LEWISTON – Students from around the state will show off their creativity on Saturday, April 2, at the Maine Odyssey of the Mind State Tournament at Bates College. Team presentations will begin at 8 a.m. and continue until approximately 2:30 p.m., with closing ceremonies at 4:30 p.m. in Alumni Gym.
The competition will determine which teams will represent Maine at the Odyssey of the Mind 2005 World Finals on May 21 to 24 at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Of the 125 teams to compete, only the top two in each problem/division will be eligible to advance to the highest level of competition in Odyssey of the Mind World Finals.
Teams that receive a Ramatra Fusca Creativity Award are also invited to compete at World Finals. The award embodies the spirit of Odyssey of the Mind by recognizing exceptional creativity.
The teams have worked to develop solutions to “problems” with technical, artistic, humorous and classical themes. At the state tournament, they’ll have eight minutes to show the product. Local volunteer judges will score them on innovation, originality and meeting specific requirements. Teams will compete with others in the same age group in one of the following problems:
“Stunt Mobiles”: teams design vehicles with different propulsion systems so they travel over obstacle courses and hit a balloon target.
“In Your Dreams”: the invention problem requires teams to act out dream sequences and build a “monster” that performs tasks.
“Get the Message”: teams tell the same story three times using three methods of communication – one of which is a futuristic method created by the team.
“Crazy Columns”: teams use balsa wood and glue to build a structure that weighs less than 15 grams and rests at three heights but is designed to hold as much weight as possible.
“Laugh-A-Thon”: a performance problem where teams present humorous “features” meant to entertain others.
The teams’ quick-thinking ability is tested when they solve a short-term spontaneous problem given to them on competition day.
Odyssey of the Mind is sponsored by the all-volunteer, nonprofit Maine Adventures in Creativity. Those wanting more information should visit www.odysseyofthemind.com or http://me.odysseyofthemind.org.
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