Arizona Odyssey of the Mind

Welcome to the Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Web Site. This is the resource for everything Odyssey of the Mind related in Arizona! We’re always updating the site with new and important information regarding competition, workshops, and other resources. Check the news on the home page, the Calendar for upcoming training and events, and subscribe to the Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Facebook page!

arizona-odyssey-logo-2016

Judge Volunteers & Tournament Workers:

To volunteer to be a judge or tournament worker for a Regional Tournament, please click here.  

Central Region – Counties of Maricopa, Gila & Pinal

Northern Region – Counties of Mohave, Coconino, Navajo, Apache & Yavapai

Southern Region – Counties of Pima, Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Santa Cruz, & Pinal

Western Region – Counties La Paz & Yuma

Latest News

January 29, 2024 – Clarification Concerning the Use of Weapons in Arizona OotM Competitions

This letter is to serve as clarification concerning the use of Weapons in Odyssey of the Mind on the Canyon del Oro High School campus for the Southern Region & State Competitions.  It is in sync with the Odyssey of the Mind policy.  This letter is also to serve as guidance for the Central, Northern & Western Regional Competitions.  Please contact you Regional Director for any additional questions.

April 26, 2023 – Pin Design Winners

Congratulations to Eneri Barraza of Canyon del Oro High School and Addison Briggs of Madison Meadows Middle School for having the pin designs they submitted used as some of the Arizona pins this year!  We are sure they are going to be a big hit at World Finals!

We will be running the contest again next year so start thinking about what you may want to submit.  Stay tuned to the website for the deadlines – but it is never too early to submit your ideas.  Please send them to [email protected]

August 17, 2022 – 🌟 Primary Division Opportunities 🌟

We would like to spotlight an opportunity for our youngest competitors, those in the Primary Division!  The Primary Division has problems specifically designed for students in grades K-2, designed to provide younger OMers with a comprehensive, fun, and instructional experience that helps introduce them to Odyssey of the Mind!

Our State Problem Captain, Shyla Wells, is offering to help anyone interesting in starting a Primary team or learning more about them in any of the regions.  She can be contacted at [email protected].  This is a great opportunity to get students involved early in a team-building, creativity-strengthening process!

July 22, 2022 – Odyssey of the Mind Long Term Synopses

Check out this great video overview of the 2023 Long Term problems!

March 9, 2022 – Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Scholarship Opportunity

Calling all coaches with graduating seniors! Please check out this Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Senior Scholarship application, due March 20, 2022.  Don’t wait, it’s right around the corner!

October 19, 2021 – The 2022 Arizona Odyssey of the Mind State Competition will be held on March 26, 2022 at Canyon del Oro High School.

April 14, 2021 – Congratulations to Amelia Gephart of Canyon del Oro High School for receiving the 2021 Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Lorna Calloway Memorial Scholarship! You can read her and her teacher’s nominating letter and statement here.

March 28, 2021 – 2021 AZ Odyssey of the Mind State Competition Awards Ceremony


March 5, 2021 – Odyssey of the Mind Souvenirs

Teams and parents, are you looking for souvenirs to commemorate Odyssey of the Mind this year? Please check out some of the new souvenirs available such as the Crazy for Pins Puzzle and the Odyssey Coloring Books, along with other items at https://www.odysseyofthemind.com/shop/!

February 12, 2021 – AZ Odyssey of the Mind Scholarship Opportunity

Calling all coaches with graduating seniors!  Please check out this Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Senior Scholarship application; due March 15, 2021. Don’t wait, it’s right around the corner!

January 5, 2021 – Important Update Concerning 2021 Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Competition

Safety for our Odyssey of the Mind teams, coaches & families is our greatest concern.  Due to the ongoing issues with COVID 19 and the current rise in cases in Arizona, the Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Board believes it is in the best interest not to hold any onsite tournaments this year.  Schools that have already registered will be allowed to change to the Virtual Tournaments.  We are currently looking into that process & will have additional information for you in the near future.  If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out to your Regional Director.  Thank you for your understanding in this manner.

October 19, 2020 – Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Update

Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Update:

As of this date, Arizona Odyssey of the Mind is going ahead with plans to hold onsite Regional Tournaments & a State Tournament.   We are committed to keep people safe and the Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Board will continue to monitor the COVID -19 status with a final decision about the safety of onsite tournaments to be made on January 31, 2021.  If it is determined that it is not safe to proceed, each team that is registered will be allowed to change to the Virtual Tournaments.  Remember that final payment for team registrations are due by February 15, 2021.  This will allow schools/organizations to reserve payment until after this final decision.

