A total of 65 teams from 14 school districts from Orange, Sullivan, Ulster, and Dutchess counties came together to compete in the Mid-Hudson Regional Odyssey of the Mind Competition (New York State Region 5) on Saturday, March 4. Among the winners this year were three Pine Bush schools: Pine Bush High School for Division III, Crispell Middle School for Division II and Pakanasink Elementary School for Division I.

Pakanasink won for “Problem No. 4: Where’s the Structure,” which Crispell and the high school won for “Problem No. 5: The Most Dramatic Problem Ever!!!”

Pine Bush competed against the following area school districts: Chester Union Free School District, Eldred Central School District, Goshen Central School District, Greenwood Lake Union Free School District, Middletown Enlarged City School District, Minisink Valley Central School District, Monroe-Woodbury Central School District, Port Jervis City School District, Spackenkill Union Free School District, Valley Central School District, Warwick Valley Central School District, and Washingtonville Central School District.

Orange-Ulster BOCES hosted the event at the Emanuel Axelrod Education Center on the Amy Bull Crist Campus in Goshen.

Odyssey of the Mind is an intellectual contest of creativity, resourcefulness, mental acuity and expression. The focus of the competition is on creative problem solving using a team approach. It is based on the concept that “mind games” can be played with as much enthusiasm and competitive spirit as athletic games.

The problems are divided into five categories that include both long-term and spontaneous problem solving. Teams are scored on a combination of points earned from long-term solutions, spontaneous solutions and style. First place winners in each problem and division will advance to the New York State Odyssey of the Mind Tournament at the New York State Fairgrounds.

For a complete list of results, visit nyodyssey.org/regional-results.