If you are a parent, teacher, or administrator interested in getting your students involved in Odyssey of the Mind, here’s how to get started!

Gather Information
Learn about the Odyssey of the Mind program on this website for the Illinois Association, and at the International Headquarters' website: www.odysseyofthemind.com. From there you can access these helpful links:

• Our 'What is Odyssey of the Mind' page provides a summary of the OotM Program
• FLYP Media's article "Brain Teasers" is a multi-media exploration of the Odyssey of the Mind program.
• The 'Learn More' page on the International website provides more detail.
• Watch the video Odyssey of the Mind: A Creative Experience
• Read the “More Information” page on the International website.
• Read the 2010-2009 Long-Term Problem Synopses
• Read the Program Guide - The program guide provides helpful information about starting a program, creating a team, and coaching a team as well as the important full rules of the program. We recommend reading the entire Program Guide before you decide to start a team and then revisiting the Program Guide several times throughout the year.

When you are ready to join, follow these steps:

• Register and purchase a membership from the international website - www.odysseyofthemind.com. This costs $135 for the year and allows you to enter one team per problem per division. They will also mail you a Program Guide and the full rules of the five Long-Term Problems, which your teams will need in order to select and solve a problem. This will automatically place you on the Illinois e-mail list. Watch for e-mail updates throughout the year.
• Once you have your teams finalized, register your teams for the Illinois State Tournament. This cost is $35 per team and can be done from this Illinois OotM website on the Registration Information page. Check the website often for updates.
• Review the Program Guide and other information on the program available on the International Association website and on the Resources for Teams section of this website. Coach training can be requested free of charge. E-mail a request for coach training to info.il.odyssey@gmail.com.