VOICES OF VIRGINIA ODYSSEY OF THE MIND WORLD FINALS SURVIVAL GUIDE 2010

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1 VOICES OF VIRGINIA ODYSSEY OF THE MIND WORLD FINALS SURVIVAL GUIDE 2010 STAYING IN THE DORM: Pros: Offers an adventure! Provides an opportunity to meet lots of Odyssey of the Mind teams from around the world! Offers unlimited food in the dining halls Gives more chances to meet people and trade pins Creates immersion in the "World Finals Atmosphere" May not need as close supervision for team as in a hotel Cons: Continues an adventure! Shared rooms and bathrooms (one per wing; halls but not bathrooms are unisex) It might be a LITTLE noisy sometimes... Staying in the dorms is fun, but don t expect a hotel - this is community living. It is also a chance to meet teams from lots of other places and hear lots of fun war stories! (Also note, it will cost the team $2,500 campus use fees if you do not purchase a room and board package, so you won t save any money that way in any case!) STAYING IN A HOTEL PROVIDED BY ODYSSEY: Pros: It is quieter (mostly!) You will still meet some other teams The food is probably more conveniently located for breakfast and dinner Cons: There will not be as much sense of community with other teams Your location may be further from competition sites (and require riding a shuttle to get to the campus) It will not be as convenient to run back for an item or a few minutes rest REGISTRATION: Have all forms organized (medical & media forms and team contract) before you enter. Only the coach may enter Registration, so plan for another adult to supervise the team while you register. Once the team has room assignments, they may proceed to assigned dorm or hotel. You may choose your own roommate arrangements. However, you may not wish to choose roommates in advance, since you will not know until registration exactly which accommodations you have been assigned. If there is an extra person, he/she will be assigned a roommate from another team (a good chance to get to know more people!) Your team may wish to begin trading pins while they wait for you. Be sure they have them handy: you don t want to dig through suitcases and props to get them out! Also be sure they understand that there will be PLENTY of time over the next 4 days to trade pins, so don t trade them all in the first 4 minutes. You will receive: schedules, tickets to opening and closing (team must sit in the Virginia section), participation certificates, maps of the campus, tickets to the Coaches Recovery Party (2) and parking passes. If you have additional team supporters, this is the time to get additional parking permits for them. If you have more than 2 coaches, you will have to purchase additional Recovery Party tickets for them to attend. DORM CHECK-IN: After registering to compete, you must check into your assigned dorm or hotel. This will take a little more time, so give your team the patience speech. The most important thing about

