...the Iowa Odyssey

Iowa Odyssey of the Mind is excited you have stopped by to "check us out"!

Odyssey of the Mind in Iowa has been bringing Creative Problem Solving experiences to Iowa youth for 22 consecutive years.   Over 50,000 Iowa youth have been exposed to this creative problem solving process of positive, team building, creative thinking. If you have experience with Odyssey of the Mind, we welcome you back to our web site and program.   If you are new to Odyssey of the Mind, we   invite you to join us for a great adventure. We jointly celebrate each child who is exposed to the concepts taught in this program regardless if they   end up with a championship trophy or not. Each participant who sticks with the program from beginning to end is already a winner.

Our Mission...

To provide a safe environment where students of all ages can develop and express their creative thinking skills and ideas through organized activities based on skills learned and developed in   a curriculum based   setting.   Participants   will   develop skills in cooperation, self respect and   and self worth   through hands on learning and development of respect   and appreciation for their peers ideas.

What is Odyssey of the Mind?

Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college.   Participants 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 at State Finals, with the champions advancing on to World Finals.

Odyssey of the Mind   is a competitive program, but it’s nothing like your typical sporting event. The competitive element encourages kids to be the best that they can be, but it’s a friendly competition. Kids learn from and even cheer on their competitors. Odyssey of the Mind is not a college bowl or a competition about knowledge. It’s all about creativity, an often overlooked element in the growth and development of many students. Kids are rewarded   for how they apply their knowledge, skills and talents, and not for coming up with the one right answer. In fact, in Odyssey of the Mind problems, there isn’t one right answer...Ever.

Odyssey of the Mind   participants learn   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; and they work with deadlines determined by the group.   They see that there   is   often more than one way to solve a problem, and that sometimes the process is more important than the end result.

How to Contact Us...

You can contact Iowa Odyssey of the Mind in several ways. Feel free to do so with questions about the program.

Alan Strohmaier, State Association Director

Email:   AL@Iowaodysseyofthemind.com

Phone: 515/277-6104

Fax: 515/277-6105

Snail Mail:   7707 Dellwood Drive,   Urbandale, Iowa   50322

  Visitors since June 2006.   Thank you for visiting.