During World Finals: Resources
May 27 UPDATE:
Parking on Campus
Currently there are Odyssey of the Mind vehicles that are illegally parked. Vehicles should NOT be parked in any red 24-hour reserved spots or yellow general faculty reserved spots. If you are parked in the following lots, you need to move your car immediately before it is ticketed and towed. Thank you for your cooperation:
- Lot 59
- Lot 59A
- Lot 1
- Lot 67
- Lot 82
- Lot 56
- Lot 80
Parking is available in the following orange or blue lots:
Iowa State Center Lots
Lot 63
Lot 29
As with most college campuses, parking is limited especially in the central campus area. Iowa State University is fortunate to have some larger parking lots on the perimeter of campus and we ask that you please abide by the parking recommendations and pay special attention to the ISU faculty/staff reserved parking spots on campus.
Residence Area Parking
Teams living in residence housing on campus that are traveling with a standard sized vehicle will receive a parking pass during team registration that includes recommended parking lot location based on their assigned residence hall. It is important to follow these parking lot recommendations in order to accommodate all visitors on campus. The passes will be issued upon receiving your residence hall keys and the pass must include a cell phone number for the driver of the vehicle in case our parking division needs to reach out during the event.
Oversized Vehicles
If your team is traveling with an oversized vehicle such as a box truck, trailer, or charter bus those vehicles are required to park in the Iowa State Center Lot or Wallace/WilsonTowers Lot (Parking Lot 61A or 61B) during the week. . No longterm oversized vehicle parking allowed on central campus. The Iowa State Center (Hilton Coliseum, Scheman, Fisher, Stephens Auditorium) has the CY Ride Shuttle transfer stop on the west side of Stephens Auditorium, making it convenient to shuttle to campus. A good rule of thumb, if your vehicle takes up more than one spot, then park at the recommended oversized vehicle lot.
Commuter Parking
Those not staying in residence housing on campus are required to park at the Iowa State Center (free). The shuttle transfer station is located on the West side of Stephens Auditorium. The shuttle is provided to central campus. Additional parking adjacent to central campus is available at the Memorial Union parking ramp with an hourly charge. Other lots are assigned to university staff.
Please take care to avoid restricted areas.
OMER’s World News is the daily Odyssey of the Mind World Finals newsletter.
The Welcome Edition will be available in-print when you arrive on campus and is also available here in PDF format. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday’s editions will be digital-only, available on the OMER’s World app (download via Apple App Store / download via Google Play) and on this website each day of the event.
Always know the next step of your World Finals adventure and navigate the ISU campus with confidence. Click to view the campus map featuring important buildings on campus and shuttle routes.
Check out our extensive guide to the ISU campus neighborhoods, featuring maps and details on parking, weather and emergency procedures, wristbands, and dining options for each housing neighborhood.
An Odyssey of the Mind Information Desk will be available on campus to assist visitors, located in the
Memorial Union Information Desk, Room 2630
Tuesday 1:00pm to 6:00pm
Wednesday to Friday 8:00am to 6:00pm
Saturday 8:00am to 4:00pm
CyRide, the city’s public transit system, will operate a free bus service throughout the competition connecting the residence areas, central campus, and the Iowa State Center. CyRide also will offer free rides throughout Ames for Odyssey of the Mind participants and coaches wearing their wristbands. Teams that are not on an Odyssey package and are staying off campus in hotels will need to navigate CYRide’s summer schedule based on location of their hotel.
CyRide’s central campus ‘orange’ route will be operating during the following hours; the shuttle stop hub is located at the Iowa State Center on the west side of Stephens Auditorium.
Tuesday, May 26 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Wednesday, May 27 6:30 am – 11:00 pm
Thursday, May 28 6:30 am – 11:00 pm
Friday, May 29 6:30 am – 11:00 pm
Saturday, May 30 6:30 am – Sunday 1:00 am
Sunday, May 31 2:00 am – 12:00 pm
State Gym – Gymnasium
Volleyball, basketball, rock climbing wall
Cost: Free; included with team package
Thursday – 11:30 am to 5:30 pm; 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm (Division 3 & 4 only)
Friday – 11:30 am to 5:30 pm; 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm (Division 3 & 4 only)
Saturday – 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Rock Climbing Waivers: Adult / Minor
State Gym – Pool
Swimming
Cost: Free; included with team package
Thursday – Noon- to 5:30pm; 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm (Division 3 & 4 only)
Friday – Noon- to 5:30pm; 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm (Division 3 & 4 only)
Saturday – 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Team members should have provided the medical release form during Odyssey of
the Mind registration.
Towels, racquets, basketballs, etc. may be checked out at the recreation centers.
Cy-Bowl – bowling & billiards
Cost: Free; included with team package
Friday – 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Saturday – 1:00 – 4:00 pm
IMPORTANT: Please print and prepare the ISU Medical Forms which will only be needed if a team member need to access on-campus health services.
Thielen Student Health Center
The Thielen Student Health Center is located on the corner of Union Drive and Sheldon (west edge of campus, directly west of Beyer Hall, across the street from State Gym). The phone number is 515.294.5801. Fees will be billed to the participant or their insurance company. For minors seeking care, you must have medical release/insurance information with you. If prescription medications are ordered, they may be filled at the health center pharmacy, if open, or at a local commercial pharmacy. The pharmacy will bill your pharmacy benefit plan if you provide them with that information.
The Thielen Student Health Center is open during the following hours:
Monday, May 25 – 7:30 am – 4:00pm
Tuesday, May 26– 7:30 am – 4:00 pm
Wednesday, May 27 – 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Thursday, May 28 – 7:30 am – 4:00 pm
Friday, May 29 – 7:30 am – 4:00 pm
Locate Thielen Health Center on ISU Map:
https://tinyurl.com/thielen-center
McFarland Clinic Ames
Urgent Care
The McFarland Urgent Care Clinic provides care for acute, non-emergent health problems or injuries that require immediate attention. The urgent Care Clinic is available during evenings and weekends by appointment only. You do not have to be an established McFarland Clinic patient to be served in the Urgent Care Clinic. To schedule your same-day appointment at the McFarland Urgent Care Clinic, please call 515.956.4044.
The Urgent Care Clinic is located at 3815 Stange Road, Ames, IA
https://www.mcfarlandclinic.com/communities/ames/mcfarland-urgent-care
Express Care
McFarland Clinic offers same day and next day appointments for common illnesses, and is available inside both Hy-Vee Grocery Store locations in Ames.
Hy-Vee Lincoln Center – 640 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA
Hy-Vee West Ames – 3800 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA
Hours of Urgent Care and Express Care
Monday through Friday: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
https://www.mcfarlandclinic.com/specialties/express-care
Mary Greeley Medical Center (MGMC)
Medical care also is available through the emergency room of MGMC at
1111 Duff Ave, Ames, IA
https://www.mgmc.org/
First Nurse phone line
First Nurse is a free health-information community service that allows you to speak with a specially trained registered nurse. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call 1-515-239-6877 or toll-free at 1-800-524-6877
Campus has wireless internet access available to you across campus. All of residence housing has plug-in access to the Internet using the data jack, so be sure to bring an Ethernet cord if you are planning to plug in for non-wireless access. ISU has a service that allows campus visitors access to the Internet during their event to browse the web and check email.
1. On your WiFi Settings select IA-State – Guest
2. Read the terms and select “Accept.”
Questions regarding registration for guest access may be directed to the IT Services Solution Center at 515.294.4000.
