Here you’ll find all you need to preparing for your journey to 2023 World Finals. This information can either be viewed and downloaded as a single document or by browsing subject-specific sections below.
Our hosts at Michigan State University and the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau have also assembled a coaches and spectators packet, welcoming you and providing the details you’ll need to make the most of your time at 2023 World Finals.
Read and follow the instructions carefully and be sure to use the World Finals Shipping Label (PDF) to assure that MSU Logistics stores your props correctly.
Prop storage locations will be open to team use beginning Tuesday, May 23, from 10:00am until 11:00pm that night. Additional prop storage hours
- Wednesday, May 24, and Thursday, May 25, from 7:00am – 11:00pm
- Friday, May 26 from 6:00am – 11:00pm
- Saturday, May 27, from 6:00am – 30 minutes after the last competition.
Any supplies or props without return shipping labels, left in prop storage rooms after that time, will be forfeited to Michigan State University and will be salvaged as appropriate. Access to prop storage facilities beyond 30 minutes past the last competition time on Saturday is prohibited.
A licensed driver must remain with the vehicle when loading and unloading props.
On-Campus
Your team will be pre-assigned to a Michigan State University residence hall based on your on-line Housing Registration submission. It is necessary to assign one person to every available bed to accommodate all teams.
Most residence hall rooms are double occupancy; however, some are single and triple occupancy rooms. Beds are single, twin XL size beds, and are lowered to trundle height. Residence halls are not air-conditioned. We recommend you bring a fan.
Student Life and Engagement has a limited amount of handicap-accessible residence hall rooms. It is very important to contact University Conference Services at 517-353-9300 with the team member’s information, including needed accommodations. Due to the limited amount of accessible rooms, Student Life & Engagement cannot guarantee that these team members will be housed with their team or state.
Each person is provided with a pillow, pillowcase, sheets, blanket, and two towels. Daily towel exchanges will be available at the service centers. There is free access to the laundry facilities in the residence halls; you will need to provide your own detergent.
Residence halls will be open from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. You must use the front entrance to enter a building between 10:00 pm to 7:00 am. Team members must scan their conference card to enter and will only be allowed entrance to the hall where they are housed. Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am daily. Out of respect for other competing teams, please keep noise at a minimum during quiet hours.
One computer lab will be available in each residential neighborhood, for guests to check email. Printing will not be available in these computer labs.
A 24-hour service center will be in each residence hall. Service Center staff can exchange towels, between 7am and 10pm, and provide information regarding housing, dining, and the MSU campus. Coin-operated, a Credit card and debit cards vending machines with soda, juice, and snacks are available in each hall and in various locations across campus. Please note that for security reasons there is no change available at any of our service center desks.
Off-Campus
For those seeking off-campus accommodations, a special webpage has been created to guide you through the local options.
Team Dining
You will be assigned to a specific dining center for your meals. All persons who have purchased Odyssey of the Mind housing packages will be issued a color-coded wristband, and a conference card, allowing them into the appropriate dining center.
Many special dietary needs (for example, a person with diabetes, or those who prefer a vegetarian diet), can be easily accommodated by choosing appropriately from the wide variety of choices that will be available at each meal. If you have a team member with a medically required dietary need (such as a food allergy), please contact Kelsey Patterson via email dietitians@ rhs.msu. edu or phone 517-884-7027, with the team members’ information and accommodation needs in advance of their arrival.
MSU Campus vending machines have the ability to take credit and debit cards as well as cash.
Guest Dining
Off-campus teams as well as guests of those living on campus have various dining service opportunities while on campus competing or encouraging. Guests may dine at Brody Square and the Thrive located in Owen Hall. Spectators must pay at the door at the dining facilities and eat with the team.
Odyssey on the Go – is a combo exchange option for lunch only, Meal options between 10:30 AM and 4:00 PM, the participant can go to any open Sparty’s location and swipe their conference meal card to receive a combo exchange for their lunch. Culinary will be using the Odyssey on the Go Combo button on the registers to complete this combo exchange. The combo exchange = 1 entrée, 1 snack and 1 beverage. You do not need to sign up for this, the Odyssey on the Go is in replacement of your lunch meal for that day.
