Starting up SciOly?

[musical]

Science Olympiad has never been offered at any school I've gone to, but I've been involved with Science Bowl, which, from what I've read, is quite different.
But, I really enjoy science, so I'm taking the initiative to start it up, since apparently no one else has been willing to (no science teams in my school to present date)

Thank you so much for those links and your tips! It sounds like hard work but doable, and it's actually quite encouraging to hear experience, what to do, and especially what not to do
you guys are awesome, I really appreciate all your input.

My friend showed me this website, and it's about the fifth link down on google.

Just curious--how often do you guys meet, and do you do most of your studying individually?
There's 23 events, but also events for each state, which you have to prepare for in addition? I've been looking this up but haven't found anything about it.

I have seen the projected list of events, and I figure that some events remain on the list, year after year...such as astronomy, write it do it, anatomy, etc..?

[zyzzyva980]

It looks like you're in Texas, which does have some trial events but I'm not sure they are required. Lucky for you, there are several active Texans on the board that I'm sure would be happy to talk to you about it.

[tuftedtitmouse12]

for study events, i study...and sadly, i take science olympiad much more seriously than my other teammates, meaning that i get stuck with the loads of work, while my partners get to take it easy. but i would assume that each partner would get a fair share of each, and work on it seperately. we have meetings about 3 hours long 3 or 4 times a week, but when competitions start coming around the corner, we kick it up a notch and start meeting 5 days a week, and getting together over the weekends. at meetings, you come together and see what you both have accomplished as a whole and what you need to work on and etc.

yes, some events never change, but the topic rotates. such as meteorology, compute this, astronomy, and WIDI...and like Z said, you can go find people from TX that could probably answer your questions better than i or anyone else not from TX...

[chia]

There's 23 events, but also events for each state, which you have to prepare for in addition? I've been looking this up but haven't found anything about it.

Though events change from year to year, each year's events are more or less the same at the invitational, regional, state, and national competitions, with the exception of trial events and maybe some states like New York?

Just curious--how often do you guys meet, and do you do most of your studying individually?

It depends on the team. I think most teams meet at least once during the school week, and some manage to meet more often. Only studying during meetings will probably not be enough to be well prepared for competitions. I don't know if you caught this, but each event can be done by up to two (on occasion three) members, and you can have 15 people on a team. Don't worry about that yet - just try to get as much interest as possible - but to answer your question, yes, we study individually, but usually try to coordinate studying with our partners.

[foreverphysics]

Science Olympiad is honestly one of the best things to ever happen to me, no matter that I've been waiting for it for six years.
Starting up a team...if you live near a university (like we do), you can ask some professors to help coach. Also, if you have some really smart students, you can let them study some, and then let them coach. That's kind of what we do--students doing SO in the 8th or 9th grade are required to student coach an event.
You also do need an adult sponsor, but everyone has already covered that, so I won't say anything about that. Just know that if you have a choice, go for the brilliant, funny, and disorganized/slightly organized type for the coach. They're the best.
Remember that this WILL NOT work out if you do not incorporate everyone and try to make everything go as smoothly as possible, and have a practice schedule. You also need to know how to make others WANT to do it. Our team won State the very first year we had a team (sixteen years ago) because our coach knew how to motivate the people back then into studying and working hard. Back then, I don't think we even had many resources. Now we have two labs full of SO stuff in the middle school (and one is actually dedicated completely to SO--it's actually called the SO lab), two classrooms for our use in the junior high, two shelves full of books just for the SO books, three filing cabinets of science resources, power tools, everything.
Also, you need to make them feel unified as a team. They need to know that there are people backing them up, that there are people who will help them even if something fails. On my team, we've got fifth graders to high schoolers to PhD professors to organization sponsors vouching for us, helping us every way they can. Sam's Club even volunteered to sponsor us.
The point is, this is completely a team effort. Yes, there are a multitude of different events, but there's always someone who knows way too much for their own good on that subject.
As for meetings, SO meets seven days a week (for different events, of course) for us. One event usually has one or two practices per week or so. Some have more or less, depending on the necessity. It all depends on your team.
Individual studying is important, but so is getting together and practicing with your partner and going to practices and listening to lessons. But the kids also need to want to do it.
I hope this helps. Sorry it's so long.

[Luo]

Since it's your first year, most people aren't expecting you to win state.

But don't give up on the possibility! Hamilton Middle School in Wisconsin won state their first year competing.

[haverstall]

Sam's Club even volunteered to sponsor us.

All I can say is wow.

[Kokonilly]

Sam's Club even volunteered to sponsor us.

All I can say is wow.

Speaking as a member of a team that had to take vans to nationals because we couldn't afford anything else, I quite agree.

And musical, it's great that you're starting a team! Get 15 dedicated students willing to put in the time and effort and a teacher who's at least willing to work out logistics (though it's best if they help you with studying, too... not that I would know) and you're good to go. It helps to have at least a few other helpers (I like to call them 'minions') who just help out the main team with whatever they need.

I suppose that because you want to be successful (right?) you also want to have the best students possible, so recruit as much as you can so that you have your pick of the cream of the crop to be on the team.

Good luck!