MCS is preparing for a new season of Odyssey of the Mind and is looking for team members, coaches and judges. K-12 students are eligible to join our teams. An informational meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m. at the high school cafeteria.
Participation in the program offers several core benefits.
- Building teamwork, time management, and effective communication skills
- Augmenting classroom learning with practical, hands-on experience
- Expanding creative problem-solving capabilities
If you can think out of the box, Odyssey of the Mind is for you. This year’s Odyssey of the Mind problems have already been released and include:
Primary Problem: The Night Life
When most people are sleeping, a whole new world comes to life at night. In this problem, teams will create and present a performance about an explorer character that searches for things in nature that “wake up” at nighttime. It will also include a team-created original discovery, something that lights up, and a team member in costume that represents a nocturnal animal.
Vehicle Problem: Drive-In Movie
OM teams get the best seat in the house as they visit a drive-in and even become part of the movie being played! In this problem, teams will design, build, and run a vehicle with a team-created rider that travels to a drive-in theater. In the performance, the movie takes place all around the vehicle when suddenly a team-created special effect occurs on the vehicle that makes it seem to become part of the action! It will include a lead actor character along with all the fun that comes with this nostalgic outdoor movie experience.
Technical Problem: AI Tech-NO-Art
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but what if the beholder is —a robot!? In this problem, OM teams will design, build, and operate an Artificial Intelligence Tech-NO-Art device that determines if a work of art is beautiful or not. It will dismantle a work of art that it decides is not beautiful to create a new work of art it believes is beautiful. The humorous performance will also include an artist character that stands up for their work of art, sound effects, and team-created artwork.
Classics Problem: Opening Night Antics
There is a saying in the theatre that no matter what happens during a performance, the show must go on. The same is true in OM! For this problem, teams will portray the Opening Night of a play based on a classic story. The Opening Night performance will not go as planned and will include a set malfunction, unexpected sound effects, and a theater critic. Despite the Opening Night Antics, the show is a success!
Structure Problem: Deep Space Structure
The universe is full of mysteries we hope to discover and some we may not want to discover! In this problem, teams unravel an original mystery by portraying a balsa wood structure discovered in deep space. The structure will be examined, tested, interviewed, and observed. The performance will include an actual balsa wood and glue structure that is tested to balance and support weight, a character portraying the discovered deep space structure, and the scientists studying it.
Performance Problem: Rocking World Detour
Sponsored by ARM and HAMMER™ Are you ready to rock? Here is your opportunity! In this problem, OM teams will create a performance about a rock band on tour. Things get derailed in a very Odyssey way — while playing a song, the band is transported to an unexpected location. The band members must figure out how to use music to get them back on their tour. The performance will also include band merchandise and original hairstyles.
For more information, call Lanny Barsale at 518-231-0552.
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