2 dorms: Each team member may have a room key and an outside door key. BE SURE THEY HAVE RELIABLE, LABELED KEY RINGS to put them on. (Lanyards are good for this!) Lost keys MAY result in a charge of $50-$80 for key and lock replacement! (Been there, done that, not fun!) Also note: If you have a team member who is very difficult to awaken in the mornings, you may wish to take custody of his or her room key when he or she goes to bed (provided a roommate has a key in case they need one.) That way, in the morning, you can get in the room to awaken the child without rousting out the entire dorm and bruising your knuckles. Each person purchasing the meal plan will receive a wristband. Be sure it does not get lost. Also, please be sure each child (and yourself!) does not fasten this too tightly they seem to shrink after a little while! A fanny pack or a small backpack for each child is often a real boon for your time on campus, but be aware that with new security concerns, backpacks MAY not be allowed in some places. ESPECIALLY NOTE: you do not want to take backpacks or bags to Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as you will have to enter a separate entrance and wait to have the items searched. T-SHIRT ORDERS: You can order T-shirts from CCI that say 2010 World Finals in advance and avoid lines at the concession stand; however, there are lots of choices and other souvenirs so you might want to wait. Buy EARLY IN THE WEEK for the best selections: some items do sell out. There will usually be a line, so plan to go when you have a few extra minutes to spend. You will get an Odyssey of the Mind newspaper each day. Save these as they make good (free) souvenirs. PIN TRADING: Pin trading is a very hot activity at World Finals. Even if you don't think you're interested, you will probably want to try to get some pins that you think are attractive or are "hot items." (It's like eating potato chips - it's hard to stop.) The BEST TIME to trade for pins is during the first day or two: no one knows what will be "hot" later and you can get some great pins at 1:1 that might later be trading at a higher rate. However, you should remember: THE OBJECTIVE IN TRADING PINS IS TO MAKE FRIENDS AND SHARE SOMETHING WITH ANOTHER TEAM. PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND and do not become obsessed with making cutthroat deals! The pins are supposed to be traded one for one, but sometimes the popular pins cause people to become somewhat fanatical. This is not in the spirit of Odyssey of the Mind. Take a towel, or make a felt book of some sort to pin your pins onto and to display on the sidewalk at a trading center. The best way to make a good trade is to make a friend: ask the person you are talking to where he or she is from, what problem he or she is competing in, and so forth. Sharing the experience of being there is most of what pin trading is all about. UNSPORTSMANLIKE Pin-trading: Attempting a trade with a team that is getting ready to perform or exiting afterward! Trading inside a competition site you are there to watch teams; NEVER pin trade! Pressing anyone to make a trade he or she does not wish to make! Taking advantage in any way of someone who really wants a pin you have for trade by asking for too many in exchange: remember that this is a time for sharing, representing Virginia, and for fun. VIRGINIA STATE FINALIST SHIRTS: Each team member and 1 coach will receive a free Virginia State Finalist t-shirt. You will want to wear these shirts to show team and state unity, especially at all official functions (Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Float and Banner). (Yes, mom, we can do laundry and might wash them once, but more than likely there won t be time. It s OK - no one else there will be doing laundry, either!) You may also wish to order an extra shirt each to help make it

3 through the week. (You won t need to wear much else --- well, except pants and shoes ) PIN AND T-SHIRT ORDER FORMS WILL BE GIVEN TO COACHES ON MARCH 27 AND ARE DUE ON APRIL 16. PROP SHIPMENT: You may ship props to WF in crates that will be stored until the week of competition and then be moved to a holding area at the problem site, available for you to unload the day of your competition. See the yellow packet in your information package from CCI for details and the shipping form. Note that all cartons must fit through a doorway 32 wide x 72 high. Packages will only be accepted from May 3 to May 21. You may wish to mark boxes 1 of 3 and so forth as well as put your membership #, problem name and school name on everything. Be sure to pack or bring anything you might need to make repairs. Whether you ship your props or bring them with you, uncrate early in the week in case something is damaged in shipment. Bring hard-to-find repair items and tool kits with you. OTHER STUFF YOU MAY NEED: Thank-you letter. postage, addresses, and postcards to write financial supporters. Comfortable clothes and good WALKING SHOES Shower shoes Money for concessions/souvenirs, food outside the dorm or for a meal while traveling KEY RING or Lanyard for a key (there may be outside swipe cards and inside dorm keys) An over-the-door hook to put your clothes on in the shower rooms Minor first aid items, such as band-aids, Tums, Tylenol, Neosporin A camera (you may not bother with this most of the time, but try to get a few photos) An alarm clock (there may be wake-up calls, but it is good to have a clock in your room) Bring money for postcards, which you can buy and have postmarked "World Finals" with the picture of OMER on them. MEDICAL FORMS: These (also in the colored packet) must be completed; turn in at checkin. YOU CANNOT COMPETE WITHOUT THEM AND TO BE SAFE, HAVE TWO COPIES PER PERSON. (One for coach, one for turning in at registration.) The Student Health Clinic will be open to Odyssey teams if needed, at no charge for basic care. MEDIA RELEASE FORMS: Be sure you have these completed and ready to turn in. The media release form is included in the paperwork from CCI in the World Finals packet. TEAM CONTRACT: All team members and coaches must sign the contract acknowledging World Finals rules and guidelines. Be sure coach brings this to registration. SPORTSMANSHIP: Nothing needs to be said here, but remember to show good manners and respect for people and property. Observe Quiet Time in the dorm. Also, SUPPORT OTHER TEAMS, especially from VA. GO WATCH THEM! Make friends! You ll be glad you did! Show your Virgi nia Spirit! Remember you are a walking billboard for VIRGINIA Odyssey of the Mind! SCHEDULE: The coach will determine the team s daily schedule to some extent, but teams may want to make the decisions about where you go during free time to trade pins, watch teams, etc. Just be sure the coach and team members know where you are. (I watched one team panic when they couldn t find a teammate and it was time to go to spontaneous! He was in the bathroom. ) Always use the buddy system even when pin-trading. #1 PIECE OF ADVICE: Be FLEXIBLE in planning schedules and organizing the day!

