Destination ImagiNation® allows participants of all ages to access their creativity, learn problem-solving skills, and experience successful teamwork strategies as they develop unique solutions to Challenges.
In Destination ImagiNation, two to seven-member teams focus on finding solutions to two separate types of Challenges: Team Challenges and Instant Challenges. Then they present their solutions to Appraisers in Tournament-style settings. By working together to develop solutions, participants push the limits of their imaginations to better themselves and best their competition.
The Team Challenge
The Destination ImagiNation Team Challenge is designed to be open ended and multidisciplinary. Teams spend several months working on the Team Challenge of their choice. Each of the five competitive Team Challenges has a different educational and creative focus:
Challenge A: Technical, Design, Construction and Innovation
Challenge B: Theater Arts and Science
Challenge C: Theater, Fine Arts and Playwriting
Challenge D: Theater Arts, Improvisation and Research
Challenge E: Structural and Architectural Design
Rising Stars!: Pre-School Through 2nd Grade
Participants in Rising Stars! can engage in a non-competitive Challenge that introduces them to teamwork and creative thinking.
Every Team Challenge has two components: the Central Challenge and Side Trips.
The Central Challenge is a set of required elements that all teams must complete. Side Trips are two additional elements that teams include in their Presentation in order to highlight their particular interests and skills. Teams can use Side Trips to emphasize the individual personalities and talents of every member.
Want a Sneak Peek at the 2009/2010 Team Challenges? Team Challenge Peeks
Instant Challenge
The Destination ImagiNation Instant Challenge requires teams to engage in rapid-fire critical thinking. At Tournaments, teams receive a Challenge and the materials with which to solve it. They must think on their feet by applying appropriate skills to produce a solution in a period of just five to eight minutes. While Team Challenges build long-term problem solving and teamwork skills, Instant Challenges provide an exciting, impromptu creative experience for competing teams. By practicing Instant Challenges during the course of the season, students can increase their improvisational skills and train their minds to work quickly!
Want to learn more about Instant Challenges? Instant Challenge Page
Who does DI?
Anyone! Destination ImagiNation is a program for youth of all ages and backgrounds. DI helps kids become more aware of the changes all around them and teaches them to value the constant creation of ideas. Everyone can benefit from DI: because the program’s curriculum covers several disciplines, DI appeals to every kid’s interests and needs, and since DI Challenges and Solutions stem from each team’s unique combination of participants and ideas, every team has a different experience.
LEVEL |
GRADES (US) |
AGE |
| Elementary Level (EL) | Kindergarten-5th grade | No student reaching age 12 by June 15, 2009 |
| Middle Level (ML) |
6th-8th Grade | No student reaching age 15 by June 15, 2009 |
| Secondary Level (SL) | 9th-12th Grade | No student reaching age 19 by June 15, 2009 |
| Rising Stars! | Preschool-2nd grade | |
| University Level (UL) | Full-time post-secondary students enrolled in college, university, trade, or technical school or military. High school seniors bound for higher education. |
|
In addition to participants, a small army of volunteers works tirelessly to make Destination ImagiNation the outstanding organization it is known to be. Volunteers take on several positions: Team Managers, Tournament Officials, Challenge Writers, and many more. From organizing teams and registering members to making sure every Challenge goes smoothly, volunteers perform a variety of indispensable functions for DI.
To find out more about the different roles and volunteer options available throughout the organization: Volunteer Page
When Do I Do DI?
The Destination ImagiNation Team Challenges and program materials are released annually on September 1st to all registered members. A typical season runs anywhere from 2-6 months, with most teams organizing between September and January. Some Regions and the Colorado State Affiliates hold Team Manager Trainings to assist Team Managers to feel comfortable with the task at hand. Beginning in January the Colorado State Affiliate wiill hold 2 Appraiser Trainings, several of the Regions hold their own Appraiser Trainings – please check with your Regional Director for information. Tournaments run from March through April. Within that time frame, every team can set its own schedule and determine the course of its creations. Team Manager Trainings and Appraiser Training Pages.
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