Odyssey of the Mind Builds Problem Solving Skills & More

Odyssey of the Mind is a competition for students where they can build original designs and create stories and solutions to solve problems. There are five long term problem types in addition to primary which is a non-competitive showcase for beginners to OM. The other problem types are: Structure, where you use balsa wood to create a structure to hold as much weight as possible; Classics are where teams create a performance based on classical themes for example art, music, archaeology and mythology; Technical teams build and create mechanical devices to perform different tasks; Vehicle teams create one or more vehicles to perform functions, and the last type of problem is Performance, where the team makes a theatrical play with funny jokes and a storyline and characters.

All teams also participate in a spontaneous problem. This type of problem can be a hands-on problem where you build with materials that are provided by the judges. The spontaneous problem can also be verbal where teams use creative thinking to come up with answers to a prompt and they get points based on creative or common responses. The biggest rule is no team is allowed to have any outside assistance. This means all the ideas and props must be created by team members only.

There are three competitions for Odyssey of the Mind—Regionals, State, and World Finals. Tucson is part of the Southern region and this competition is held at Canyon Del Oro High School. Top teams from Regionals move on to the state competition also held at CDO. Top teams from the state get to compete at World Finals which will be held in Michigan this year.

This past year I participated in structure with my team. My team placed first in regionals. At the state competition disaster struck! Our structure broke right before the competition, we frantically fixed it with super glue. However it did not hold much weight and we came in 4th at the state competition. We were
devastated that we weren’t going to make it to the World Finals. Suddenly at the awards ceremony at the very end our team was awarded the Ranatra Fusca award for a prop we made that was especially creative. This award secured us a spot at the World Finals competition. Our team learned that creativity and teamwork can save the day!

In May my team travelled to Ames, Iowa, where we competed with teams from other countries like China, India, Poland and South Korea. A girl named Jaeone from South Korea said she likes OM and her favorite part was making costumes. Kaylie from China said her favorite part of OM is pin trading. Amelia from Maine said her favorite part is meeting new people. A lot of people I met said meeting others was their favorite part.

My favorite experience was pin trading, you get to meet new people and trade cool pins. Teams create their own custom pins. Designs can be original or inspired by movies, famous people, music, cartoons, even hurricanes from a Florida team. My favorite pins are Medusas from Virginia and peacocks from Connecticut. My dad competed in a Worlds when he was a kid and he still has his pins.

Deanna Day is our State Director for Odyssey of the Mind. She has been involved in OM for 37 years. She started as a Coach at Coronado in the Amphitheater School District. If you want to participate, teams are forming now! First you need coaches and no more than seven team members. Next go to azodyssey.org for more information about how to register and see the specific problems for this year. Odyssey of the Mind is always looking for judges to help, too!