ARIZONA ODYSSEY OF THE MIND
Extras

When you travel to the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals, your first priorities are to represent your state in the competition, and to have fun! Sometimes, just a few little "extras" can really add a lot to your experiences.

If you have the opportunity, go on one of the half day or full day tours that are offered through the Odyssey travel agency. They are usually educational and fun, and are a nice diversion from the "stress" of the competition.

Attending the Float and Banner Competition is always a lot of fun. It has a relaxed, party atmosphere--and seeing the exciting creations from the states and countries is a blast. Arizona is usually one of the states that hosts the event, so it's nice to go and support it.

Watching the Coaches Competition is a fun way to spend another evening. The kids love to see their coaches try out solutions to their own problem. Before the Coaches Competition, there is a short graduation ceremony (complete with caps and gowns) for those participants who missed their own graduations because of our competition.

The Opening Ceremony is a fully charged evening--everyone is full of anticipation and excitement! There are over 10,000 people who attend, and it is held in a big arena like America West or Wells Fargo Arenas. There is usually a laser show of some kind, and many participants bring small flashlights to "light up" the audience when the lights go down. You should determine a meeting place to pick up your participants who marches in the Opening Ceremony. S/he will be on the arena floor for the whole ceremony, and you will be up in the audience. With thousands of people milling around, it is especially easy to "miss" each other.

The Awards Ceremony is the night when we all get together for the last time. The competition winners are announced, and afterwards there are huge parties for everyone. Participants go to the pre-teen or teen parties, and the coaches and officials have a party, too. It's a lot of fun.

Be sure to bring your camera, and plenty of film! If you are going to try and trade for a t-shirt, bring an extra state t-shirt so you can trade one and keep one.

A helpful way to keep a young team together is for them to wear the same t-shirts each day. They could wear Diamondbacks t-shirts one day, or U of A t-shirts, or the same color shirts--something that makes them easily identifiable to each other. When you get in big crowds, it is reassuring to young participants to be able to see their own group easily.

Though Odyssey participants are the most wonderful people in the world, and though you will meet many wonderful "strangers" at the tournament--it is good to review safety with your team. Team members should never go anywhere alone, and should always let the coach know where they'll be. Young participants should always be with an adult.

Since the residence halls have "community" bathrooms in most of them, participants won't have their "own" showers, sinks, or toilets. Remember to bring items such as shampoo, toothbrushes, etc. back from the bathroom each time so that they don't get lost.

Remember to bring a "first aid" kit for your scenery, props, & costumes. If they get damaged during shipping, you will want to repair them before your competition.

It is also nice for the kids to keep a journal while they are there. Writing a short entry just before bedtime is a good way for young participants to settle down, and it gives them a record of the time spent at the tournament. It is also nice for parents who couldn't make the trip to be able to read.

Talk to other coaches/teams who have been to World Finals before, and ask about the "extras" that they did. There is a wealth of information out there for you.

If you have any questions about "extras", please e-mail Chris Eaton at spud88@cox.net

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Last modified: April 3rd, 2007

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