Experiencing Creativity

Odyssey of the Mind, the original creative thinking program, teaches students to develop creative problem-solving skills while having fun in the process! By tapping into creativity, and through encouraging imaginative paths to problem-solving, students learn skills that will provide them with the ability to solve problems -- great and small -- for a lifetime. 

Odyssey of the Mind provides open-ended problems that appeal to a wide range of interests. Some are technical problems; others are artistic or performance-based.  All require students to learn how to identify challenges and to think creatively to solve those problems.  

In Odyssey of the Mind . . .

• Students develop team-building skills by working in groups of up to seven students 
• Students learn to examine problems and to identify the real challenge without limiting the possible solutions 
• The creative-thinking process is nurtured and developed as a problem-solving tool
• Students of all abilities and interests will find something that will appeal to them

Millions of students from kindergarten through college have participated in Odyssey of the Mind. Since Odyssey of the Mind eliminates the fear of criticism, even shy students are afforded the opportunity to open up and express themselves. Students learn to work in teams. 

Each year, five new competitive problems are presented for the teams to solve. These long-term problems are solved over weeks and months. Some of the problems are more technical in nature, while others are artistic or performance based. Each long-term problem rewards "Style" in the solution. This helps teach students that they should not simply try to solve problems but take the next step of enhancing their solutions. The teams are invited to participate in a competition and present their solution with other teams. At the competition, the teams are given an on-the-spot "spontaneous" problem to solve. The combination of long-term problem-solving, Style and spontaneous problem-solving produces a confident, able student. 

Teams are formed by division and compete against teams in the same division and problem. Grade level determines the division for teams.

In competition, each school membership may enter one team per problem for each division it covers. Community groups and home-schooled members may enter one team per problem.  

Teams are formed by division and compete against teams in the same division and problem.

Division I -- Grades 3-5 

Division II -- Grades 6-8 

Division III -- Grades 9-12 

Division IV -- College

Students in grades K-2 may participate in the primary division to become familiar with program.  They participate at the local regional level tournaments but do not advance to state or World competitions.