Esport Canada EDU Minecraft Design Challenge 2024-2025

The 2024–2025 National Minecraft Design Challenge is a nationwide competition where student teams will build a dog sled race course inspired by Indigenous cultures and high-speed gaming.

Using a custom Indigenous-themed map, teams of 2–5 students will design creative tracks while exploring the history of the Anishinaabe and Bloodvein River First Nation.

RESULTS

Champions of the Challenge

🏅 1st Place – "The Ladies of Minecraft", St. George Catholic School (ONT)

🥈 2nd Place – "Wolverines", Our Lady of Victory Catholic School (ONT)

🥉 3rd Place – "Maroon Moose", Robert Andrews School (MB)

🥉 3rd Place – "Lavender Dragons", Ecole Dugald School (MB)

Judges' Comments

🏅 1st Place – "The Ladies of Minecraft", St. George Catholic School (ONT)

This project stands out for its incredibly intentional and thoughtful design, with Indigenous integration placed at the forefront in a way that goes above and beyond expectations. The course not only incorporates Indigenous-themed activities, games, and food but also weaves in meaningful educational elements such as the Medicine Wheel and the role of Knowledge Keepers. There is evident attention to inclusivity and care, with considerations for both the well-being of the dogs and accessibility for participants and the audience. The course is fun, well-structured, and features creative checkpoints that enhance engagement. The simulation race was well executed, offering a dynamic and immersive experience through simultaneous player perspectives. The fun and energetic race commentary added more enjoyment to an already impressive and culturally rich project.

🥈 2nd Place – "Wolverines", Our Lady of Victory Catholic School (ONT)

This project features a visually engaging and thoughtfully constructed design that effectively incorporates several unique challenges and creative choices. The Seven Grandfather Teachings is well-executed, adding meaningful cultural depth to the design. While the overall presentation is strong, the video overview would benefit from a more deliberate and paced walkthrough. It felt rushed, likely to cover all aspects within a limited time. To enhance clarity and impact, consider preparing a script in advance and prioritizing the most significant elements of the build—especially those that align with the project’s purpose and scoring criteria. This approach would help ensure a more focused and compelling presentation.

🥉 3rd Place – "Maroon Moose", Robert Andrews School (MB)

This project features a stunning course and exterior design, with standout elements like the detailed enclosure and the impressive giant moose model that immediately captures attention. The course layout is well thought out, using significant visual indicators to effectively guide players through each stage. The challenges are creative and engaging—particularly the parkour section, which adds a fun layer of difficulty. However, it may benefit from additional playtesting, as there appears to be a way to bypass most jumps. While several elements reflect Indigenous culture, a more in-depth explanation of these cultural components within the video would have strengthened the project's overall impact and educational value.

🥉 3rd Place – "Lavender Dragons", Ecole Dugald School (MB)

This is a solid and well-executed course, with strong thematic elements and a clear, well-structured presentation. The team did an excellent job in the overview and the race simulation—everything was communicated and easy to follow. Integrating Indigenous themes, such as the petroforms, Inuksuks, and the Circle of Courage, added meaningful cultural depth to the experience. One improvement area would be to playtest the course further to identify and address potential shortcuts. While the pathing was generally clear, there were several points where players could easily deviate from the intended route. Using the same creativity that shaped the course, consider adding thematic barriers or natural obstacles to maintain immersion while guiding players more effectively and preventing unintended skips.

Project Showcase

"The Ladies of Minecraft", St. George Catholic School (ONT)

"Maroon Moose", Robert Andrews School

(MB)

"Wolverines", Our Lady of Victory Catholic School

(ONT)

"Lavender Dragons", Ecole Dugald School

(MB)

Minecraft EDU Challenge – Provincial Finalists

"The Ladies of Minecraft", St. George Catholic School (ONT)

"The Maxalotls", St. George Catholic School

(ONT)

"Maroon Moose", Robert Andrews School

(MB)

"Lavender Dragons", Ecole Dugald School

(MB)

"Wolverines", Our Lady of Victory Catholic School

(ONT)

"The Demigods", Our Lady of Victory Catholic School (ONT)

"Black Wolves" - Robert Andrews School

(MB)

"ESMS 1", East Selkirk Middle School

(MB)

"Rothesay High School"

(NB)

EVENT DETAILS

Key Dates

Tuesday, October 1, 2024 – Start of Phase I — Provincial Qualifiers open (teams begin building and submitting)

Friday, May 2, 2025 – Deadline for video submissions (end of Phase I)

Friday, May 30, 2025 – Finalists notified for Phase II

About the Challenge

The 2024–2025 National Minecraft Challenge invites students in grades 4–9 to design a dog sled race course in a custom-built Minecraft Education world set in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pimachiowin Aki.

This initiative celebrates Indigenous traditions, fosters creativity, and promotes teamwork, cultural awareness, and digital citizenship.

Design Submission Requirement

Each team builds a unique dog sled race course, combining Indigenous storytelling and Mario Kart-style excitement.

Design elements may include:

Start & finish lines
Up to 3 interactive checkpoints
Race track name
Traps, speed boosts, hidden paths, redstone mechanics, spectator stands, podiums and more.

Video Submission Guidelines

Each team will submit a maximum 6-minute YouTube video, split into 2 parts:

Design Overview (1–2 mins)
- Showcase your track, title, inspiration, Indigenous theme, and checkpoints
Simulated Race (up to 4 mins)
- Simulate a live dog sled race with racers, commentators, and a referee

Championship Structure

The top four (4) teams from each province’s Phase I qualifier will advance to the National Evaluation Phase, with finalists notified by May 30, 2025.
Divisions: Grades 4–9
Team size: 2–5
Multiple teams per school (each requires separate registration)