Creative young minds to gather and compete in the 22nd Annual International Odyssey of the Mind World Finals competition

Not many events bring together bright young people from around the world in the spirit of problem solving, team work, and competition. It is for this reason that the Annual Odyssey of the Mind World Finals is such a unique event. This year, the 22nd annual competition, to be held at the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO, USA on May 22-26, 2002, promises to be yet another exciting culmination of a year of hard work by teams of young people from around the world. Teams of students advancing to the World Finals have already won national competitions, and will display their creative solutions to this year's specially selected problems, which range from technology to humanities, in the form of skits, for their international peers as well as judges.

The team with the trophy

Representing Poland, Asia Augustyn, Justyna Nastałek, Kasia Gajos, Paulina Szerszyńska, Maciej Ślifirski, Marcin Foppke and Piotr Skibiński and their tutors: Zuzanna Rezmer and Wojciech Radziwiłowicz, are excited to attend this year's World Finals. They won the 11th Polish National Odyssey of the Mind competition held in Gdynia from March 2-3, for their solution to a problem entitled "Chameleon" in Division II (15 years old or younger), under the auspices of the Centre for Creative Psychoeducation "DAMB" in Osowa, Gdansk. The fruit of their year-long effort was a special vehicle entitled The Bear. This vehicle, which is made almost entirely out of wood with only metal parts used for chain and wheels, uses the weight of the driver as its source of energy. The driver sits in one of two special chairs, which, under his or her weight, pulls on a rope causing the wheels of the vehicle to turn. The driver can travel in the reverse direction by sitting in the other chair. The vehicle is presented in a three-part performance, which takes place in a fairy-tale land of dreams and reveals the complex personalities of both Sasanka, the owner of The Bear, and her cuddly friend.

The team on the stage presenting their skit at the Polish National Odyssey of the Mind copetition

To realize their dream to travel to the 22nd Annual Odyssey of the Mind World Final in Boulder, CO, USA this May, Asia Augustyn, Justyna Nastałek, Kasia Gajos, Paulina Szerszyńska, Maciej Ślifirski, Marcin Foppke and Piotr Skibiński must raise approximately 41,000PLN (10,000USD) to cover the costs of travel and participation. They would be very grateful for any monetary contributions to support their trip to the World Finals. Contributions can be sent to the following account:

Bank Zachodni WBK S.A.
I Oddzial w Gdansku
Fundacja Promocji Dzieci Zdolnych "ODYSEUSZ"
80-392 Gdansk ul.Arkonska 52
19 1090 1098 0000 0000 0907 7075
for: DAMB - KAMELEON

The goals of the Odyssey of the Mind are to promote creative thinking through problem solving exercises and team work. Through these activities, students learn valuable lifelong skills and develop self-confidence from their experiences.

For more information on the Odyssey of the Mind and the 2002 World Finals, please visit:
In Poland: http://www.odyseja.gdynia.com/
The World Headquarters: http://www.odysseyofthemind.com
The web site of the group: http://www.dambkameleon.prv.pl