This was originally posted on the Ice Cream Journal back in September of last year, but we’re so amazed by this creation that we had to post it again. It also got us thinking about all sorts of things one could build out of empty Turkey Hill ice cream containers!
Remember when you were in the first grade and you made really neat things out of popsicle and ice cream sticks? Of course you do. There was the popsicle stick box. The popsicle stick house. And, of course, the popsicle stick picture frame. We’re sure mom still has that thing laying around somewhere.
An Ice Cream Journal reader forwarded us this story about a guy who took that art to whole new level by building a fully-operational replica of a Viking ship out of ice cream sticks…15 MILLION ice cream sticks to be exact. That’s a picture of his amazing creation on the right. Something tells us it’s not held together with Elmer’s glue and paste.
The builder, Robert McDonald, was helped by his own son and 5,000 other kids. Said McDonald, “If you can dream it, you can do it. I want to teach children that anything is possible.” Hard to argue with that!
Tags: popsicle stick, ship
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If you’ve got a technical question about the ice cream making process or some other inquiry about the nuances of America’s favorite treat, chances are Ernie has the answer. He might not be able to answer all questions, but he’ll try his best and some may be featured on the Ice Cream Journal.
What an amazing thing to make. This really is recycling!
I certainly would have liked to have been eating the ice cream attached to those popsicle sticks, but only if they had Turkey Hill on them.
I wonder if the ship is sea-worthy!!!
awesome-dream that anything is possible-what a great story
Truly a great story. It covers some important life lessons. Strive to live life to the fullest, in spite of obstacles, and take care of Mother Earth by recycling. I wonder how the sea trials went. Thanks for sharing TH.
Now there is an enterprising person!
I wonder who got to eat all that glorious ice cream so they could have 15 million popsicle sticks — would have liked to have helped. Seriously though, it is such a great lesson to the generation of today — what you set your mind to, you CAN accomplish.
That is an incredible piece of art work. Congratulations to them. My hat is off to them. Young people need this in their lives.
That is truly amazing and I wonder how long it took to make. What a fun way to accomplish such a masterpiece, 15 million ice cream sticks boggles my mind but with 5,000 kids helping out to watch a dream come true know is a very valuable lesson to all of us.
I have 2 picture frames from ice cream or popscicle sticks that I cherish from my grandson when he was in grade school and the small one goes on my Christmas tree every year, and he is now 24.
Now there is a person with a lot of time on his hands. Must say he also has a very amazing imagination.
This is incredible and truly an amazing feat that’s for sure. I am in awe of this wonderful masterpiece that was created with the ice cream stick!!! Congrats to them on making a “dream” a reality!
When I was child, during WWII, we lived on a farm in the Arkansas Ozarks and toys were scarce. One of our major sources of entertainment was the round oatmeal boxes.
They became doll cradles and bathtubs, silos and elf homes and furniture and any thing else one could imagine which might begin ‘in the round’.
That’s an incredibly cool lesson to teach! Does the ship rightly sail?
Wow!
Just think if Noah had access to popsicle sticks!
how many people put the sticks into the ship:::::
Not only how log did it take to make the ship but imagine how long it took to collect 15 million ice cream sticks! Where do you begin to find that many? I suppose you get everybody and anybody to save those sticks for you. I can’t imagine how much ice cream those sticks represent. Hopefully, Turkey Hill was involved.
I am 57year old and still saving popsicle sticks and still making crafts from them, excellent story
Hi Turkey Hill Fans, That is cute. Can it sail on water?
Evryone have a great weekend and safe one.
It takes recycling to a new level!!! Unbelievable!!!
Talk about a craft project. Truly a “work of art.”
I love the fact that people with an imagination can accomplish anything! Thanks TH for another great reason to eat more TH ice cream! Did they take the boat out for a ride, did it stay afloat? I hope that it did and they all had a great time.
Out of ice cream sticks?? This is amazing and a piece of art
MADE THINGS FROM ICE CREAM STICKS BUT NEVER A SHIP
Very interesting. My popsicle stick artwork is from my Grandchildren. They enjoy eating the popsicles, and still use the sticks in projects. What was the boat used for?
We need more people like Mr. McDonald! Some children don’t know how to imagine anything–much less make it come true.
Great project and learning experience for the kids.
I believe the first product of yours I bought was a pomegrante/mixed with vanilla I believe – but had acai also added. It was in my freezer for a long time but when I finally decided to eat some – I couldn’t get enough of it – It was wonderful!!! Today I visited 4 different stores that carry your brand to find the pomegrante(whatever mixture) but to no avail. Do you still make it???? when will it COME BACK??