an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through
college. Team members apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. They then bring their solutions to competition on the
local, state, and World level. Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and from about
25 other countries participate in the program.
There are 5 different problems from which to choose: Vehicle, Technical, Classics, Balsa Wood Structure, and Theatrical. The team chooses one of the above and creates an under-8-
minute skit/presentation. There are certain aspects that must be met. For instance, within the 8
minute Vehicle
skit, a vehicle (defined by the rules and guidlines) must do whatever the rules say. For instance, it
may have to
carry a person and perform tasks. The teams can spend a maximum of $145 on all of their materials. The long term problem is worth 200 of the 350 points available and the style of the long term problem is worth 50 of the 350.
The other part of the scoring is the Spontaneous problem. This is a problem given to the team on the
spot and the team must solve it creatively. There are Hands-On, Verbal Hands-On, and Verbal Problems. The team usually has 1 -2 minutes to think, and 3-5 minutes to answer/present/
work. This part accounts for 100 of 350 of the points.
Person 1: What you are doing tomorrow
afternoon?
Odyssey of the Mind-er (
OMer): Writing a script, building 6 aircraft, making costumes, making backdrops, etc.
Person 1: So...you have an Odyssey meeting tomorrow?
OMer: yes.
