The First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles Odyssey of the Mind is excited to be sending a team to the World Finals at Iowa State University May 27th-May 31, 2026 where they will compete and interact with teams from all around the country and the world!

This team will represent our program, community and the State of New York in the Division 1 (Grades 3-5), Problem 1: Vehicle Problem. They received the prestigious Ranatra Fusca award at the Odyssey of the Mind New York State Finals this year for the creative outside of the box thinking they demonstrated in their vehicle propulsion system and we couldn’t be prouder!

Please help us make this experience possible for these amazing kids! Your donations will help pay for competition costs, transportation, food and lodging.

Any leftover funds will be used to help future First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles OOTM teams pay for supplies, program and competition costs.

As always, we appreciate the support of our incredible community!

Whitney MacLaughlin

(Co-coordinator/Coach, 1st Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles OOTM)

Odyssey of the Mind (OOTM) is a creative problem-solving program where team members present their solution at a competition to a predefined long-term problem that takes many months to complete and involves writing, design, construction, and theatrical performance all done in 8 minutes. A spontaneous portion of the competition has the team also generate solutions to a problem they have not seen before. This program teaches 'OUT OF THE BOX THINKING', an amazing life skill these kids that will carry with them throughout their lives!

This year, the First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles had 9 teams of kids spanning grades 3-high school, 8 of which advanced beyond the regional level to the New York State Competition at the Fairgrounds in Syracuse, NY and one of which is advancing to the World Finals in Iowa.

Our program is open to all school age kids in the area, including home-schooled children, children in private schools and children who attend public school in districts surrounding Skaneateles.

In the fall of 2026, we hope for the first time to expand our program to include a Primary Division (grades K-2).