National Geographic Epic Forts

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SAFETY INFORMATION

• Use under adult supervision only.

• Correct and firm assembly must

be followed.

• DO NOT allow children to climb

or stand on this product.

• Keep away from fire.

• Use lightweight, breathable

fabrics only when covering

structures.

• Use this toy only as described.

WARNING:

INJURY HAZARD – Protruding poles can cause eye injury. Do not

allow poles to protrude without a connector on the end. An adult should

check for proper assembly before use.

WARNING:

CHOKING HAZARD – Small parts. Not for children under 3 yrs.

PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS before use of this

product. Retain this instruction manual since it contains important

information, address and phone number for future reference.

EPIC FORTS

RECOMMENDED

CARE & CLEANING

• Avoid stepping on or

bending poles. If any

part becomes damaged,

discard it immediately.

• Damp wipe only and

dry naturally.

• To extend the life of this

product, store away from

direct sunlight.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC and Yellow Border Design are

trademarks of the National Geographic Society, used under license.

Visit our website: nationalgeographic.com

and the Blue Marble logo are trademarks of JMW Sales, Inc.

Customer Service: 1 (541) 708-6738 • help@thinkbluemarble.com

JMW Sales, Inc., dba Blue Marble™

101 A Street, Ashland, OR 97520 USA

For information on Blue Marble patents,

visit: www.thinkbluemarble.com/patents

EU Responsible Person

(Please contact for regulatory inquiries only.)

Alura Group BV, Kroonwiel 2, 6003 BT Weert, The Netherlands

Tel: (31) (0) 70 250-0353

#3 Start at the base and build up.

#4 The best forts are stable, which means you want

every pole pushed all the way into the connectors.

Since the fit is snug, you’ll need to use

both hands and twist while you push,

but be sure to ask an adult

for help if you have any

trouble inserting the

poles all the way.

#6 Look closely at

all your pieces. There

are flexible ones, rigid

ones, and different pole

lengths. Each of these

pieces has its own special

characteristics which can

help you as you build.

With a little practice and

imagination, you’ll

be an expert builder

in no time!

#1 Try building on a carpet or a large blanket

because pieces can slip around on hardwood floors.

#5 If you’re building a really big

fort, try building smaller sections

one at a time. Once you have

those built, you can connect

them all together.

#2 Group all the separate types of pieces

together in piles before you build so you always

know how many of each type you have left.

BUILDING TIPS & TRICKS

Building a fort is really fun and a great way to use your imagination! Getting your fort just right,

though, can take some practice. Here are a few tips to help make things easier if you get stuck.

Need help?

Do you have a question about the National Geographic Epic Forts and is the answer not in the manual?

Summary

Safety and Care Instructions

General Safety Precautions

Essential safety guidelines including adult supervision, avoiding climbing, fire safety, and correct fabric use.

Product Care and Maintenance

Instructions for product care, including avoiding damage, damp wiping, and proper storage to extend its life.

Building Tips and Tricks

Fort Building Advice

Tips for building forts, including surface choice, piece management, stability, and creative techniques.

Parts Guide

Component Identification

Overview of parts like Hemisphere, Extender, Hub, Flex connectors, and Sheet Clips for building forts.

Ball Assembly Instructions

Step-by-step guide for assembling the Ball connector with Hub, Extender, and Hemisphere components.

Additional Building Resources

Links to further inspiration, including guides for more shapes and builds, and a QR code for online resources.

Structural Engineering Concepts

Square vs. Triangle Strength

Explanation of why triangles are stronger than squares in building structures for increased stability.

Polyhedron Shapes

Definition of polyhedrons as shapes like cubes or pyramids, fundamental in structural design.

Real-World Engineering Examples

Fun facts on the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Francis Scott Key Bridge, illustrating structural principles.

This document is a user manual for the "Epic Forts" building toy by National Geographic, designed to help users construct various fort structures. It provides safety information, assembly tips, a detailed parts guide, and an introduction to structural engineering concepts relevant to fort building.

Function Description:

The Epic Forts toy allows users to build imaginative fort structures using a system of poles and connectors. It encourages creativity, problem-solving, and an understanding of basic engineering principles. The kit is designed for children under adult supervision and aims to make fort building an engaging and educational experience.

Important Technical Specifications:

The kit includes various types of connectors and poles of different lengths, allowing for diverse structural designs.

Connectors:
- Hemisphere (Light Blue): Used in the Ball Assembly.
- Extender: Used to create extra-long poles and as a core component in the Ball Assembly.
- Hub (Dark Blue): Functions as feet for forts and is a key part of the Ball Assembly.
- Hex Flex (Dark Green) and Star Flex (Light Green): These are "Flex connectors" that facilitate easier corner construction, suggesting some degree of flexibility in their design.
- Sheet Clip: Used to secure sheets to the poles, keeping the fort covering in place.
Poles:
- Short Pole: Shorter length poles for various structural needs.
- Long Pole: Longer length poles for larger spans and structural integrity.
- The manual also mentions "flexible ones, rigid ones, and different pole lengths" among the pieces, indicating a variety of pole types beyond just short and long, each with specific characteristics.
Ball Assembly: This is a specific connector configuration made by combining a Hub, an Extender, and two Hemispheres. It involves a locking mechanism where the Extender is twisted 90° clockwise into the Hub.

Usage Features:

The manual provides several tips and tricks for effective fort building:

Building Surface: Recommended to build on carpet or a large blanket to prevent pieces from slipping on hardwood floors.
Organization: Grouping pieces by type before building helps in managing inventory and planning.
Construction Order: Start building from the base and work upwards for stability.
Pole Insertion: Poles should be pushed all the way into connectors for stability. This often requires using both hands and twisting while pushing due to a snug fit. Adult assistance is recommended for children who have difficulty.
Modular Building: For large forts, it's advised to build smaller sections first and then connect them together.
Piece Recognition: Users are encouraged to understand the different characteristics of each piece (flexible vs. rigid, different pole lengths) to utilize them effectively in their designs.
Experimentation: The manual encourages experimentation with connector positions and building half-ball connectors when many poles need to be connected.
Structural Concepts: The manual introduces "Structural Engineering Concepts" to enhance building skills:
- Square vs. Triangle: Emphasizes that triangles are stronger than squares. The practice build on page 2 demonstrates this by using extra-long poles diagonally across square sides to create two triangles, significantly strengthening the structure. Users are encouraged to incorporate triangles for sturdiness.
- Polyhedrons: Defines shapes like cubes or pyramids as polyhedrons, providing a basic geometric vocabulary.
Inspiration: The manual directs users to thinkbluemarble.com/fort-instructions or a QR code for more building inspiration and guides.

Maintenance Features:

Care:
- Avoid stepping on or bending poles to prevent damage.
- Damaged parts should be discarded immediately.
- Clean by damp wiping and drying naturally.
Storage:
- Store away from direct sunlight to extend product life.

Safety Information:

Adult Supervision: Use under adult supervision only.
Assembly: Correct and firm assembly is crucial.
Choking Hazard: Small parts, not suitable for children under 3 years.
Injury Hazard: Protruding poles can cause eye injury. Poles should not protrude without a connector on the end. Adults should check for proper assembly.
Usage Restrictions:
- DO NOT allow children to climb or stand on the product.
- Keep away from fire.
- Use only lightweight, breathable fabrics when covering structures.
- Use this toy only as described in the manual.

The manual also includes "Fun Facts" about the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Francis Scott Key Bridge to illustrate real-world applications of structural engineering principles, particularly the strength of triangles.