Odyssey of the Mind

Benjamin started a new after school activity this year called Odyssey of the Mind.  Josie participated at her grade level last year and really liked it.  He meets each Tuesday after school with his team of 7 other 4th graders and a parent volunteer/coach.  OM started in the US (even though I had never heard of it) but it is a pretty big deal here.  Or at least it is at our school.

I still don't quite understand what it is fully.  It is very student led and driven and the coach is there simply to keep the kids on track and not necessarily direct or guide them.
I was volunteering for a bit but with my sporadic subbing days and upcoming work at the US embassy I backed out of being one of the main coaches.  I did, however, volunteer for their one full day of OM.  It was out in Potsdam - just a 20 or so minute car ride, and the kids all had fun.

For as open ended as the program seemed to me I was incredibly impressed with how well organized the full day event was.  There were nearly as many adult volunteers as students participating. 

Each team had tasks and performances and training throughout the day.  They ranged in logic, spontaneous thinking and talking, performing, creating.  It really is hard to explain.  But Benjamin really likes it and that makes me happy.