About OM

Odyssey of the Mind (OM) is a creative problem-solving program that challenges students to think creatively, work as a team, and develop their own solutions to open-ended problems.

Students work together in teams of up to seven students to solve a long-term problem selected from the problems offered each year. Teams may design and build structures or vehicles, create performances, develop technical solutions, or explore literature and the arts.

The most important part of OM is that the students are the problem-solvers. They develop the ideas, create the solution, build the props and costumes, write the script, and prepare their presentation. Coaches provide guidance, encouragement, organization, and skill instruction, but they cannot develop or build the solution for the team.

OM combines creativity, STEM, communication, teamwork, project management, and performance skills in one hands-on experience.

Learn more about Odyssey of the Mind

The OM Experience

Choose a Problem

Each year, Odyssey of the Mind releases several new long-term problems. Teams review the available problems and select the one they want to solve.

Problems vary from year to year and may involve:

Engineering and building
Vehicles and mechanical systems
Technical problem-solving
Literature and the arts
Creative performances
Structures and materials

The team then spends several months developing its own original solution.

Create the Solution

Once a team chooses its problem, the students take ownership of the project. They brainstorm ideas, make decisions, write and revise their performance, design and build props or structures, create costumes, and solve unexpected challenges along the way.

Teams work within a cost limit established for their particular problem. The cost limit is a maximum value for the items used in the solution—not a required amount to spend. Teams are encouraged to be creative with inexpensive, recycled, and repurposed materials.

Practice

Teams typically meet once a week during the early part of the season, with additional practices as the competition approaches. The exact schedule is determined by each coach and team.

Practices may include:

Team-building activities
Brainstorming and creative problem-solving
Building and testing
Writing and rehearsing
Costume and prop development
Practicing the long-term presentation
Practicing spontaneous problem-solving

Competition

At a tournament, teams present their long-term solution and are also given a spontaneous problem that they have never seen before. Students must think on their feet and work together to develop a creative response.

The long-term presentation is limited to 8 minutes.

Competition scoring includes the team's long-term solution, Style, and Spontaneous performance.

Learn more about the competition experience through Odyssey of the Mind's Program Guide.

Learn More

Odyssey of the Mind provides a free video series called Odyssey Academy for students, parents, and coaches. It is a great introduction to how the program works and what to expect.

Explore Odyssey Academy

Eligibility

For the Hunters Woods PTA program, participation will be open to students in grades 3–6. Teams have 5–7 students, and students may come from different grades. HWPTA determines which division to participate in based on student interest.

Division I — Grades 3–5

Students in grades 3–5 are eligible to participate on Division I teams.

Division II — Grade 6

Students in 6th grade participate in Division II.

Parent involvement is an important part of OM. In addition to coaches, competitive teams may need parents or other adults to serve as tournament judges and volunteers. Virginia Odyssey of the Mind provides training for these roles.

Coaching

Coaches are essential to the OM experience—and you do not have to be a teacher to coach!

Each competitive team must have at least one adult coach who is 18 or older. Parent volunteers are an important part of Odyssey of the Mind, and teams may also have assistant or co-coaches.

The coach's role is different from coaching a traditional sports team. OM is intentionally student-driven.

Coaches CAN:

Organize and schedule team meetings
Encourage teamwork and communication
Help students learn new skills
Teach students how to safely use tools and materials
Ask questions that help students think through challenges
Help the team evaluate and test its ideas
Encourage students when things don't work
Help the team prepare for competition
Provide a safe and supportive environment

Coaches CANNOT:

Give students ideas for their solution
Design the solution
Write the script or create the performance
Build props or structures for the team
Make decisions about the solution for the students
Have non-team members contribute to the solution

This is known as the Outside Assistance rule. Adults can teach students how to do something, but the students must decide what to do and complete the work themselves.

Learn more about coaching | Visit the OM Member Area for coach resources and training materials

Competition Path

For teams that choose to compete, the typical path is:

Regional Tournament → Virginia State Tournament → World Finals

Teams first compete at their local regional tournament. Teams that meet the Virginia Association's advancement criteria may continue to the state tournament. Teams that qualify at the state level may advance to the annual World Finals.

Competition is optional. A school or team can participate in OM as a creative problem-solving experience without competing.

Tournament dates, locations, registration deadlines, fees, and advancement requirements are determined by the local and state OM organizations and may change from year to year.

Virginia Odyssey of the Mind | Odyssey of the Mind – National

Competition Timeline

Odyssey of the Mind is a school-year-long experience. Teams typically spend approximately 3–5 months developing and practicing their long-term solution before competing.

While exact dates vary each year, the Virginia competition season generally follows this approximate timeline:

Fall — Team Formation & Problem Selection
Teams are formed, select one of the year's long-term problems, and begin brainstorming and developing their solution.

Fall–Winter — Development & Practice
Teams meet regularly to design, build, write, rehearse, test, and refine their solution. Coaches may also help teams practice spontaneous problem-solving.

March — Regional Competition
Teams typically present their solutions at their local regional tournament in March. Exact dates and locations are determined by the Virginia Odyssey of the Mind region serving our school.

March–April — Virginia State Tournament
Teams that qualify at the regional level may advance to the Virginia State Tournament. The state tournament has recently been held in March or April.

May — World Finals
Teams that qualify at the state level may advance to the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals, typically held in May.

Because tournament dates and registration deadlines can change from year to year, families should refer to the Virginia Odyssey of the Mind website for the current season's schedule.

What Happens at Competition?

Teams compete in three areas:

Long-Term Problem: The team's prepared 8-minute solution and performance
Style: Creative elements that enhance the team's solution
Spontaneous: An on-the-spot problem that students see for the first time at the competition

Students prepare for spontaneous competition through practice, but they do not know the actual problem until competition day.

What Does It Cost?

Odyssey of the Mind teams work within a cost limit established for their selected problem. The cost limit is not a required spending amount; it is the maximum value of items that may be used in the team's solution.

Teams are encouraged to use creativity and repurpose materials whenever possible.

Common materials may include:

Cardboard and paper
Recycled materials
Craft supplies
Fabric and costumes
Wood and building materials
Paint and adhesives
Household items
Thrift-store or donated materials

The PTA will provide information about any program, registration, or team fees when registration opens. Cost ranges between $50-150 per student.

Important OM Resources

The Virginia association provides information about Virginia tournaments, state competition, regional organizations, and other state-specific requirements.

Ready to Join OM?

We're excited to bring Odyssey of the Mind back to the Hunters Woods community!

Participation depends on having enough students and parent/adult coaches to form teams. If your student is interested in participating—or if you are interested in coaching—please reach out to stemvp@hwpta.org.

No previous OM experience is required for students or coaches.

Have questions? Contact the PTA STEM team.