Division B - Mission possible

[Joann Wang]

Can we use other material for sand timer? or it has be sand. 

[Kelly Bell]

Well, it IS a sand timer.  My daughter competed in MP at both Div B and Div C levels and now is Oregon's Mission Possible Event Supervisor (ES).  I asked her what she thought and she replied "Sand is sand..."  She said she'd be OK with coarse sand, fine sand, colored sand, but not salt, sugar, BBs, marbles, gravel, dried rice, dried quinoa, baby powder, etc.   If you were to show it to someone and ask, "What is this?" is the answer, "Sand, of course."   Anyway, if your issue is finding consistent sand, look at Hobby Lobby for colored sand for sand painting, or Home Depot or Lowes for playground sand.  If you are finding that your sand is clumping, store it in a tightly closed glass jar.  If it you are trying to unclump sand, bake it on low heat in a pan in your oven (I'd use a disposable pan for that) and cool it and store it.   So, if you're competing in Oregon, do use sand!   If you are competing somewhere else, you can always ask the tournament director to ask the MP ES, including your replacement idea (sugar, beans, BBs).  If the ES allows something else, expect a few comments from observers, "Uh, that's not sand..."  I tend to agree with my daughter that sand is sand...   Also, know that not every team competing in Mission Possible will have a sand timer; it's OK to skip it if the kids are stymied.   Good luck to you.