By Martin Milierchip

Contributing Writer
mm iller@usnews.com

“EVERYBODY goes or
nobody goes,” 11-year-
old Kelly Williamson
says firmly on behalf of
the small group of
Grade 5 students clus-
tered outside West Bay
elementary school in
West Vancouver.

But it’s a long way they
have to go — and the price
tag is $15,000.

Hope and enthusiasm rico-
chet among the young girls as
they describe plans for a
garage sale, a schoo} airplane
race (“thavll get lots of
boys”), and selling the ubiqui-
tous chickens and donuts.

But they need the money
for their airfares to Maryland,
U.S.A., by May 14 and with:
out a business benefactor(s)
they probably won’t make the
deadiiac.

- The girls have been chosen
to represent their school, West
Vancouver and British
Columbia at the Odyssey of
the Mind (OM) ‘Vorld Finals
in the first week of Tune.

It’s the equivalent of being
chosen to represent your
country at. the mental
olympics.

If they come up with the
money, they will be compet-
ing with approximately 5,000
other children from all over
the world at the University of
Maryland.

“Iv’s a once in a lifetime
opportunicy and we all really
want to go \ when we have the
chance,” says 10- -year-ald
Amanda Francis.

Smithsonian Magazine has
described the-OM Finals as

“(a dizzying four-day

-thinkathon that looks like
some kind of kooky cross
between a scence fair, mas-
querade party, performing arts

est and the Olympics.”

In a nutshell, OM is an
extra-/co-curricular program
that teaches children the value
of solving problems creatively.

Every day the problems of
life require creative sclutions,
but how many of us are really
taught creative problem-solv-

fashion art

$ travel

___ NORTH SHORE J IFE

Sunday, May 4, 1997 — North Shore News — 15

K...K... KK... KEMA is her
name, and she is the cre-. .
ative solution responsible
-for West Bay’s potential
to represent B.C. at the”
1997 Odyssey of the ©

Mind (OM) World Finals
in Maryland. .

“She had to do six”.
human actions, so Kema

: OMerdroid (annoy ae i
‘ bad to be presented ‘durin

“Tsdian in the Ciephoard
_and The. Wissrd & 6 5

NEWS photo Grad Ledwidge

EVEN girls and their OMerdroid are hoping to represent Gritish Coiumbia at the Odyssey of the Mind World
Finals in Maryland, U.S. The team from West Bay Eiementary School needs to raise $15,000 — much of it by
May 14. Lefi: to right they are: Kelly Williamson, K...K...K...Kema, Katie O’Neill, Michaela Negrin, Emily
Schaeffer, Kathryn Roston, Amanda Francis and Kathleen Johnston.

ing? asks OM founder Sam
Micklus.

“We want to teach an atti-
tude toward problem-solving
thar will remain a lifelong
asset,” says Mickius, professor
emeritus at Rowan College,
New Jersey.

Believing students simply

_Weren’t being caught the

“capacity for divergent think-
ing,” Micklus wrote some
problems and started a com-
petition for New Jersey cle-
mentary and secondary stu-

- dents in 1978.

From a smail beginning of
28 coinpeting schools, OM
has flourished not only in the
States, but worldwide. OM
boasts an association member-
ship of over 13,000 schools
and community programs.

This year’s finals will see over can navigate a course, stop, Kathryn

Roston, who,

700 teams participating in
four age divisions.

Working under the guid-
ance of coaches, teams of five
to seven students develop cre-
ative solutions to problems
and get the opportunity to
test those solutions agains:
other teams.

In competition, teams are
judged in three areas: the
effectiveness of the solution to
the long-term problem (200
points); the style of the solu-
tion and its overall effect (50
points); and the solution to a
spontaneous problem given to
the teams on competition day
(100 points).

Could you design a a vehi-
cle costing less than $35 and
powered only by springs that

start and back up with a rea-
sonable degree of precision?

That was the “Leonardo
da Vinci Spring Car” chal-
lenge.

Dunng the car’s journey
around a set course, the stu-
dents involved entered a
“time machine” in which they
transformed _ their spring-dri-
ven vehicle from the 16th cen-
tury to the 20th century.

Besides creativity and its
application to problem-solv-
ing, OM _ encourages the
development of co-operation,
self-respect and understanding
of others through its team-
learning mode.

“One person has an idea
and if we like it we try to
expand it,” says 10-year-old

although she doesn’t know it,
has been developing her mar-
keting, planning, presentation
and sales skills ac well as learn-
ing. to deliver a project on
time and on budget.

She and her team members
are hoping there are other
corporate sponsors: (besides
the North Shore Credit
Union, which has already con-
tributed $500) willing to
invest in the business employ-
ees of the future.

Coach Elizabeth Johnston,
mother of team member
Kathleen, says the girls would
be happy to wear corporate
logos “or anything” — in
Maryland.

If you're willing to help,
call Johnston at 922-4939,

Youth Week starts today

By Deana Lancaster
Contributing Writer deana@nsnews.cont,

TAKE special care to notice and appreci-
ate the youth in your life this week.

Today is the first day of Youth Week °97 — a time
for Canada to stop and recognize the positive impact
so many youths have on our lives.

On the North Shore, all three municipalities, as
well as a host of sponsors, have teamed up to provide
a staggering list of celebratory events.

The week kicked-off ‘ast night at Seylynn Hall
with the Swinging Udders and guests.

But don’t despair if you missed it — the festivities
continue through the week, featuring youth achieve-
ment awards at both North Vancouver Distric: and
Ciry halls, and a youth delegation to West Vaac ouver
Council; speaker presentations and roundtalie dis-
cussions; a barbecue and pool tournament. : talent
show and countless other activities.

It all winds up next Saturday, May 19 at the Youth
°97 Festival at Ambleside Park.

Billed as a “mega-event,” it will feature perfor-

YES Canada-BC has also joined the celebration
with an essay writing contest and an online youth
forum.

The essay contest is open to yout: 18 and under
and asks the questions: Many youth say the media
portray them negatively. Do you agree? Why du you
think this takes place? How can youth gain greater
recognition in society? Submit your essay by fax, e-
mail or snail-mail to Essay writing contest c/o YES
Canada BC, 5050 Kingsway, Ste. 606, Burnaby B.C.,
V5H 4C3; editor@careerpathsonline. com; tele
phone: 435-1937, fax: 435-5548.

Prizes include books, T-shirts and more. The win-
ning essays will also be published on the Carcer Paths
and Motiv8 websites.

The online youth chat is scheduled for May 7 from
3 to 5 p.m. at http://careerpathsonline.com/chat.
Young people aged 18 and unde er are invited to join a
lively internet discussion on topics ranging from
youth employment to drugs and alcohol, violence,
education, relationships, youth rights and more.

YES Canada-BC is a non-profit agency dedicated
to helping people with employment barriers enter
into the work force or further education and train-

PFEPARATIONS are underway for | the grand opening of the Quter = mances by comedian Sam Easton, drama by the — ing.
Limits Youth Lounge aiong with a celebration of youth achievernent, Breakfast Club, a martial arts demonstration, danc-

to take place on Thursday, May 15 from 7 te 10 p.m. at the Lonsdale ing, music and more. Head down to the park

Rec Centre. . between noon and 6 p.m. to take part.

For a complete schedule of Youth Week events see