4 COACHES MEETING: This is an important meeting. You should get to see how the site will be set up, have the opportunity to ask questions, learn about any clarifications for World Finals, etc. Only coaches/assistant coaches are invited; an adult needs to be with the team during this time. BUDDY TEAMS: In your packet from CCI is a form that allows you to apply to be a Buddy Team to an international team. This usually involves meeting the other group, spending some time and eating some meals with them, helping them if they need duct tape or hot glue, and going to watch their performance to cheer for them. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet children from another country and to help other Odyssey participants. You should know, however, that it is a commitment of time if you want to do right by your buddies! OPENING CEREMONIES: The pageantry of this event is impressive. Wear your state shirt and come sit in the Virginia section. (Parents will need to sit in the section for supporters: only teams and coaches have tickets for the state section.) One team member from each Virginia team will be given this honor. Those teams should determine the person who will march in the procession. The selected team members will meet the other Virginia delegates backstage by the Virginia flag and the VOICES banner, and walk in with them. After walking in, the group sits on the floor of the arena during opening (not with the rest of Virginia contingent.) The entire group on the floor will come up into the VA section when the ceremonies are done. A Virginia Association representative will stay with them until we find their teams afterwards. IF YOU ARE COMPETING ON THURSDAY, TRY TO GET TO BED AT A REASONABLE TIME, AS DETERMINED BY THE COACH THE FIRST NIGHT, OR YOU WILL BE TOO TIRED TO DO WELL THE NEXT DAY. Wait until Thursday, Friday, or Saturday to stay up late pin trading and visiting! (But remember quiet hours.) You didn t come all this way to fall asleep during spontaneous!! FLOAT AND BANNER CONTEST: Virginia will have a banner. Each state may have only one entry, a float or a banner, but not both. Each team should select just ONE person to march (as with the opening ceremonies). But everyone should consider going to watch the parade - the entries are fun to see, and the festivities are part of World Finals excitement. AWARD CEREMONY: This is another fun event. Even if you did not place (and, after all, about 40+ teams per problem per division don t!) it is exciting to be a part of this evening. COACH: YOU MUST HAVE A TICKET FOR EACH TEAM MEMBER TO GET INTO THE VIRGINIA TEAMS SECTION OF THE AWARD CEREMONY. You will get these tickets at registration and need to keep track of them. Note that teams who place 6 th, 5 th, and 4 th will be asked to STAND in their place, and teams who place 3 rd, 2 nd, or 1 st will come up on the stage. AFTER AWARDS CEREMONY: The pre-teen party is a great chance for teams to unwind after an adrenaline-filled week. The teen party is excellent for high school. The coach will be invited to a Coaches' Party. You should meet back at dorms at pre-arranged time. COACH: BE SURE YOU DO NOT LOSE YOUR TICKET TO THE COACHES RECOVERY PARTY, AS YOU NEED IT TO GET IN. If you have more than 2 coaches, you will need to purchase additional ticket for them to attend. No matter how your team places at World Finals, it is an honor to be there among all the world s best teams. Try to see and do as much as possible and just enjoy

5 the opportunity to represent all of Virginia at this fun, exciting, ultimate tournament! Good Luck to each of you and enjoy your entire journey!