Question: What is the Odyssey of the Mind (OotM) program?
OotM is an international, education-based, creative problem-solving program for children from kindergarten through college. Kids 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 levels. Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and from about 25 countries participate in the program.

Eastvalley has participated in OotM for close to twenty years and has sent five teams to World Finals! In 2004 and 2005, Eastvalley's team scored higher than any participating elementary school in the state of Georgia and placed 10th (2004) and 8th (2005) in the world at World Finals.

Question: What do the children do in OotM?
Working in teams of no more than 7 members, OotM students have 2 tasks to prepare:


OotM work is strictly hands-off for adults. The children are responsible for all phases of the solution, while adult coaches provide scheduling, explanations, motivation, and teaching.

Question: How can Odyssey of the Mind benefit my child?
By tapping into creativity and through encouraging imaginative paths to problem solving, Odyssey of the Mind students learn skills that provide them with the ability to solve problems -- great and small -- for a lifetime. They are free to express their ideas and suggestions without fear of criticism. In addition,

• OotM students learn to work together and develop team-building skills.
• OotM students learn to examine problems and to identify the real challenge without limiting the possible solutions and their potential success.
• The fun of participation leads to an elevated interest in regular classroom curricula.

Question: Does my child have what it takes to be in OotM?
Yes! In fact, the most successful OotM teams bring together students with widely diverse backgrounds and skill sets. OotM teams need kids with a variety of skills, including critical thinkers, builders, negotiators, painters, writers, actors, singers, dancers, musicians and more. Since the Odyssey of the Mind eliminates the fear of criticism, even shy students are afforded the opportunity to open up and express themselves.

Question: How much of a time commitment is OotM for students?
OotM is a TEAM activity requiring an effort and time commitment equivalent to that of most sports and other activities. All team members are expected to attend regular practices and are required to attend competitions. OotM should not be considered a secondary activity. Each team will meet a minimum of once a week for several hours during the first semester of school. After winter break, an additional weekly practice will be added. Important dates to note:
Question: How much does OotM cost?
If your child is accepted into the OotM program, a $100 - $125 fee is required prior to the first meeting. Final fees will depend on the number of participants. These dollars offset costs of team registration, your child's competition t-shirt, some competition expenses, etc. Materials needed to produce costumes, scenery, etc. for each skit are also covered from these fees.

Question: How can I help?
We Need Coaches! The bottom line is simple: the more coaches we have, the more teams we create, and ultimately, more students can be offered this incredible opportunity. As a coach, we will offer you in-depth OotM training, training materials, and coaching guidelines to help set up a successful team. Not to mention the once-in-a-lifetime experience you'll get!

Please call Bonny Block at 770-565-1363, bonny1@bellsouth.net or go to odysseyofthemind.com for any questions you might have or for more information.

IMPORTANT: We strongly encourage you to go to odysseyofthemind.com for a great video for you and your child to watch together. This video will help explain and bring to life what Odyssey of the Mind really is and how it benefits our children. Click "watch video" from the home page and then "view" (do not buy the DVD).