"Odyssey of the Mind teaches young people to embrace changes.
It instills in youngsters an excitement about learning
and an excitement about themselves
and their ability to achieve what others might say is impossible."

— Dr. C. Sam Micklus, Odyssey of the Mind Founder 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Odyssey of the Mind?
Odyssey of the Mind (OotM) is the largest worldwide creative problem-solving competition for children. The program begins anew each school year, when five “problems” are delivered to the mailboxes of anxiously waiting, creatively juiced kids. All participating teams are given the choice of the same five long-term problems to solve, though these problems change from year to year. 

Part of the Long-Term Problem includes Style, which enhances the solution through costumes, props, scenery, drama, etc. The nature of the problems incorporates the use of critical thinking skills and creativity, and the Style component teaches students that they should not only solve problems but also enhance their solutions.  The teams are also given a Spontaneous problem to solve on the day of the regional, state and world tournaments. Although teams may practice techniques for solving Spontaneous problems, they do not know the problem ahead of time.

Regional, state and country association tournaments are held from February through April, and the Odyssey of the Mind year culminates with World Finals, where the best match wits, imaginations and personalities to become world champions.
Define "worldwide."
Odyssey of the Mind is truly an international extravaganza. At the 2015 World Finals, participants included teams from Canada, China, Hong Kong, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Switzerland and Togo, as well as most U.S. states. Over the years, the World Finals also have seen teams from countries including Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, United Kingdom and Uzbekistan. The annual Odyssey of the Mind World Finals embodies the international spirit of creativity!
What is the program's history?
Odyssey of the Mind has its roots in the Industrial Design classes of Dr. Sam Micklus, Odyssey of the Mind founder. As a professor at Rowan University (formerly Glassboro State College) in New Jersey, Dr. Micklus challenged his students to create vehicles without wheels, mechanical pie throwers and flotation devices that would take them across a course on a lake. He evaluated them not on the success of their solutions but on the ingenuity applied and the risk involved in trying something new and different. 

Students had fun. Word spread, and the students' activities attracted attention from the local media. Soon, people on the outside wanted a part of the action. This public interest led to the development of a creative problem-solving competition for schoolchildren. Since then, Dr. Micklus's life has been happily consumed with developing problems for other people to solve. His rewards are in the joy and pride of the millions of participants who rise to the challenge of solving those problems.
What is OotM's purpose?
OotM’s mission is to foster the development of creative thinking and problem-solving skills. OotM teaches that:
  • Great minds don’t necessarily think alike — and often march to different drummers.
  • There are no single right answers.
  • Creative solutions come from teamwork, cooperation and risk-taking.
Wouldn't you love to find that skill-set in a future employee?
How is OotM good for kids?
Odyssey of the Mind teaches students to learn creative problem-solving methods while having fun in the process. For more than 25 years, this unique program has helped teachers generate excitement in their students. 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. 

OotM teaches students how to think divergently by providing open-ended problems that appeal to a wide range of interests. Students learn how to identify challenges and to think creatively to solve those problems. They are free to express their ideas and suggestions without fear of criticism. The creative problem-solving process rewards thinking "outside of the box." While conventional thinking has an important place in a well-rounded education, students need to learn how to think creatively and productively.
"The most important transformation that comes as a result of participating in Odyssey happens within the child. Children who participate in Odyssey will be challenged and changed socially, academically and creatively."

