Welcome to Destination Imagination Destination Imagination Minnesota inspires and equips students to become the next generation of innovators and leaders.

Destination ImagiNation is an educational activity in which student teams solve open-ended Challenges and present their solutions at Tournaments. What is Destination ImagiNation? DI is available across the US and in more than 30 countries.

What DI Believes Creativity Creativity has the power to change the world. Teamwork Becoming a team is a life- changing experience. Problem Solving Our world’s future depends on extraordinary problem solvers.

Kindergarteners to university-level students can participate. Students must participate in 2- to 7-person teams. Teams compete in any of 7 Team Challenges. The Basics of DI

There are 5 age levels in DI: –Rising Stars! (ages 4 to 7, non-competitive) –Elementary (3 rd to 5 th grade) –Middle (6 th to 8 th grade) –Secondary (9 th to 12 th grade) –University (university-level) The Basics of DI

Teams start by enrolling students, teams and team managers. Teams receive the Program Materials, the central resource every team must have and use to participate in DI. Teams choose a Team Challenge and work for 8 to 16 weeks devising unique solutions. –The solutions come solely from the students; at no time is Interference allowed. The Basics

The DI Program Season

Teams also compete in Instant Challenges, which are: –Short, time-driven impromptu Challenges. –Confidential through the day of the Tournament. –Performance-Based, Task-Based, or a combination of the two. –Must provide solution in five to eight minutes. Instant Challenges

Team Challenges take teams weeks to months to solve. In Destination ImagiNation, the Team Challenges are new and different every year, and they are developed by volunteers. Team Challenges have specific focuses. Team Challenges

Unless they are competing in the Improvisational Challenge, teams must also include two Team Choice Elements. Team Choice Elements are: –Team-determined, scored elements of the Team Challenge. –Opportunities to showcase and receive points for team effort or skills not already assessed in the Team Challenge. Team Choice Elements For example, if a team has made elaborate costumes for a Performance, but costumes are not a scored element of the Challenge, the team can ask that its costumes be scored as one of their Team Choice Elements.

Teams showcase their Challenge solutions in Tournaments: Teams first attend Regional Tournaments. They can advance to Affiliate (State or Country) Tournaments. The Competition Top teams advance from Affiliate Tournaments to the DI Global Finals at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Challenge Preview - Technical The world is full of changes, both big and small. So grab the wheel – let’s see them all! Points of Interest -Design and build a vehicle able to carry at least one team member across the presentation site multiple times. -Change the vehicle propulsion system and the vehicle movement method during the presentation. -Create and present a story about change. The story will include a change in a character. -Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.

Challenge Preview - Science Now you see me, now you don’t! But wait…what’s the twist?? Points of Interest -Research the many ways that camouflage is used by organisms in nature. -Showcase camouflage research in the visible appearance of an organism. -Create and present a story with a plot twist that is caused by the use of camouflage. -Apply camouflage methods to an original, team-designed and created set piece or prop. -Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.

Challenge Preview – Fine Arts Points of Interest -Present a mystery story set on Earth in a team-chosen time period before Discover, live on stage, which of the three suspect characters is responsible for the mystery. -Include a TechniClue that helps solve the mystery. -Present in the style of traverse staging. -Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents. Whodunnit? Reach back in time to get a clue!

Challenge Preview – Improvisational Newsflash! Stranger things WILL happen! Points of Interest -Research Challenge-provided confined spaces. -Create and perform a four-minute improvisational presentation within a confined space. -Show how characters work together to address a news flash. -Integrate a mysterious stranger and a team-created miscellaneous prop into the presentation.

Challenge Preview – Structural Hold it together and let it play out in this musical mashup. Points of Interest -Design and build a structure that both supports weight and is a musical instrument. -Play a musical solo using the structure as a musical instrument. -Tell a story with at least one musical character. -Integrate the story with the weight placement testing of the structure. -Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.

Challenge Preview – Service Learning Points of Interest -Use the creative process to identify, design, plan, and carry out a project that addresses a real community need. -Plan and carry out at least one community event that is designed to help meet the project goal(s). -Create an effective meme to help meet the project goal(s). -Create a live presentation that highlights the project and the impact it made on the community. -Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength and talents. Grumpy cat will be even grumpier when you out-MEME him!

Challenge Preview – Early Learning North, south, east, or west. Hmm…which way is best? Points of Interest -Learn about maps and how they are helpful to people. -Create a play that is about a journey your team is on. -Make a change in direction at some point during your play. -Make a map to help your team on your journey.

–Facilitate DI teams. Many Team Managers are parents, teachers, or community members. Up to two per team. –Training and Roadmap provided! –Co-Managing is a great way to share the job –Team parents can each play a role too –Get a discount registration fee for their children ($50) –Are able to get support from other seasoned team managers, Jenny, as well as state Destination Imagination contacts Team Managers

Start a Team! Manage a team? Fill out Team Manager Registration Form (blue). We will run a background check for all managers (this is sent to you via ) Have a team for your child? Enroll your child (white enrollment form) – discounted to $50 for your child(ren)

Student Information: DI Registration Form (white) Return to Jenny Ames, Community Education, 1200 Town Square $130 per child, payable to Shakopee Community Education (or can pay with credit card) Indicate Team Manager/Name on form Due date: Monday, October 19 – earlier preferred! Start a Team!

What does this cost include? $130 per student, covers the following: – Reimbursement up to $125 in materials per team – Team Manager Training, materials (roadmap, books, copies) – Other trainings, if desired: Instant Challenge Workshops Structure Workshop (if offered) Meet the Challenge Masters Competition Fees, T-shirts – Does NOT include improv workshop fees, competition transportation or any fees for Globals

Important Dates Shakopee team registration deadline: October 19 at noon MN DI Information Night : Monday, October 19, 2015: 6:30-8:00 PM 1820 Xenium Lane North in Plymouth For all DI program coordinators, new team managers, interested parties, folks new to the program – anyone who wants an overview of season All Metro Team Manager Workshop: Saturday, November 14, 2015 – details coming, but usually 9 am – 3 pm in Plymouth Other trainings (usually in Dec or Jan): Instant Challenge & Structure Workshops Improv Jam

Important Dates (cont.) Regional Tournament: Mid to late February – Most likely West/Southwest Metro, Maple Grove High School State Tournament: Mid April – Most likely at Champlin Park High School Globals: Mid May – Knoxville, TN

DI Booster Club Michelle Diede, president Looking for Board Members Each team should provide a representative Exists to help fund Globals trips Contact Michelle at

Questions? Jenny Ames, Youth Programs Coordinator for Shakopee Community Education – – – click on Community Education – Youth Enrichment and Development – Destination Imagination