Hello! Thank you for your interest in the Odyssey of the Mind program in Illinois.

As an educator and former Omer, I have witnessed firsthand the educational value of the Odyssey of the Mind program (which many of us refer to as OotM). In 1978, Odyssey of the Mind helped pioneer the idea of creative problem solving as an educational tool. Since that time, we've grown from a small local organization to one that has affected the lives of millions of students around the world. We grow stronger each year because we provide learning opportunities that allow students to apply their talents and strengths to solving "problems" that appeal to their own interests. Many educators use the program to bring creative problem solving into their regular curricula or to enhance learning in extra-curricular programs. More than being a learning tool, the benefits of participation are innumerable. Odyssey of the Mind:

• Builds teamwork skills such as cooperation and thoughtfulness.
• Teaches self-respect and respect for others.
• Improves thinking skills.
• Builds confidence and increases self-esteem.
• Provides an environment where students can express their ideas without criticism.
• Makes students more detail-oriented and inclined to do their best.
• Makes learning fun!

Over twenty schools in Illinois are already taking advantage of the learning opportunities provided by our program. While it is common for Gifted and Talented programs to integrate Odyssey of the Mind problem solving into their curriculum, we believe that all students can benefit from participation. In this time of budget cuts for many districts, schools can retain arts education, technology, and other subjects by incorporating them into Odyssey of the Mind problem solutions. Additionally, the Odyssey of the Mind conforms to National educational standards as well as those of Illinois.

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. I recommend reading the entire Program Guide before you decide to join and rereading the Program Guide several times throughout the year.

If you require more information or would like a packet of information mailed to you, please Contact Me with your address, and I will be happy to mail you an information packet.

If you are ready to join, follow these steps:

• Register and purchase a Membership from the International Association website.
  The Membership costs $135 for the year and allows you to enter one team per problem per division. You will then receive in the mail the Program Guide and the full rules of the five Problems, which your teams will need to solve the problems. This also 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 Competition. This cost is $35 per team and can be done from this website on the State Registration page. Check the website often for updates on the competition schedule.

Feel free to Contact Me with other questions. I'm happy to help in any way possible. Thanks for your interest!

Sincerely,
Amber Thurnau
Illinois Odyssey of the Mind, Co-Director