The aim of this text is to set forth innovative ideas for developing creativity and troubleshooting skills in an unconventional way. Programmes encouraging children and teens to develop their crea-tive potential are the sources of inspiration for educational – and other – institutions. Among such programmes, those worth mentioning are Odyssey of Mind and Destination Imagination. They are both international competitions in which also Polish children and teens are successful. The article presents the postulates of these programmes and some thoughts on them presented by experts in the area of creativity, as well as their past participants. It also describes a series of experiences of trainers leading the students’ team from the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology at the University of Silesia in Katowice taking part in Odyssey of the Mind