— Lindsay Elliott, Education Specialist, On Growing Education, Winter Garden from her must-read 
Odyssey of the Mind: Creativity
in the Classroom blog post
What are some specific ways that kids benefit?
In Odyssey of the Mind:
  • Students develop team-building skills by working in groups of as many as seven students per team.
  • Students learn to examine problems and to identify the real challenge without limiting the possible solutions and their potential success.
  • The creative-thinking process is nurtured and developed as a problem-solving tool.
  • Students of all types will find something that will appeal to them.
  • The fun of participation leads to an elevated interest in regular classroom curricula.
  • Teachers have a program to further provide students with a well-rounded education.
Is Odyssey of the Mind a school-based program?
It can be, but not always. Each team has a coach, who may be a parent, teacher or other interested adult. While most members are individual schools, home schoolers and community-based programs also participate. Additionally, OotM provides curriculum and other support materials for teachers who want to integrate OotM’s creative problem-solving techniques into daily classroom activities.
Who participates?
Millions of students from kindergarten through college have participated in the 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.
How many members are on a team?
Teams usually comprise five to seven members (never more than seven) working with at least one adult coach.
What are the
long-term problem categories?
Problems are designed for competition, with scoring components and limitations (or rules) to be followed. The long-term problems change every year. They fall into five general categories:
  • Problem 1: Mechanical/Vehicle — Teams design, build and operate vehicles of various size and with various power sources. Sometimes they drive the vehicles, and sometimes the vehicles perform tasks, such as overcoming obstacles or visiting other "countries" to retrieve artifacts.
  • Problem 2: Technical Performance — Teams make innovative contraptions and incorporate artistic elements into their solutions. They might be asked to write an original musical score to play on a "new" type of instrument, or to build a robot with human characteristics, or to perform tasks using a chain reaction of snapping mousetraps.
  • Problem 3: Classics — The theme of this problem is based on the classical, from literature to architecture to art. Whether it's writing an additional chapter to Moby Dick or bringing paintings to life, it's always a terrific learning experience.
  • Problem 4: Structure — Teams design and build structures, using only balsa wood and glue. They test them by supporting and holding as much weight as possible -- sometimes more than a thousand pounds! Teams usually present a skit as part of the Style presentation.
  • Problem 5: Performance — In this problem, teams present performances that revolve around a specific theme and incorporate required elements. Past themes include "morphing" objects, animals that express human emotions, and originating folktales.
  • Primary — This non-competitive problem introduces younger children to the creative problem-solving process. The problem's format is similar to that of the competitive long-term problems, complete with examples of scoring and Style categories. Teams present their solutions at the regional tournament and may be randomly selected to compete at State.
To see synopses of this year's problems, visit the Problem Synopses page.
What are the age divisions?
In the U.S., grade level determines the division for teams. The team member in the highest grade determines the team's division as follows in a K-12 school system: Grades 1-5 - Division I, Grades 6-8 - Division II, Grades 9-12 - Division III.
Teams that comprise only K-2 students also have the option of solving the non-competitive Primary problem, which is intended to introduce younger students to creative problem-solving. Division IV is collegiate.

The team must compete in the lowest division for which it qualifies. For example, if a team qualifies for Division II, it cannot compete in Division III. High school students taking accredited courses do not qualify for Division IV. No exceptions are granted to allow a team to change its division.
How do I start an Odyssey program?
Each school and school system has its own guidelines for clubs and organizations, its own degree of faculty involvement, and its own approach to Odyssey of the Mind. Each region has its own procedures and offers various support and services. Some school districts give financial support, and some do not. Some teams join under the membership of a community group, such as a Rotary Club, or a home-school group. 

For more details about starting a program, visit the How to Start an Odyssey Program page and see the Membership Registration for a School or Organization section on the Register page.
How many teams may register under a membership?
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.
May schools purchase multiple memberships?
Yes, and many do! In most cases when a school purchases another membership, it does so because it has fielded a team for each of the problems in its division but still has more teams interested in participating.
How do I start an Odyssey team?
Coaches come from all walks of life. Although teams must have the support of the member school or organization (see How to Start an Odyssey Program and Membership Registration for a School or Organization), coaches do not have to be teachers. Frequently, a child’s involvement in the program will generate the interest of the parents. Often, parents will start the Odyssey of the Mind program in their child’s school and assume a coaching role as a way to get involved in their child’s education. For more details about starting a team, visit the How to Start a Team page.