Our team, composed of 5 boys in 5^th, 6^th and 7^th grade, placed 1^st at the State level for our problem and division! Our team is competing in problem 1, which is considered the vehicle problem. This means teams must build a vehicle with a team made propulsion system that completes a series of tasks. This requires that we do a lot of tinkering, engineering, and construction to solve our problem. The problem synopsis reads “OM teams get the best seat in the house as they visit a drive-in and even become part of the movie being played! In this problem, teams will design, build and run a vehicle with a team-created rider that travels to a drive-in theater. In the performance, the movie takes place all around the vehicle when suddenly a team-created special effect occurs on the vehicle that makes it seem to become part of the action! It will include a lead actor character along with all the fun that comes with this nostalgic outdoor movie experience.”

Students must create everything on their own with no outside assistance from coaches, parents, friends or family. This requires that students learn new skills necessary to build, create and perform their solution. Their solutions include not only the vehicle, but also an 8 minute skit with costumes, special effects, props, a set and more. They begin working on this solution in the fall and have about 6 months before their first competition. All of their solution must fit in a $145 budget. They learn things like engineering, power tool skills, budgeting, crafting and art skills, public speaking, spontaneous problem solving, performing in front of an audience and thinking outside the box. In Odyssey no idea is stupid or wrong. And there is no one exact right answer to solving their problem, the sky is the limit.

It will cost approximately $10,000 for our team and coaches to travel and compete at the World Finals competition. Given the enormity of the cost to take our team to the competition, would you consider donating to our team? All sponsors will receive a signed thank you card with a picture of the team from World Finals. Sponsors over $250 will be recognized on the back of our team t-shirt with a small logo. Sponsor logo/recognition size will increase in size on the shirt based on amount of donation. Should you fall into this category please provide us with the logo and/or wording you would like included on our shirts to recognize your support for our team.

Thank you for considering donating! Tax deductible donations can be received through online donations.

Harley Davidson Learn to Ride Gift Certificate