Onsite Trainings & Workshops:

Due to current COVID–19 situation in Arizona, It has been determined by the Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Board that there will be no onsite coaches training or team workshops this year.  There are various locations on the www.azodyssey.org & www.odysseyofthemind.com websites where valuable information can be found to assist teams and coaches.

September 13, 2020 – Northern Region Co-Directors Update

It is with great pleasure to introduce your new Northern Region Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Co-Directors – Stephanie Mansfield & Jody Laura.  We are so excited to have both of them stepping up to serve as Co-Regional Directors & re-establishing the Arizona Northern Region Odyssey of the Mind.  Please join us in welcoming Stephanie & Jody to the Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Board.  Contact email:  [email protected]

August 16, 2020 – Odyssey of the Mind 2020-2021 Announcement

This is going to be an exciting year!  One program, six problems, two platforms!

Given the details of the pandemic, Odyssey of the Mind is offering Traditional Memberships and Virtual Memberships!

Having the option of a Virtual or a Traditional Membership gives everyone the opportunity to use their creativity to solve problems. Teams from both types of memberships will be solving the same problems with the same clarifications. Every team is guaranteed the opportunity to demonstrate their creativity in an official Odyssey of the Mind tournament.  Teams will be able to advance in competition and could ultimately earn their way to our World Finals or our Virtual World Finals!

Also, all six of our 2020-2021 Long-Term Problems are available now!

Register now at: www.odysseyofthemind.com

Good luck, stay safe, stay creative, and have fun!!

March 30, 2020 – World Finals Update

World Final information should be available on April 1st on the www.odysseyofthemind.com website.  This information may not be available until after 7:00 pm EDT.

March 27, 2020 – State Tournament and World Finals Update

Sammy Micklus, Odyssey of the Mind’s Executive Director, has posted this letter at www.odysseyofthemind.com regarding changes to 2020 World Finals. Due to COVID-19, World Finals will be held virtually this year. In addition, any/all teams who wish are invited to compete (excluding Primary Teams). As stated in the email, more details will be available April 1st. Since there will be no need for a State Tournament and concerns over the COVID-19 virus, we are cancelling our 2020 State Tournament. Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Board will be awaiting more details and will be sending out additional communication as these details become available. We hope you all take advantage of the virtual World Finals and continue to keep yourselves safe and healthy. For any additional question please contact the State Association Director or Assistant State Association Director.

Emails posted below.

Sincerely;
Deanna Day – State Association Director [email protected]
Deana Wingate – Assistant State Association Director [email protected]

March 25, 2020 – 2020 State Tournament Communication

We wanted to send out communication about Arizona Odyssey of the Mind. We unfortunately continue to live in uncertain times around the COVID-19 virus. As of this date, the State Tournament has been suspended until we have more details to make a final decision. We promise to keep you posted of any developments when we are able. Please continue to stay safe and healthy.

Sincerely;
Deanna Day – State Association Director
Deana Wingate – Asstant State Association Director

March 15, 2020 – State Tournament on March 28, 2020 Cancelled

Due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Outbreak, Arizona’s Governor has ordered all schools, beginning tomorrow, to close through March 27th.  In addition, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that for the next 8 weeks, organizers cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the U.S.  Arizona Odyssey of the Mind takes the safety of teams, coaches & families seriously.  In light of of this current outbreak & recommendations by the CDC, the State Director & Assistant State Director have made the decision to cancel the March 28th State Odyssey of the Mind Tournament.  We will continue to monitor this situation with future communication in the following weeks about rescheduling the tournament.  We appreciate your patience as we all work together during this uncertain time.

– Deanna Day, State Association Director & Deana Wingate, Assistant State Association Director

February 13, 2020 – Structure Rule Clarification

The limbo rules have been further clarified.  Please see below.

  • Guidelines for the Balsa Limbo Bar are now available for teams and officials.  Actual construction of the bar may vary between tournaments but these guidelines will be consistent. This document was updated on Feb 11, removing the second limbo bar at the 1/2″ height. There is now only a single limbo bar, set at the team’s chosen height.
  • C3 – Must not be able to pass under a 1/2″ bar:  The test of the structure to verify the minimum height of 1/2 inch in limbo form will take place during Weigh-In, not during the performance time.

