The 2019 Region 5 Odyssey of the Mind Tournament is tomorrow, March 9, at Orange-Ulster BOCES!  GOOD LUCK to the teams representing Minisink Valley High School, Minisink Valley Middle School, Minisink Valley Intermediate School and Otisville Elementary School.

Teams of up to seven students compete in five different problems which encompass vehicle, technical, classics, structure and theatrical themes. Each team receives its problem in early October and then proceeds to build, tape, glue, paint and “test run” props and mechanisms to prepare the best solution to the challenge.

The tasks include a skit or performance that is an original creation.  Outside construction assistance from parents or adults is prohibited, and a spending limit is imposed on teams. In addition to the assigned problem, Odyssey of the Mind competitors also have the opportunity to “flex” their intellectual skills by solving a spontaneous problem which involves quick and logical thinking.

Odyssey of the Mind is 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.

Watch for team results next week. Go OMers!