Building Brick Challenge Series

Contest Details

Youth ages 8 to 18: Compete in our virtual building brick challenge series to show off your original builds with plastic building bricks like LEGO and MEGABLOKS! Each month, from October to December, we’ll offer a new build challenge to celebrate the launch of our new Creating with Building Bricks 4-H project. For our challenges youth create their own original builds following the month’s theme and size limits, then submit info on their build, along with photos of the build electronically. Each month, our favorite build (based on creativity, technical skills demonstrated, and alignment to theme) will be selected as the winner in 3 different age divisions:

• 8-10 year olds
• 11-13 year olds
• 14-18 year olds

Winners will receive prizes via mail. We’ll also select one random participant submission per month to receive some swag. There is no cost to enter, but youth MUST be currently enrolled Illinois 4-H club members to participate. 

Youth can only submit one build per month! All builds must be original (from the imagination of the youth who submits) and not built from a kit or inspired by the builds of others (including ones they see on the internet). Virtual builds are not permitted for this contest. Builds must be entirely from plastic building brick elements. Builds should also follow the copyright guidelines outlined in the Creating with Building Bricks project resource guide (pages 17 & 18). Youth who win their category one month will not be eligible for prizes any other month in the series. Age divisions go by 4-H age.

2026 Contest Themes & Entry Forms

October Challenge

• Theme: Fall Fun
• Build something that captures things you like to do for fun in fall!
• Size: Build should fit on a standard 32x32 stud LEGO (or similar) baseplate (i.e. no larger than 10” wide and long). There is no height maximum.
• Entries are due by 11 pm on October 31, 2026.
• Submission form will be posted in early October!

November Challenge

• Theme: 4-H Parade
• Make a parade float (or floating, oversized parade balloon) themed to one of our 4-H projects!
• Size: Build should fit on (or within the boundaries of) a standard 32x32 stud LEGO (or similar) baseplate (i.e. no larger than 10” wide and long). There is no height maximum.
• Entries are due by 11 pm on November 30, 2026.
• Submission form will be posted in early November!

December Challenge

• Theme: Brick Masterpiece
• Build a piece of mosaic art on a standard baseplate that could be displayed on a wall or easel.
• Size: Build should fit on a standard 32x32 stud LEGO (or similar) baseplate (i.e. no larger than 10” wide and long). Bricks should not stick out more than half an inch from the baseplate. The build should be able to be displayed with the back of the baseplate against a wall or easel like a painting!
• Entries are due by 11 pm on December 31, 2026.
• Submission form will be posted in early December!

Family Winter Break Build Challenge

December 19, 2026-January 3, 2027

Does your family love building together? This is the opportunity for you! Create a build as a family over winter break! One entry per family. All participating families must have at least one currently enrolled Illinois 4-H member on them. Cloverbuds (enrolled 4-H members ages 5 to 7) are eligible to participate with their family. All other rules from general monthly contest apply. Build must be original and follow copyright guidelines.

• Theme: Fair Favorites
• It's cold outside and we are missing fair season! Build a scene that represents one (or more) of your favorite parts of a county or state fair (food, rides, exhibits, shows, and more!).
• Size: Build should fit on 2 standard 32x32 stud LEGO (or similar) baseplates (i.e. no larger than 10” by 20" wide and long). There is no height maximum.
• Entries due by 11 pm on January 3, 2027.
• Submission form will be posted in late December!