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Divergent Thinking and Problem Solving for Participants of All Ages
NorCal Odyssey of the Mind
Creativity. Teamwork. Ingenuity. Artistry.
We empower students to use creativity, problem-solving skills and teamwork to travel uncharted paths and build a better future.
Odyssey of the Mind (OM) encourages young people worldwide to embrace their creativity and develop divergent thinking skills. Students work as part of a team to create innovative solutions to open-ended problems, building confidence and learning valuable life lessons.
The tools students use to solve OM problems help set them up for success and open doors for advanced studies and career opportunities. From robotics to acting, painting to engineering and coding to music, participants learn valuable new skills while having fun. Our alumni have careers spanning the gamut from Broadway performers to rocket scientists.
Like you, we want our kids to do great things. Let’s get started!
Odyssey of the Mind is where kids’ ideas are heard!
– Odyssey Alum
We help kids become motivated learners. Watch to see what makes Odyssey of the Mind so special.
Learn About Our Unique, Team-Focused Problems
Are you a builder? A writer? Performer? Pick a problem, find your passion!
Primary
Introduce young OMers to Odyssey with this comprehensive, fun and instructional problem.
K-2 • Non-competitive
Vehicle
Use creative and functional engineering to build an original vehicle that can perform tasks.
K-College • Competitive
Technical
Build a device using engineering, electronics or robotics — the methodology is up to you!
K-College • Competitive
Classics
Create a performance that puts a modern twist on the classics. Learn history by rewriting it!
K-College • Competitive
Structure
Build an original structure to withstand a test of strength as it holds weight until it breaks.
K-College • Competitive
Performance
Use drama, humor, original characters and crazy settings to create an original performance.
K-College • Competitive
If I could suggest one thing students must try, it’s Odyssey of the Mind. Nothing has done more to teach me the creative problem-solving skills that I’m going to need in college.
– Odyssey Alum
Odyssey of the Mind is…
Spontaneous!
Celebrate your ability to think on your feet! During competition, every team will solve a spontaneous problem, and you won’t know what it is until you are asked to solve it. But you can still practice! Learn from past Spontaneous Problems here.
Stylish!
Do you love to show off your unique style? Then Odyssey is for you! All OM problems contain Style elements that let teams really showcase their unique creative flair. From sets to props to customs and more, Style makes your solution come to life.
“It’s where kids can be themselves!”
Questions?
Frequently asked questions about Odyssey of the Mind
Odyssey of the Mind is a team-based creativity and STEM/STEAM program in which groups of 3 to 7 students solve one of several problems put out each year by the OM organization. The problems are open-ended and designed so that there is no “right” answer. This teaches participants the power of divergent thinking — in class, convergent thinking is used to arrive at the right answer; in Odyssey, divergent thinking is used to arrive at infinite solutions.
While the goal of most teams is to present their solution in a tournament, competing is not a requirement of the program. OM can be used as an after-school STEAM program, teaching kids valuable skills while building confidence.
Odyssey of the Mind is not just about competing and problem-solving. It is about friendship and family. Students are encouraged to meet new friends and to watch and learn from the ideas of others. Through our volunteer structure, families are able to be an integral part of the program and are able to help in their communities.
Find out whether your school already has an Odyssey of the Mind team, coordinator or membership by talking to people in the school’s administrative staff. If so, all you need to do is contact the school Odyssey coordinator and ask them to include you in any communications regarding Odyssey of the Mind.
If not, any of the following may be required to start a program: sending flyers home, having a meeting for interested parents and students or enlisting a faculty sponsor.
Coaches
There are two ways a volunteer generally gets started as an Odyssey coach: to be assigned to a team or to be part of recruiting a team. Officials at your school may have already created a procedure for team selection, so a good place to start is by contacting administrators at your child’s school.
There is no one way to structure memberships and teams, though there are specific rules for teams. The program guide is a great place to start.
Our NorCal Association is proud of the support structure we have developed for coaches and teams. Each coach has access to a Team Coordinator who is available to answer questions and offer guidance to coaches throughout the season. Team Coordinators can help get your team up and running if you are a first-time coach and help prepare you for what to expect at tournaments. To get in touch with your support team, contact our Teams Director.
Find out whether your school already has an Odyssey of the Mind team, coordinator or membership by talking to people in the school’s administrative staff. If so, all you need to do is contact the school Odyssey coordinator and ask them to include you in any communications regarding Odyssey of the Mind.
If not, any of the following may be required to start a program: sending flyers home, having a meeting for interested parents and students or enlisting a faculty sponsor.
Parents
The first step to starting a team or program at your child’s school is to generate interest. You may want to start recruiting by sending out flyers and having a meeting for interested parents and students. You may also be able to enlist the help of a faculty sponsor who can help inform students of the opportunity.
If you are interested in hosting an informational meeting, we have all the resources you need. Contact our Membership Director for more information.
Odyssey of the Mind is for students of all ages from kindergarten through college. Tournaments are broken into divisions by grade level so that students compete against other kids in their age range. The division in which a team is placed is determined by the oldest member of the team. View our division table here.
An entire school can participate in Odyssey of the Mind for $290. This membership fee covers 5 to 15 teams, including an unlimited number of Primary (K-2) teams. There is a modest NorCal membership fee of $80 and a registration fee of $85 to participate in Association tournaments.
Beyond these set fees, costs are variable. Each problem has a cost limit, which is generally $150 or less. Teams may not exceed that limit. Costs for things like travel and refreshments should also be considered.
LATEST NEWS
- Tuesday Tip: Practice Spontaneous
Because the Spontaneous problem is unknown until the day of the tournament, parents and coaches can share what they would do in practice problems without any penalty. - How to Prepare for Spontaneous Competition
Now that we’re in the thick of the Odyssey Season, it’s time for a few timely reminders and some suggestions to help your team during Spontaneous practices as they prepare for Spontaneous competitions. - Tuesday Tip: Assiging Homework
As we begin Winter Break, there’s still a lot on the team’s To Do list. You, as the coach, can assign homework or say something like, “We need some committed team members who can work on one or two of these items on the list before our next meeting.”
