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I've heard a lot about pin trading, what is it?
Odyssey of the Mind Associations offer teams pins to trade while at World Finals. Pin trading is a great way to meet new friends from all over the world and to create a collection to help you remember your World Finals experience the rest of your life.
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Can anyone other than the team and coaches, like parents and siblings, stay in housing with us?
Yes! Parents are encouraged to stay with teams in the dorms. While filling out your Team Housing Registration Form simply add anyone wishing to stay in the dorms in the allotted space. The price is the same.
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Can we select different housing packages?
Yes, your team is allowed to mix housing packages.
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Our team is unable to make departing flight reservations on Sunday. Can we stay an extra day?
Yes! We also offer an additional day before and after the packages begin to accommodate teams with traveling difficulties. This information is included on your WF Lodging and Meals Reservation Form.
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How much is the registration fee?
If your team selects Odyssey "A" type housing packages, at least one for each team member and one coach (no matter who uses the packages), it does not have to pay a registration fee. Otherwise, the fee is $2500.
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How do we get to campus from the airport? Do you provide a shuttle?
The Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau is providing an affordable round trip shuttle option from the following airports: Des Moines, IA; Cedar Rapids, IA; Minneapolis, MN, Omaha, NE and Chicago, IL. When using this airport shuttle, bus transportation will take you to the World Finals registration site at the Iowa State Center. Shuttles to Ames will be available during the following days: Monday, May 21, 2012 through Thursday, May 24, 2012. Reservations for transfers from airports will be scheduled based on availability and demand on the above-listed days. Please visit the Airport Shuttle Desk at Registration to confirm your return shuttle time and location. These need to be confirmed as part of the registration process to receive your time and location for pick up. To make your reservations, visit www.visitames.com/worldfinals2012 . During the competition, Odyssey of the Mind will provide a free on-campus shuttle service.
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Where is team registration?
Team registration will take place at the Iowa State Center Scheman Building.
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What do we do if we arrive on campus after registration closes for the day?
Registration is open until Midnight on Tuesday and Wednesday; however, if you arrive after registration closes, just go to the ground floor of the Iowa State Center Scheman Building. ISU Staff will direct you to the appropriate location to check in and you can register in the morning.
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Are the dorms air-conditioned?
Some residence areas have air-conditioning; however, we cannot guarantee air-conditioned lodging in advance. A fan is recommended. The average temperature in Ames at this time of year is between 60 and 70 degrees. Check the weather forecast to make sure you pack the right clothes!
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Is there any place I can connect to the Internet when I'm on campus?
You'll be so busy practicing, pin trading and having fun that you won't have time to go on line; however, wireless internet access is available to you across campus. Residence apartments do not have wireless but do have wired internet access. All residence housing has plug-in access using the orange-colored jack in each room or bedroom. 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. Instructions for setting up guest access is available in the ISU Coach's Packet and on our website. See "Telephones/Contact Info"
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Can special dietary needs and/or food allergies be accommodated in the dining halls?
Yes. Many special dietary needs can be accommodated simply by choosing appropriately from the wide variety of choices that will be available at each meal and should not be listed on the Lodging and Meals Reservation Form. If you have a team member with a medically required dietary need (such as a food allergy), please list the member's full name, contact telephone number and description of requirement when you submit your Lodging and Meals Reservation Form.
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Can parents staying off campus eat in the same dining hall as the team?
Of course! Individual guest meals can be purchased at the entrance of most dining centers on a cash-only basis.
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What time do the dining halls close?
The dining centers close at 7:30 pm. If arriving to campus for registration, please plan to arrive at registration by 6:30 pm, to ensure that you will have time to take advantage of dinner in the dining centers.
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Our team is arriving after the dining halls close; however, the package we purchased includes dinner that day. Will dinner be provided?
Yes, during registration, box lunches will be available for teams arriving after dinner hours who are taking the Ames/ISU shuttle. For those who are making other arrangements to get to Ames, should plan their meals accordingly
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What is the penalty if we cancel our housing reservation?
There is no penalty if you cancel your reservation by Friday, April 27, 2012. Cancellations after April 27, 2012 are subject to a 50% penalty. NO CANCELLATIONS WHATSOEVER WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER MAY 7, 2012!
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Can we make changes to our housing reservations if we reserve our space now?
Absolutely! Please enter your information as quickly as possible. You can modify your housing reservations through Friday, April 27, 2012.
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What types of rooms are used for housing?
Your team will get the actual feeling of living like college students! As usual for university housing, most will be housed in traditional -style residence hall housing (the majority in double-occupancy rooms), with additional placements in triples, apartment style housing (with kitchenettes equipped with microwaves and stoves/no utensils), and off campus housing in nearby hotels. The majority of housing areas have group bathrooms (separate for males and females). If a medical condition requires you to get special housing, please note it on your housing registration and we'll do our best to accommodate the request.
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Will I be provided linens?
Yes! In an effort to make your stay easier, each person will be provided with a pillow, pillowcase, sheets, blanket, 2 towels, 1 washcloth and soap. Daily towel exchanges will be available at a centralized location. Feel free to bring your favorite pillow or blanket if you wish.
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Are laundry facilities available?
Yes, laundry facilities are available within the residence areas.
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When will we know where we're staying?
When you get to campus and register for your housing you will receive your housing assignment.
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Who will I room with?
When you fill out your Lodging and Meals Reservation Form you can request your roommate. We will do our best to accommodate you.
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Can anyone enter the residence halls?
