DESTINATION IMAGINATION
Who does DI?
Anyone! Destination ImagiNation is a program that kids of all ages,
backgrounds, locales and demographics can enjoy. The only delimiter
between DI kids and everyone else is their ability to see change and new
ideas all around them; new program participants learn this everyday as
well!
Imagine that you and a few friends are given a project to complete in
an eight week period, without help from anyone outside the team...
The project involves designing and constructing a technical device
that must move from point A to point B under its own power. Imagine that
you must also write, produce, and star in a story that involves the
technical device. You need to make props, costumes, and everything else,
and package it into an eight-minute Presentation. Now imagine that you
and your teammates are 10 years old and you are hearing the thunderous
applause of an enthusiastic audience as you present your completed
project!
Why Team Challenges? Our Team Challenges encourage development of
Creative Problem Solving techniques, teamwork and creative process over a
sustained period of time, usually eight to twelve weeks. Our Challenges
are designed to be:
- Fun to solve
- Academically-based (corresponding to education standards) and include a research component
- Focused on one or more of the following areas:
- Technical/Mechanical Design
- Structural/Architectural Design
- Theatrical/Literary/Fine Arts
- Scientific Exploration
Improvisation
Each year teams of two to seven members select one of five competitive Challenges. With the guidance but not help
of a Team Manager (who serves as facilitator, not coach), the team
creates an action plan and works together to create everything needed
for their Presentation
WHEN DO I D.I.?
The Destination ImagiNation® Team Challenges and program
materials are released annually on September 1. A typical season runs
anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks, with most teams organizing between October
and January. Local Regions and Affiliates typically hold Team Manager
Trainings in September, October and November. Some Regions and
Affiliates begin preparation for Tournaments in January with Appraiser
Training and their Regional Tournaments, but others hold their trainings
and Tournaments through April. When you register with Destination
ImagiNation, you will receive the local calendar of trainings and
Tournaments.
Depending on your teams advancement through Tournaments, your season
may continue through May. But whether you advance to Global Finals or
not, your team should continue its season through a celebration of its
accomplishments of the DI year, and if the team wishes, continue to
meet, build teamwork, practice Creative Problem Solving, do Instant Challenges, take field trips and continuing education workshops together, and just have FUN!