Dalton Middle’s Odyssey of the Mind team members find creative way to interact with senior citizens

Published 2:22 pm Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Ariana Avila, an eighth-grader at Dalton Middle School, admits she didn’t pay attention to the elderly before participating in an Odyssey Angels project, a voluntary component of Odyssey of the Mind.

Odyssey of the Mind is an “international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college,” its website states. “Team members apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics.”

Avila said after spending time with seniors at the Tranquility of Dalton Senior Living Home and Chatsworth Health Care Center, her outlook changed.

“I have a better understanding of seniors,” she said. “They are so nice, cute and fun to spend time with. They have a lot to share.”

Avila is a member of the Odyssey of the Mind team at Dalton Middle that includes sixth-graders Andre’ Avila, Eli Crow, Spencer Hayes, Will Merryman and Ben Thorne and seventh-grader Audrey Marie Merryman. This year the team formed the Odyssey Angels.

“Team members are encouraged to find a need in the community and creatively meet it,” Juli Hayes, the team’s coordinator, said. “Our team chose isolation in the elderly.”

Juli Hayes said team members wanted to bridge the generational gap and find ways to help the elderly feel cared for and involved. In January the team members began making “I Spy” bottles to give to those in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and senior centers.

“I Spy” bottles are two-liter soda bottles filled with rice and 25 to 30 trinkets such as safety pins, thimbles, toothbrushes, pens and other items. The items are listed on a piece of paper on the outside of the bottle by color specific to the item.

“Young and old alike are challenged to see if they can find all the items,” Juli Hayes said. “It’s a unique way to help them find common ground.”

She said it’s also a great way to assist in memory recognition. She said the team members chose to do “I Spy” bottles because they are a “unique conversation piece.”

“It’s something that will help the elderly if they are having cognitive problems,” she said. “If someone has dementia it’s helpful to spark their memory.”

Juli Hayes said because there were extra bottles made, the students gave some to emergency rooms, libraries, crisis centers and other places.

“Everyone seems to enjoy and appreciate the bottles,” she said.

Except for Audrey and Will Merryman, the team members have been together for five years, first at Westwood Elementary. The Dalton Middle team was formed last August.

In 2017 for the first time in school history, the team competed in the World Finals for Odyssey of the Mind in Michigan. They placed fifth in their division out of 57 teams.

Martha Thomason, the coordinator for last year’s team, said the students were appreciative of monetary donations from members of the community that helped them travel to the World Finals. One of the largest contributions was from an elderly woman who wished to remain anonymous. Thomason said the woman had lunch with the students and learned about Odyssey of the Mind.

“She’s traveled a lot, so she told them about interacting with kids from other countries,” Thomason said. “The students realized there is an untapped resource with the elderly who have stories and experiences to share.”

Thomason said the students meeting the donor has been beneficial for both. She said the students wanted to “pay it forward” and find a meaningful way to support their community. She said the “I Spy” bottles are a great way to give back. Some Westwood students have helped make the bottles.

“The students found themselves getting as much joy out of the experience as the seniors and other recipients,” she said. “I can’t think of a better way to help students become caring, contributing members of their community.”

Julie Dyer, program coordinator for the Dalton-Whitfield Senior Center, said the bottles are popular among seniors at the center.

“I didn’t hesitate when Juli (Hayes) described to me how the ‘I Spy’ bottles work,” Dyer said. “The interesting thing is even if seniors don’t have fine motor skills they can still hold bottles or roll them on the table.”

Dyer said it’s a “unique way” to help bridge the gap between the students and adults.

“Kids are making them, but the young and old appreciate it,” Dyer said.

Dyer likes that the bottles are good “ice breakers,” too.

“It gives you something to talk about automatically,” she said. “There is so much senior citizens can share with our kids if we can just find a way to connect.”

Juli Hayes said she wants to send a message to not forget seniors.

“People don’t visit them often and there are few resources for them,” she said.

She said it doesn’t cost much to buy a Bingo game or puzzle to share.

“You don’t have to visit a long time, but get involved,” she said. “These are wonderful people, don’t forget them.”

Spencer Hayes said the Odyssey Angels assignment has shown him a lot about seniors.

“They always have stories to tell,” he said.

Crow said she’s thankful to have gotten to know seniors through this assignment and plans to continue spending time with them.

“I think it’s healthy to appreciate the elderly more because they have a lot of good life lessons to share,” she said.