Other on campus dining venues available:
Sparty’s Hours and Locations
Brody, Case, Holmes, Hubbard, McDonel, Wonders, Owen
Tuesday: 4:00pm – 11:00pm
Wednesday – Saturday: 7:30am – 11:00pm
Sunday: 7:30am – 12:00pm
Starbucks Hours and Locations
Monday- Saturday: 7:30am – 5:00pm
Sunday: 9am – 4:00pm
Sparty’s Market at 1855 Place
Monday-Saturday: 7:30am – 5:00pm
Sunday: 9am – 4:00pm
Crossroads Food Court at the International Center
Subway, Spartys
Monday: 10:00am-4:00pm
Tuesday – Wednesday: 10:00am-12:00am
Thursday – Friday: 7:30am-6:00pm
Saturday: 7:30am-4:00pm
Panda Express, Woodys
Monday-Friday: 11am-4pm
Health Services
The medical release form on the Odyssey of the Mind website (coming soon) is required. Every participant must have a form completed and signed by their parent/guardian. Forms will be kept in the possession of the team coach and must accompany the student to any medical intervention. Please bring your team’s completed forms with you to registration if they have not been uploaded on the World Finals website. Participants will not be allowed to register without the completed form.
McLaren Greater Lansing Hospital
2900 Collins Rd
Lansing, MI. 48910
Phone Number: 517-975-6000
E. W. Sparrow Hospital
Medical care is also available through the emergency department of Sparrow Hospital, located at 1215 East
Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI.
Phone Number: (517) 364-1000
Sparrow Urgent Care Center
East Lansing
2682 East Grand River
Phone: (517) 333-6562
Hours: Everyday, 8:00 am-8:00 pm
Campus Security
The MSU Department of Police and Public Safety would like you to have a safe time during your stay here at MSU. Our department is fully operational 24 hours a day. To reach us, call 911 for emergencies, or dial 517-355-2221 for non-emergencies. Although the MSU campus is a very safe place, common sense precautions should be always used.
For the safety of all, clear bag usage is required at Opening and Awards ceremonies in Breslin Event Center.
Permitted Bags
- Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″
- One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar)
- Small clutch bag, camera and binocular cases not exceeding 4.5″ x 6.5″, with or without a handle or strap
Non-Approved Bags
- Backpacks (even if made of clear material)
- Any non-clear bag exceeding the size limit including fanny packs, diaper bags, plastic bags and purses
Breslin Event Center’s full bag and prohibited items policy can be found here.
Join OMER and Dr. Sam for a special graduation ceremony the evening of May 26 at 7 p.m.
Open to graduating high school and college seniors missing their graduations to attend WF. The deadline to sign up was is April 26. The ceremony will take place in the Breslin Event Center. Spectators welcome and the event will be live streamed via YouTube!
Graduates, please arrive at the Breslin Event Center tunnel area at 6:30 to line up.
Odyssey of the Mind coaches and volunteers work hard to facilitate creative thinking – but that’s not the hardest part. All year they have to keep their creative ideas to themselves while the teams have all the fun! This competition is their chance to express themselves, solve a problem, and have fun doing so. And the best part – teams and parents can participate with the coach as well.
Download the Coaches Problem Here!
The competition will be held Friday, May 26th, following graduation. Arrive at the Breslin Center arena with all participants and your solution by 7:30 to sign up. Please remember to remain courteous to the OM Graduation Ceremony that will be taking place. Thank you!
We know that a lot of teams go into Spontaneous competition with some nerves as they’re about to face and solve unknown challenges. To ease those nerves, we’ve collected all of the info we CAN tell you about Spontaneous competition before you arrive!
All teams will be required to complete and submit the following forms (whether staying on or off campus):
- Team Contract (PDF)
(signed by team members & coach) - Media Release (PDF)
(signed by team members & coaches) - Insurance Waiver (PDF) (DOC)
(signed by team members/guardians, coaches, and anyone staying in campus housing) - Medical Release (PDF)
(signed by team members)
Teams can submit these forms through the Team Portal at OdysseyoftheMind.com before arriving on campus up to April 26, which will speed up registration during World Finals. Download Instructions for Pre-Check-in.
