Creativity Reigns at 2026 Odyssey of the Mind Region 5 Tournament

A total of 66 teams from 12 school districts from Orange and Dutchess counties came together to compete in the Mid-Hudson Regional Odyssey of the Mind Competition (New York State Region 5) on Saturday, Feb 28, 2026. 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.

The first place winners are:

Problem No. 1: Off the Rails

• Division I: East Main Elementary School (Port Jervis)
• Division II: Warwick Valley Middle School
• Division III: Warwick Valley High School

Problem No. 2: Lost in Omerland

• Division I: Sanfordville Elementary School (Warwick)
• Division II: Monroe-Woodbury Middle School
• Division III: Warwick Valley High School

Problem No. 3: Classics…The Epic Quest

• Division I: Park Avenue Elementary School (Warwick)
• Division II: Warwick Valley Middle School
• Division III: Warwick Valley High School

Problem No. 4: Life’s a Ball!

• Division I: Round Hill Elementary (Washingtonville)
• Division II: Orville A. Todd Middle School (Spackenkill)
• Division III: Washingtonville High School

Problem No. 5: Taller Tales of John Jivery

• Division I: Goshen Intermediate School
• Division II: Circleville Middle School (Pine Bush)

Complete results will be posted at: https://www.nyodyssey.org/regional-results-2

Participating school districts included:

• Chester Union Free School District
• Florida Union Free School District
• Goshen Central School District
• Middletown Enlarged City School District
• Minisink Valley Central School District
• Monroe-Woodbury Central School District
• Pine Bush Central School District
• Port Jervis City School District
• Spackenkill Union Free School District
• Valley Central School District
• Warwick Valley Central School District
• Washingtonville Central School District