo, and discounted rates are available for schools and nonprofit groups. For more information or to register a team for the Cardboard Cruise, contact Preston Cloud at (865) 599-8431.

The lake at Chilhowee Park is located near the Jacobs Building and Knoxville Zoo. Traveling west on I-40, take the Rutledge Pike exit 392A and follow the signs to the zoo. The lake is next to the zoo’s lower parking lot.

Knoxville Zoo is located off exit 392A from Interstate 40 and is open every day except Christmas Day. The zoo is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is committed to the highest standards in animal care and well-being, ethics, conservation, and education. Currently, the zoo is open weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and weekends from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Admission and ticket sales stop one-hour before the zoo closes. Next-day admission is free after 3:00 p.m. For more information, please call 865.637.5331 ext. 300 or visit www.knoxville-zoo.org.