what is odyssey of the mind?

Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program for kids that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students. Kids apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. They then bring their solutions to competition on the local, state, and World level. Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and from about 25 other countries participate in the program. At MPE, students from grade 2 to grade 5 can choose to participate.

How does it work?

Our school will form teams of seven students. Each team chooses one of five competitive problems to solve. The problems appeal to a wide range of interests; some are technical in nature, while others are artistic or performance-oriented. Under the guidance of two adult coaches, teams of 7 students work on their solutions throughout the school year and present them at the Eastern Regional tournament in the spring. The number of teams will depend on the number of interested students and the number of volunteer coaches. Usually, more students apply to participate in Odyssey of the Mind than we have parent volunteers willing to coach to form teams. If your child is interested in Odyssey of the Mind, please consider being a coach. If you are interested in coaching, please let us know by filling out the Coaching Interest Form.

How do students benefit from participation?

In Odyssey of the Mind, students learn at a young age skills that will last a lifetime. They work in teams, so they learn cooperation and respect for the ideas of others. They evaluate ideas and make decisions on their own, gaining greater self-confidence and increased self-esteem along the way. They work within a budget, so they learn to manage their money. They see that there is often more than one way to solve a problem, and that sometimes the process is more important than the result.

How are teams judged in competition?

Thousands of volunteers from around the world judge the competitions and serve in various positions to help make the tournaments a success. Teams are scored for their long-term problem solution, how well they solve a “spontaneous” problem on the spot, and “style” — the elaboration of their long-term problem solution.

2026-27 Long-Term Problems and Program Dates 

Read about this year's long-term problems.

Important dates

is your student interested in joining an MPE Odyssey of the mind team?

Our Odyssey of the Mind coordinator will lead 2 information sessions before teams are created.

It is highly recommended that you attend one of the sessions if you have never participated in OM at MPE.  If you are interested in becoming a coach, please let us know by filling out this Coaching Interest Form by September 25th. 

The student application form will open up in your PTA account on September 11th. You will need to complete this form by October 2nd. This form is to register your student's interest in the program but does not guarantee your student a spot. The number of available spots will depend on the number of student participants and the number of parent coaches. If your child is placed on a team, you will need to fill out the "contract" form and pay the fee.

If you want to stay up-to-date with all our Odyssey of the Mind news, please join MPE PTA on the Band App.  There will be a chat especially for Odyssey of the Mind participants to share questions and information.  CLICK for a Band App invitation.

If you are new to Odyssey of the Mind, here are some things to consider/know:

• Student grade:
  • Your child can only participate if they are in 2nd to 5th grade.
  • If your child is in grade 2, they MUST participate in the primary problem. Their team will be formed from the pool of 2nd grade students that register. 
  • If your child is in 3rd/5th/5th grade, please enter their #1 problem choice in the application form but also tick off any problems they are willing to do. We take this information into account when we form the teams.
• Application process:
  • The application form will open up after the first info session in your PTA account. If you have not yet created an account on this website, please do so. You will need to complete the Family Information with your child's teacher's name and the Directory Publish Preferences in order to see any available forms. Make sure you click on the Odyssey of the Mind box (in the Family Information form) so you automatically get added to our notification list.
  • The only way to guarantee your child is placed on a team is by volunteering to be a coach. The number of participating teams depends on the number of coach volunteers. Interested in being a coach? Please let us know by filling out the Coaching interest form.
• Time commitment
  • Check the important dates above. You can only join a team if you are able to participate on the Eastern Region Tournament date (Mar. 6th, 2027). 
  • Once the practices get started (end of October/beginning of November), a typical practice schedule would include a 1-hour practice before school in a classroom and a 2- to 3-hour practice on the weekend. Extra 2-hour sessions are usually added on closer to the tournament in January and February.
  • It is very important that when you commit to a team, you understand that your team members are relying on you to show up and do your part. After a team is registered with Odyssey of the Mind, members cannot be replaced. We have had teams that have had to forfeit halfway through the year because of lack of attendance by team members and even by coaches. This is a waste of time, effort, and money for everyone involved, so please take this commitment seriously. Students who are repeatedly absent from practice will be removed from teams - this is at the coach's discretion.
• Registration AFTER team placement
  • If your child is placed on a team, you will need to make sure you:
    1. Are a paid PTA member
    2. Submit the registration fee of $50
    3. Sign the parent and student contracts
  • If you are a coach, you will need to make sure you have completed your Wake County background check to volunteer. 

MORE information

International website: https://www.odysseyofthemind.com/