From balsa wood to the world stage: Fundraising push underway as first-ever team heads to World Finals in Iowa
What begins as a handful of sticks, string and imagination can sometimes hold more than just weight.
At York Avenue Elementary, it is holding up a dream.
For the first time in school history, a team of genius fifth- and sixth-graders is heading to the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals, a global competition that draws hundreds of teams and thousands of students from across the country and around the world. Their journey, years in the making, has been equal parts engineering challenge, creative performance and community effort.
“They’ve been working and improving each year, and it’s incredible to me that they’ve learned and grown so much, so quickly,” said coach Molly Whetstone, who helps run the team with coach Jason Wood. “It’s really special to be this homegrown team from the smallest school in the district that is now competing against the best in the world.”
A four-year build to something bigger
The team of whiz kids — Lucy Wood, Zach Marshall, Luke Avery, Malcolm Campbell, Jack Whetstone, Celia McDermott and Caroline Grubb — has been together since 2022, when they started as a group of younger elementary students just learning the ropes of Odyssey of the Mind.
Back then, Whetstone said, even the coaches were figuring things out.
“Most of us didn’t actually understand how OM worked that first year, but we did our best,” she said. “From that point on they were hooked.”
Each season, they sharpened their skills — learning to think creatively, solve complex problems and trust each other under pressure. This year, competing in Division II’s “Life’s a Ball!” problem, they combined engineering and performance to earn second place at both regional and state competitions, punching their ticket to Worlds.
Their challenge required building a delicate balsa wood structure capable of holding immense weight—while also staging a full theatrical performance involving timing, storytelling and improvisation.
“Their structure held 755 pounds, which is amazing,” Whetstone said. “But what really set them apart was their creative, humorous performance and their spontaneous problem solving. It was a true team effort.”
More than a competition
Odyssey of the Mind is not your typical competition. There are no sideline instructions, no last-minute coaching adjustments. Every idea, design and decision comes from the students themselves.
“It’s one of those programs that really lets kids shine in ways you don’t always get to see,” parent Christine Marshall wrote on the team’s fundraising page. “The kids do everything themselves. Every idea, every design, every decision.”
That independence has translated into growth far beyond the competition stage.
“Most of the kids were extremely shy third graders when we started,” Whetstone said. “Now they’re confident performers who seek out lead roles. It’s been amazing to watch them unlock these hidden talents.”
Along the way, they have learned everything from sewing costumes and using power tools to building spreadsheets to manage their budget.
“I see them work together and encourage each other in ways that you don’t see with other activities,” she added. “This experience has given them the confidence to put themselves out there and take on difficult challenges.”
A global stage — and a local effort to get there
The Odyssey of the Mind World Finals, held this year at Iowa State University, will feature more than 700 teams representing 30 states and 10 countries. Thousands of students will compete in what is widely considered one of the largest creative problem-solving competitions in the world.
For York Avenue, the opportunity is historic — and expensive.
“Making it to the World Finals is a huge accomplishment, but the costs are significant,” Whetstone said. “Lodging alone for the team and coaches is roughly $7,000, and that doesn’t include travel, transporting their set, props and costumes, or expenses for families.”
Fundraising efforts have included community events like a recent benefit by Eileen McNulty at The Main Freeze in Lansdale, along with ongoing online donations.
Donate to the team now. Sponsorships for the team are also welcome, organizers said.
Supporters can contribute through:
“Every dollar will be vital in making this trip possible,” Whetstone said. “We’re collecting donations right up to our departure on May 26.”
A community behind them
The team’s success has rippled far beyond the classroom, drawing support from teachers, families and the broader North Penn community.
“The entire York Ave community has been so encouraging — teachers even traveled on their own time to watch them compete,” Whetstone said. “It feels like an accomplishment for the whole school.”
Board members, parents and fellow students have rallied around the team, recognizing both the rarity of the achievement and the work behind it.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these kids,” Marshall said. “They’re representing not just their school, but the entire North Penn School District on an international stage.”
Marshall said the best part about the experience has been the way each student has stepped out of their respective comfort zones.
"They're growing in ways I don't think they thought they would. It's awesome to see how they've worked together year to year," she said.
Building something that lasts
Win or lose in Iowa, the impact of the experience is already cemented for these adolescent Einsteins and little Lamarrs.
The team helped grow the Odyssey of the Mind program at York Avenue from a single group into three full teams in just a few years. And for the sixth-graders, this final season at the elementary level carries added meaning as they prepare to move on to middle school.
But their foundation — built from balsa wood, teamwork and imagination — will carry forward.
“They’ve learned an incredible blend of practical skills and life skills,” Whetstone said. “And more importantly, they’ve learned how to believe in themselves.”
And in Odyssey of the Mind, that might just be the strongest structure of all.
