Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. It teaches students how to think divergently by providing open-ended problems such as building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. Students learn how to identify challenges and think creatively to solve those problems. They are free to express their ideas and suggestions without fear of criticism. The creative problem-solving process rewards thinking "outside of the box." While conventional thinking has an important place in a well-rounded education, students need to learn how to think creatively and productively. Odyssey provides teams with the opportunity to learn creative problem solving, teamwork, brainstorming, self-reliance, and respect for individual strengths while having unique, unforgettable experience that will serve them in every aspect of their lives now and in the future. Teams bring their solutions to competition on the local, state, and World level. Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and from about 25 other countries participate in the program. The Connecticut Chapter (CTOM: a non-profit organization) had approximately 1400 students participate last year alone!