Odyssey Of The Mind Regional Competition Saturday At OFA

Students from around the North Country will be traveling to Ogdensburg Free Academy on Saturday, bringing along with them their thinking caps, as they compete in the Region 8 Odyssey of the Mind competition to determine who will represent the North Country in the state-wide competition later this month.

This year's competition will include more than 200 students making up 31 teams from eight different schools.

Schools competing include Ogdensburg, Potsdam, Lisbon, Madrid-Waddington, Gouverneur, Brasher Falls, Petrova Elementary and Saranac Lake Middle School.

Competing children are asked to use their imagination, as well as their minds in solving problems that can range from building a mechanical device to putting on a skit.

Opening ceremonies will begin 8:30 a.m., with the competition set to get underway at 9 a.m. Closing ceremonies are scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

This year's problems include:

Problem 1: Nature Trail'R - This problem requires teams to design, build and drive a human-powered vehicle and camper that will go on a camping trip. When the vehicle arrives at the campground, the camper will be disconnected and the vehicle will travel on a team-created nature trail. On the nature trail, the vehicle will overcome an obstacle, clean up the environment, encounter wildlife, and undergo a repair. The performance will include a character that is in or near the camper that explains the experience as part of its role. Sponsored by NASA. Divisions I, II, III and IV. Cost limit is $145.

Problem 2: Return to The Gift of Flight - Teams will make and operate a series of aircraft that will complete a variety of flight plans. The flight plans include flying straight, making a target spin, traveling slowly, dropping something into a target, touching down and taking off, and a mass launch of multiple aircraft. The aircraft in the solution will be made of a variety of materials and will have a variety of power sources. The testing of the aircraft will be presented in a team-created performance that will include a character that serves as a creative "air traffic controller." Divisions I, II and III. Cost limit is $145.

Problem 3: Classics . . . Discovered Treasures - Teams will create and present an original performance that includes the portrayal of the discovery of two archaeological treasures. One portrayal will be a team-created version of the discovery of an actual historical treasure. The other portrayal will be the team's depiction of a modern sculpture or structure that exists today but is discovered in the future. The performance will include an artistic representation of the two discovered treasures and characters that are part of the discovery teams. Divisions I, II, III and IV. Cost limit is $125.

Problem 4: Column Structure - The problem is to design and build balsa wood columns that will function together to balance and support as much weight as possible. The columns must not be connected to each other in any way. The team will test its Column Structure by placing weights onto it. The team will add weight until its Column Structure breaks or time ends. Bonus score will be awarded for the number of columns used.

The team will incorporate the testing of its columns in an original team-created performance. Divisions I, II, III and IV. Cost limit is $145.

Problem 5: Food Court - The problem is to create and present a humorous performance where a food item is accused of being unhealthy and must defend itself among its food peers. All characters are food items and will include "the accused," "the accuser," a jury that is not portrayed by team members, and additional team-created characters. The jury will reveal its decision to the audience. Divisions I, II, III and IV. Cost limit is $125.

Primary: Surprise Party - The team is to create and present a humorous performance that includes a Surprise Party for a team-created character. The theme of the party is a surprise because it is being given for something that is not normally celebrated. Partygoers will give three gifts that help symbolize the theme of the party. The performance will also include an original party "noisemaker" that makes an unusual sound instead of a loud sound. Grades K-2. Cost limit is $125.

Winning teams from Saturday's competition will advance to the state-wide tournament on March 27 in Binghamton. At that competition, students will be fighting for the right to advance to the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals to be held May 26-29 at Michigan State University.