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 National Calendar and the State Calendar for upcoming training and events, and subscribe to the Arizona Odyssey of the Mind Facebook page!
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
September 23, 2024 – Registration Fee Increase
As we have become all too aware, costs increased dramatically over the past several years. This is true for Arizona Odyssey of the Mind program. Our fees have remained the same for the past ten-plus years, but unfortunately, they do not allow us to meet the increases in our costs to run our program. Our board has made the difficult decision to increase our fees to reflect these increased costs. The new fees are as follows:
- First team that registers under a school’s/organization’s membership will be $200, and each subsequent team registered under that membership will be $100 per team if paid for, or a purchase order is in place before December 31st.
- Starting January 1st, the cost will be $250 for the first team and $150 for each additional team. Primary teams will remain at no cost.
- Fee is now $150 for each team’s missing volunteer.
- All fees must be paid by February 15th in order for a team to be scored.
September 23, 2024 – World Finals Shirt and Pin Design Contest
Are you a creator? A designer? We have an opportunity for you to design the Arizona World Finals shirts and pins!
We are looking for designs and ideas for a single pin, a three-pin set, or a problem set to be showcased at the World Finals and we need your ideas. Students and adults alike are asked to send to [email protected] a basic drawing of your idea – we have artists that will help polish your ideas. Please include your name and what membership is submitting with the submission. Entries are due October 31, 2024.
April 24, 2024 – Farewell to Dr. Sam Micklus, Founder of Odyssey of the Mind
Arizona Odyssey of the Mind wishes to take this opportunity to pay our final respects to Dr. Sam Micklus, founder of Odyssey of the Mind. There will be a tribute to Dr. Sam that will be broadcast & open to all at the upcoming Odyssey of the Mind 2024 World Finals at Iowa State University. OdysseyHQ is very busy preparing for World Finals, so please wait to share any memories you have when they publish a link for them to be collected, preserved & eventually shared.
Thank you Dr. Sam for all your wonderful accomplishments, which included your love, dedication and commitment to creative problem-solving. You will be greatly missed!
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.
