New York State Odyssey of the Mind Assoc. State Finals

FOR OVER 40 YEARS, New York State Odyssey of the Mind Association has offered this creative problem solving program to students. OM encourages divergent thinking as teams use creativity and teamwork to solve unique problems. Odyssey of the Mind is open to all students from Kindergarten through college level. Guided by coaches, team members work throughout the school year on their solutions to one of six long-term problems. These are then presented at a regional competition at which students hope to advance to State Finals. Successful teams then represent New York at the World Finals, meeting students from across the U.S. as well as from other countries.

Odyssey of the Mind incorporates aspects of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.) but also goes one step further to include arts, theater and music. Each year, students work in teams to solve original problems in a variety of areas, from building mechanical devices such as vehicles to designing and building balsa wood structures to hold weight to giving their own theatrical interpretation of literary classics. Students learn lifelong skills such as brainstorming, teamwork, evaluating ideas, making decisions and creating solutions while developing self-confidence. Creativity, communication, time management and divergent thinking are encouraged, all of which help students through their academic years and beyond.