WESTBROOK – In just the second year of a creative problem-solving competition, two teams of Westbrook Middle School students have qualified for the world finals taking place in Des Moines, Iowa, in May.
Now, their biggest problem is raising the money to get there.
The two teams, each made up of seven students ranging from fifth to eighth grade, collected first place at a southern Maine Odyssey of the Mind event on March 16, and went on to win first place at the state championship on March 29. The world finals will be held at Iowa State University, May 28-31.
According to Amanda Bramble, the Westbrook Odyssey of the Mind program coordinator, the program has students from kindergarten through high school work collaboratively in teams of five to seven to solve an intricate problem. Bramble says teams choose a specific problem and develop an in-depth solution.
“It can be anything from building a vehicle that can navigate an obstacle course to developing a performance that demonstrates how a community can overcome its fears,” she said. “Participation in OM promotes creative thinking, problem-solving, confidence, good sportsmanship, and above all else, teamwork.”
Bramble said Monday that the trip to the world finals is “an amazing and possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for the students, but presents a major fundraising challenge.
The program, which is run in coordination with the Westbrook Community Center, needs to raise about $20,000 to cover travel and other expenses for the group. Bramble said the travel costs were complicated because flight prices into Des Moines skyrocketed for the contest, which she says will bring in some 15,000 people.
“We are doing any and every fundraiser we can think of between now and the time we leave,” she said.
The group is conducting a “splash-a-thon,” selling 50/50 raffle tickets, hosting a “pajama party movie night,” car washes, a bowling fundraiser, and a large “block party” event at the community center that is being planned for mid-May.
Greg Post, Westbrook’s deputy director of community services, said Tuesday that Bramble and the rest of the program’s volunteer staff are “brilliant,” and that now is the time for fundraising to kick off.
“Fundraising is certainly on the front burner right now, and time is of the essence,” he said. “We are working with them to help support a handful of initiatives.”
Last year, in their first year of competition, Westbrook’s team took third place at the state championship, barely missing a chance to compete at the world finals, as the top two finishers are eligible to attend.
Odyssey of the Mind problems come in different categories, such as vehicle problems, balsa wood structure problems, and classics, performance and technical problems. Bramble said the problems are complicated (theirs is five pages long), with many elements that each team is scored on.
Bramble, who also coaches one of the middle school teams, said her team chose a problem called “seeing is believing,” which is known as a “performance” problem. The team had to design a performance about “a community that is fearful of something that exists in a location they have never visited,” and present their solution.
She added that as a former Odyssey of the Mind competitor, many students don’t get hooked until they participate in a competition.
“It’s a lot of fun to see how many ways there are to solve a problem,” she said. “People come up with ideas that you’ve never even imagined.”
Maria Dorn, Westbrook’s director of community services, said Tuesday that the Odyssey of the Mind program has flourished in Westbrook in just a short time.
“I think it is spectacular that this program is here in Westbrook and that it engages the children to the level where they are going to the world finals,” she said. “It is a reflection of the diversity in the community of having different activities that catch the interest of a wide variety of children.”
Following victories at the Odyssey of the Mind state championships, two teams from Westbrook Middle School display their trophies. Standing, from left, are Lily Webber, Zoe Leighton, Kade Kelley, Eliza Bureau, Darcy Lally, Eli Zelonish and Simon Hale. Kneeling, Phoebe Adame, Justice Michaud, Allie Bramble, Jasmine Aguirre, Abby Milewski and Phoebe Webber. Team member Elizabeth Rudd is not pictured. Send questions/comments to the editors.