At weigh in the team will first have their structure in the weight holding position.   After the structure is weighed and measured, then the team will place their structure in the limbo position and the judge will check that the limbo structure is the required minimum  ½ inch by sliding to the limbo ½ and knocking off the limbo stick.

Then the team puts their structure back into weight held position and into the bag or container.

When the team is in staging they will tell the staging judge what height they want the limbo bar set.

When the team performs they will limbo their structure and can re-limbo for better scores by telling the judges on the performance floor.

October 8, 2019 – Northern Region Director Update

The Northern Region Director Position is still currently open.  With no director, there will be no Northern Region Tournament this year.  The Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Board has again approved the following solution for Northern teams in 2020.

  • Northern teams that register for tournament will go straight to the State Tournament on March 28, 2020 at Canyon del Oro High School in Tucson.
  • EXCEPTION to this is in the event that there are more than 2 teams in a specific problem/division.  Those teams will be required to attend the Central Region Tournament on February 29, 2020 at Tolleson High School in Tolleson.  Those teams will only be competing against the other Northern teams with the first & second place teams advancing to the State Tournament.
  • Teams who do not need to attend a regional tournament but would like the experience are welcomed to compete at the Central Region Tournament.  Please notify Deana Wingate, Central Region Director, by January 20, 2020 of your intentions to do so.
  • All teams attending the Central Region Tournament will need to supply a judge volunteer for the Central Region Tournament.  Judges training will be Saturday, February 15, 2020 at P.H. Gonzales Elementary School in Tolleson.  Please note that this training is at a different location than the tournament.

March 12, 2018 – AZ Odyssey of the Mind Scholarship Opportunity

Calling all graduating seniors!  Please check out this Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Senior Scholarship application; due March 15, 2018. Don’t wait, it’s right around the corner!

March 1, 2018 – Central Region Tournament Road Closure

CENTRAL REGION TOURNAMENT – IMPORTANT INFORMATION: ROAD CLOSURE
The City of Tolleson will be having a Mariachi Festival on March 3rd. Van Buren will be closed between 91st Ave to 94th Ave. See below for alternate directions.

ALTERNATE DIRECTIONS TO P H GONZALES:
Please come south off of the 1 10 on 99th Avenue (Exit 133A). Head south on 99th Avenue to W. Pierce St. Turn east (left) on W. Pierce St. to 95th Avenue. Turn north (left) onto 95th Avenue. The school entrance is on the right.

January 27, 2018 – State Tournament Information

This year’s State Tournament will be held on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at Canyon del Oro High School in Tucson.  Further information regarding the state tournament will be provided as we approach the date.

February 22, 2017 –  Structure Team Internet Research and Other Outside Assistance Precautions:

The Internet is a great tool for learning basic concepts of engineering and building.  To some degree, the Internet levels the playing field for those teams who might not have access to experts in the field. Additionally, Internet resources, such as YouTube, do not explain how to solve the current problem; they just provide information that otherwise might be passed down from team to team in a particular program but not be readily available to teams in programs without that history. One of the goals of Odyssey is to foster research skills and online sources are included in that purpose. Teams should research the basic information just as they might learn to use a sewing machine by watching tutorials about how to sew and then apply those skills to develop their solution to the current year’s problems.

Teams are cautioned not to post pictures or video of their solutions to the current problems as this could create an outside assistance issue.

New this year: At tournaments, the only people who will be able to take pictures or video a performance will be team identified supporters. The competition site will be set-up in approximately the configuration shown in the attached diagram. (note – the configuration may be flipped or rotated due to the particular room used at each tournament.)

Weigh-in:

Teams should anticipate and plan for weighing in their structures as early in the tournament morning as possible. Weigh in may take up to 45 minutes per team and for the large tournament we anticipate that this may cause some delays in the process.

August 6, 2016 – For information regarding registration for the 2016-2017 school year, please click on the Registration tab above.

Competition

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY:

Due to safety concerns –

The Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Board of Directors has voted (Oct. 25, 2014) to disallow use of PVC piping in systems pressurized with a gas (air, CO2, etc.) in their OotM problem solutions. This includes this year’s problems/solutions.   Teams please remember to ALWAYS use materials in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements and limitations.  Please direct additional questions to your regional director.

Registration

There are 4 steps to registering a team for competition in this year’s Odyssey of the Mind competition.  Listed below is the order to follow.  Links for each of these steps can be located at bottom of this page.

STEP 1:  Obtain an Odyssey of the Mind membership registration for your school/organization & pay for membership.

