Help Set CAPED's Next Attraction in Motion!

We are the Cal Poly Amusement Park Engineers and Designers (CAPED), an academic club dedicated to equipping students of all majors with the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to flourish in the themed entertainment industry, from museums to zoos to theme parks. We offer a wide range of interdisciplinary opportunities, from our national Ride Engineering Competition, ranked among the top 3 teams in the nation, to our industry-backed architectural competitions. We are ardent champions of Cal Poly's motto, Learn by Doing. 

"CAPED was a big part of my college experience. Through hands-on, industry-driven projects, I developed the skills that led to my internships with Disneyland and Universal Creative. Most importantly, CAPED gave me a community. The friendships and shared passion I found here made every challenge meaningful and have shaped me both professionally and personally." 

— Jackson Reynolds, CAPED student

To continue providing these invaluable career-building opportunities, we need your support in funding our supplies, travel, and other operational expenses. 

Our Ride Engineering Competition team, comprised of over 50 students, requires us to design and manufacture a scale amusement attraction that adheres to real industry standards, and then transport it across the country to our competition in Pennsylvania. 

Additionally, our animatronic project involves us constructing a fully functional Disney-style robot, which requires a significant number of electronic and chassis parts. We also have Dreamscape, where we model and fabricate a land within a theme park. 

Later in the school year, we also hope to start our trackless ride vehicle design. In this project, we will design and manufacture a trackless ride system seen in modern attractions. With so many highly technical and corporate-partnered projects, your donation is crucial in helping us reach the levels of academic and vocational success we strive for. 

Current projects include the following:

• 2026 Ride Engineering Competition
• 2026 Parkitecture Competition
• DJ R3-X Animatronic Project
• Dreamscape
• Trackless Ride Vehicle Design
• And More!

Thank you for supporting student innovation. Your continued support helps set CAPED's next attraction in motion!