Only ISU staff and Odyssey of the Mind teams and coaches assigned to the residence will have keys to the residence areas. Participants are not allowed in Department of Residence areas that are not assigned to their group unless accompanied by a responsible host registered for that area. If you have guests you must all behave appropriately and respect the other teams. Unruly behavior should be reported to the resident assistant, ISU staff, or Odyssey Information promptly. A 24-hour Conference Desk will be located in each residence area.
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Our team would like to stay in a hotel. Will you help us with those arrangements?
If you wish to be guaranteed hotel lodging, you can see a list of nearby hotels.
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Can teams staying off campus use the recreational facilities?
Yes, the registration fee covers all of the events and recreation opportunities at World Finals. These include the Creativity Festival, NASA E-Theater, and the International Festival. Team members and adults staying on campus are permitted to participate in recreational activities at Iowa State University-Ames. Team members must provide the medical release form to register and participate in any recreational activities. Towels, racquets, basketballs, etc. may be checked out at the recreation centers.
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Who can attend the competitions and ceremonies on campus and how much are the tickets?
Everyone is welcome to attend, and the event is free to the public. For the Opening and Awards Ceremonies you need a ticket to enter. Participating teams will get their tickets when they sign in at the Odyssey of the Mind registration desk. Spectators who are not staying in Odyssey housing may pick up their complimentary tickets on the day of the event at the Odyssey Information Booth or at the Arena Box Office the evening of the event. [Only one ticket per person will be distributed. This helps prevent over-distribution of tickets by giving mass quantities to more than one person from the same group.]
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Will I need a vehicle to get around campus?
Campus will operate a free local shuttle service throughout the competition connecting the residence halls, central campus and the Iowa State Center.
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Do drivers need a parking permit?
Teams living in residence housing on campus will be able to park in assigned areas adjacent to or within easy walking distance of their living area at no charge. Those not staying in the residence halls should park at the Iowa State Center south of the main campus. There is no charge for parking in this area and a free shuttle is provided to central campus. Additional parking adjacent to central campus is available at the Memorial Union parking ramp, although there is an hourly charge. Other university lots are assigned to university staff and are restricted areas.
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Can I get a handicapped parking permit?
Only state-issued handicapped parking permits will be honored in the unrestricted lots.
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We would like to drive our RV to campus. May we park on campus?
Individuals are not permitted to stay in RVs and Campers on campus.
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When can we check on our props? If we are driving our props to campus, where do we deliver them?
After May 1 you can check ISU's Distribution Services Web Site to see if your shipment has been received. Be sure to follow size restrictions on the crates you use to ship your props! A shipping and receiving clerk will be available when you arrive at registration. If you arrive on Thursday or Friday, a prop information table will be set up in Memorial Union. Coaches may inquire at either of these locations for information concerning your props. Cartons correctly sized and marked will be delivered directly to the competition site where participants will load and unload their own props and carry them to the appropriate storage area. Oversized containers might not be accepted. Be sure to follow the dimension limits! If you are driving your props to campus, you should deliver them directly to the storage room for the competition site. Please inquire at the prop information table. For additional information, click here.
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How do we arrange to ship our props home?
Teams who wish to ship materials home must arrange for prepaid or COD shipment with the trucking firm of their choice. A colored return label to apply to the carton(s) must be obtained from the Prop Information booth at the Scheman Center/Memorial Union to identify cartons to be picked up for return shipment. Props left behind will be discarded. For additional information, click here.
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When will the competition schedule be available?
The tentative competition schedule will be available on Tuesday, May 1st until Thursday, May 3rd at Noon. The final competition schedule will be posted on Saturday, May 5th.
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How do I contact my child once the team arrives on campus?
Most cell phones work on campus and in the residence halls. Team members should call home and give family members their residence hall name, room number, and the 24-Hour Conference Desk number for that area. In the event of an emergency at home, the number for family members to call is the ISU Police at 515-294-4428. ISU Police will assist in locating the participant.
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Is there a health center on campus in the event of an emergency?
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 McFarland Urgent Care Clinic provides care for acute, non-emergent health problems or injuries that require immediate attention. The Urgent Care Clinic is located in the Family Medicine East location at 1018 Duff Avenue. Medical care is also available through the emergency room of Mary Greeley Medical Center located at 12th Street and Duff Avenue.
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Will any of the events be broadcast online?
Opening Ceremonies, the Graduation Ceremony and the Awards Ceremony will be broadcast as a live web cast during the ceremony as it occurs.
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How soon will I be able to view my child's picture online?
The photo gallery will begin on Wednesday and be added to throughout the event and after World Finals. Not all photos will be posted in the gallery. Team photos are provided by Premier Portraits Studio and you can get more information while having your team picture taken.
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Who is eligible to participate in the graduation ceremony?
If you are missing your graduation ceremony because you are attending the Odyssey of the Mind 2012 World Finals, you are invited to participate in the graduation ceremony. Due to time and space restrictions, we cannot invite all students to participate. To participate in the graduation ceremony, please complete the graduation form in your winner's packet and return to CCI before April 27, 2012. Graduates are encouraged to wear caps and gowns for this ceremony. However, everyone is encouraged to attend the event in order to support their fellow participants and see Dr. Sam and OMER!
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When will we see the team's scores on the website?
The team's scores will be available on the website immediately after the Awards Ceremony ends on Saturday evening.
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What is OMER'S News and where can I find it?
OMER's News is the daily Odyssey of the Mind World Finals Newsletter. The first edition is available when you arrive on campus and new editions are distributed each day starting Thursday morning. OMER's News can be found in the residence halls, at locations throughout campus, and on line at here.