STEP 2:  State Registration – Individual team registration for regional competition with Arizona Odyssey of the Mind  (Deadline January 15, 2024)

STEP 3:  Judge/Volunteer registration – each team must provide one judge & one volunteer for regional competition, registration for which for judges can be accomplished at the Odyssey of the Mind website.  (Deadline for Judge Registration is January 31, 2024)

STEP 4WHO/HOW TO PAYMENT:  Schools/Organizations need to pay Arizona Odyssey of the Mind for their team(s) state registration.  The official Odyssey of the Mind invoice is included in the Team Confirmation email sent to the coach after registration of their team(s).  PAYMENT DEADLINE is February 15, 2024.                                                             

For schools/organizations that have multiple teams under a membership number:

  • Each email confirmation will include a running total of the amount due.
  • The last team registered under that membership number will have the final total that is due.
  • This last email will serve as the official invoice for payment.

IMPORTANT:  PLEASE READ CLOSELY!

Arizona Odyssey of the Mind will no longer be able to make exceptions for each school/organization as to how they prefer their invoices to look.  Along with the above invoice, a standard invoice will be generated for purchase orders.  It is the school/organization coordinator’s &/or coach’s responsibility to educate the appropriate department on the payment process & to insure their payment is received by the deadline date.  All team registration payments must be received by this deadline for teams to be eligible to be scored at the Regional Tournament.

Arizona Odyssey of the Mind State Treasurer Contact Information:

Amanda Norton
12267 E Del Norte
Yuma, AZ 85367
[email protected]


TUTORIAL PRESENTATIONS TO INSTRUCT HOW TO DO THE ABOVE PROCESS

⇒  How to register your School/Organization   CLICK HERE

⇒  How to register your school for Arizona Odyssey of the Mind   CLICK HERE

⇒  How to register Volunteers  CLICK HERE


Odyssey of the Mind Membership Registration

Each school/organization must first obtain an International Membership by going to the www.odysseyofthemind.com website .  If your school/organization already has a membership, move onto the next section.

Registering your school with Odyssey of the Mind:

  • Register your school on the membership page of the Odyssey of the Mind website here.
  • Each school only needs to purchase one (1) membership unless you are planning on having 2 teams compete in the same problem & same division (i.e. two Division 2 teams competing in the vehicle problem).
  • This year’s problems will be mailed out when available & after your school is registered & payment is received.

State Registration

Each team planning on competing at the regional tournament will need to complete the State Registration process.  Click the following link to begin process – State Registration 

Payment – 

Registration fees for AZ regional tournaments this year are:

1st team registered = $150.

for each additional team =$50.

Primary teams are free

After your team has been registered for the regional tournament, payments are to be made to the State Treasurer.  Acceptable payment methods are:

  • Check – mailed to the State Treasurer
    • make checks payable to “AZ Odyssey”
  • Credit Card – email State Treasurer to set up payments
  • Purchase Order – send PO electronically to State Treasurer

Contact Us

State Director: Deanna Day

For information or questions regarding Arizona Odyssey of the Mind please contact our State Director, Deanna Day at [email protected]

REGIONAL DIRECTORS

Central Region Director: Deana Wingate

For information regarding Odyssey of the Mind in central Arizona, please contact Deana Wingate. The Central Region covers the greater Phoenix area plus Payson, Globe, Casa Grande and Wickenburg.

Deana can be reached at [email protected]

Northern Region

For information regarding Odyssey of the Mind in northern Arizona, please contact Stephanie Mansfield or Jody Laura. The Northern Region covers Kingman, Prescott, Sedona, Verde Valley, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Winslow, Chinle, and the White Mountains.

Stephanie and Jody can be reached at [email protected]

Southern Region Director: Texana Sonnefeld

For information regarding Odyssey of the Mind in southern Arizona, please contact Texana Sonnefeld. The Southern Region covers the greater Tucson area as well as Sierra Vista, Benson, and Willcox. Texana can be reached at [email protected]

Western Region Director: Lauren McGuire

For information regarding Odyssey of the Mind in western Arizona, please contact Lauren McGuire. The Western Region covers the greater Yuma area as well as Parker, and Lake Havasu.

Lauren can be reached at [email protected]

Treasurer: Amanda Norton
[email protected]
Address: 12267 E Del Norte, Yuma, AZ  85367

Webmaster:  Vanessa Rollins
For suggestions or comments for this website, please send a message to [email protected]