Three Biddeford student teams were named Odyssey of the Mind State Champions earlier this month, sending them to the World Finals in Michigan in May.

Led by Odyssey of the Mind District Coordinator Victoria Salo, each of the teams were given a long-term problem and were tasked with presenting their solution at the state competition.

“It’s all about teamwork and creativity,” Salo said.

In teams of seven, students from kindergarten through high school, work together to problem solve, create props, backdrops, costumes and sometimes a technical device.

Students are able to develop new skills, as well as use skills not used in the classroom, like sewing or engineering.

“A lot of the students go outside of their comfort zones to learn new skills,” Salo said. “They’re able to express themselves their way, and listen to everybody’s ideas.”

The two Biddeford High School teams advancing to the World Finals each solved a different problem. One team designed and built a robotic animal that performs tricks in order to make characters happy.

The other team created an original, humorous performance about a team-created civilization that tells the story of the civilization through its myths about stars and constellations.

“It made people cry. Even the judges were in tears,” Salo said. “To me, that was a performance.”

As an extra-curricular program, Odyssey of the Mind is available to everyone, Salo said.

“You don’t have to be an honor student,” she said.

The Biddeford teams are coached by Salo, but she takes a hands-off approach, offering limited help to the students. Everything the students build or make has to be entirely created by them.

“It’s hard, because you want to jump in and help them, but when it comes together and you see them perform and how proud they are, that’s the most special part,” Salo said.

This year marks the 14th time a Biddeford Odyssey of the Mind team has placed among the top three in the state, and the 12th time they have qualified for the World Finals, a testament to the district’s commitment to creativity, innovation, and student-led learning, said Salo.

Over the years, Biddeford’s Odyssey of the Mind program has grown, with team participation increasing by 75% over the past eight years.

Biddeford High School’s tradition of creative excellence is demonstrated by this year’s winning teams, Superintendent Jeremy Ray said.

“This achievement reflects the remarkable problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and innovative thinking our students consistently demonstrate,” Ray said.

Although the teams’ achievements are worth celebrating, the most rewarding part of the challenge is seeing the light bulbs go off and the friendships made, Salo said.

“You see them growing up and going through this, watching them learn and change something for the better,” Salo said. “It’s really kind of cool.”