Newtown High School’s Odyssey of the Mind Team, coached by Robin Fitzgerald, is set to host the annual Bunny Watch on Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4, at Glander Field on the Fairfield Hills Complex.

This is the fifth year the Bunny Watch will be held to raise funds for a high school Odyssey of the Mind Team to attend the World Finals. This year’s event will be held at Michigan State University, May 20-23.

Odyssey of the Mind is the largest intellectual competition in the world. Teams of up to seven students select and solve one of five long-term problems that they present at the annual state competitions. The top 30 teams in each competing state then head to World Finals, where teams from more than 30 countries come together in the spirit of international competition.

This year’s Bunny Watch will include wagon rides pulled by antique tractors for $5 per person to spot and count bunnies, rides on an inflatable slide from Super Fun Inflatables for $3 for a hand stamp for unlimited rides, and photo opportunities with props provided by Newtown Parks & Recreation.

The Bunny Watch will run from 10 am until 4 pm on both days.

Members of the NHS Odyssey of the Mind team Problem 5 are captain Zach Weiland, Jake Emmerthal, Hannah Fitzgerald, Ryan Fitzgerald, Lily Holmes, and Michael Ziluck.

The Bunny Watch ride coordinator and organizer is Rob Emmerthal, with assistance and antique tractors from George Birch, Milt Adams, Molly Emmerthal, and Kasey Roman. According to Mr Emmerthal, Silberman’s Farms is providing the wagons for the event.

While Bunny Watch wagon riders will be challenged to count all the bunnies they see during a ride, the Easter Bunny may make an appearance for riders, depending on his schedule, according to Mr Emmerthal.

Mr Emmerthal also said this year’s Bunny Watch is the high school Odyssey of the Mind team’s only fundraiser for the team’s trip to World Finals. It costs each team member $500 for room and board for the three-day event, according to Mr Emmerthal.

Last year the team came in sixth at World Finals.