Pandora’s Box: Teams will put a video game spin on the Pandora’s Box story. And here’s the twist: All of the devices must be powered by rubber bands.ģ. The list includes ring a bell, sound an alarm and move an object. Experiencing Technical Difficulties: Design, build and demonstrate various devices that complete specific tasks. The vehicles must overcome obstacles such as moving uphill and towing something.Ģ. Runaway Train: The challenge is to design, build and operate one or more vehicles that will travel on tracks and make stops at different stations without touching the floor. There are five problems presented at worlds, and each has an eight-minute limit:ġ.
Millions of kids from around the world have been working since October trying to perfect solutions to Odyssey of the Mind problems while competing in regional and state competition. Geneseo middle schoolers finished sixth last year, ahead of teams from China, Mexico, Poland and Sinapore. This is the 36th annual event, and more than 800 teams will compete - from the United States, Mexico, Korea, Japan, India, Germany, Russia, Poland, China, Sinapore and beyond. “I’m not sure what’s in the water down here, but it must make our kids incredibly creative and resourceful.” “These two small school districts account for 24 percent of all the teams representing New York state this year,” says Deb Allen, whose son and daughter compete for Geneseo. York, Geneseo’s neighbor, advanced three teams.Ĭompetition will be at the Breslin Student Events Center, Michigan State’s basketball arena. Six from one school is believed to be a record. The state competition was held at SUNY Binghamton last month, and Geneseo advanced six teams to the world event May 20-23 at Michigan State in East Lansing, Michigan. Her husband, Aaron, coaches the Geneseo high school “classics” team. “It’s a creative, outside-the-box thinking, problem-solving competition,” says Bobbie Steinhauer, coordinator for the Geneseo program and mother of team members Bailey (a sophomore) and Hannah (a seventh-grader). What is it? Think “World Mental Games for kids.” If the teams advance past the state competition, they will head to the world finals at the end of May in Michigan.Just ask students from Geneseo and York, Livingston County, who will be well-represented in this week’s annual Odyssey of the Mind international competition.
The state competition will take place April 11 at the University of Central Florida. Their coach is Lauren Rivero and the overall coordinator for Laurel Oak’s Odyssey of the Mind program is Tracy Leeber. Team members include: Ava Riviera, Ben Cassano, Drew Walker, Gabriella Morejon, and Emma Murray. One of Laural Oak’s Primary Teams was also selected to advance to the state finals through a lottery at the Sun Region Tournament. Team members include: Ardra Seaton, Sean Leeber, Drew Leeber, Brian Bowland, Andrew Herrmann, Chelsea Bluestein, and Nick Guadio. The problem required them to create a balsa wood structure within certain parameters to sustain weight plates as well as release five marbles one at time by removing a piece of the structure with a team created device. The first team, consisting of third and fourth graders, placed second in the “Lose Your Marbles” category. Two teams from Laurel Oak will also be advancing to the state finals. Their coaches are Jim Bourland and Maria LaRocco. The team of fifth graders include: Adrian Alvarado, Carly Gonzalez, Vanessa Verdul, Lucy Slaby, David Casanova, and Anna Marie Vliet. The problem required the team to create an original, self-propelled vehicle and track system that could overcome at least five obstacles. This was the first tournament for the Sabal Palm team and they placed second in the “Runaway Train” category. 28 in the Sun Region Tournament at Riverdale High School in Fort Myers. Teams of students from Sabal Palm Elementary and Laurel Oak Elementary have qualified to compete in the Odyssey of the Mind state finals.Ī total of 21 teams from nine Collier elementary schools participated Feb.