Destination Imagination IF you Never Do, You Will Never know.

What is Destination Imagination or DI? DI is an educational program in which student teams solve open-ended Challenges and present their solutions at Tournaments teams are tested to think on their feet, work together, and devise original solutions that satisfy the requirements of the mind-bending Challenges. DI is a nonprofit corporation that works globally to provide a program that allows kids to work in teams to work on creative problem solving.

Why Do DI? Teams in The DI program learn higher order thinking and improve in creative thinking, critical thinking and collaborative problem solving Our participants experience the creative process, develop new friendships and learn to work together DI demonstrates that learning can be FUN DI identifies, celebrates and builds on a student's strengths DI provides authentic learning and authentic assessment Challenges provide kids with opportunities to explore and discover unlimited creative potential through teamwork, cooperation, and mutual respect. The key to the Destination Imagination program is discovering the process of creative problem-solving.

What are the Challenges? Teams will work to solve a Central Challenge and showcase their work at a regional tournament. There are 7 new Challenges to choose from The areas of focus include: Engineering, Technical, Scientific, Fine Arts, Improvisational, and Service Learning There is also a non-competitive Early Learning Challenge Teams will Also Solve an Instant Challenge at the Regional Tournament. There are 7 challenges to choose from each year. Each of the Challenges is developed by a team of educators and subject matter experts. The areas of focus are engineering, technical, scientific, fine arts, improvisational, and service learning. There is also a non competitive early learning challenge. Teams will also solve an instant challenge the day of the Regional tournament.

What is the Process? TEAM Chooses a Challenge TEAM WORKS/PRACTICES CHALLENGE FOR WEEKS/MONTHS TEAM Competes at Regional Tournament Team Advances and Competes at State Tournament Team Advances and Competes at Global Tournament

Who Can Participate? 2 to 7 members can be on a team Students from kindergarten through university level participate Each team needs an adult Team Manager Teams can be multigrade Seniors taking dual credit courses can compete at the university level if all members of the team are taking dual credit courses and are seniors Team Managers help students stay on track but do not directly help the team develop its solution to the DI Challenge Team Managers are often faculty members or parents .

This can include DC Seniors Team Levels Level Grades Rising Stars PreK-2nd Grade Elementary Level K-5th Grade Middle Level 6th-8th Grade Secondary Level 9th-12th Grade University Level This can include DC Seniors You can have team members of all ages, but with the exception of the University level, the level at which the team must compete will be determined by the participant in the highest grade level or by the participant who is the oldest.

Teams need Volunteers Team Managers Appraisers at regional tournament Volunteers at Regional Tournament Volunteers to help team Managers (host team meeting or provide snacks for the team)

The 7 Challenges Show and Tech (Technical) Top Secret (Scientific) In It Together (Engineering) Vanished! (Fine Arts) 3-Peat (Improv) Ready, Willing & Fable (Service Learning/Project Outreach) Save the Day (Early Learning/Rising Stars)

The Technical Challenge prompts students to complete tasks by using engineering, research, strategic planning and related skills. Present a show that includes an opening act and a headlining act. Design and build a stage on which the acts will take place and that will move a team member from one location to another. Enhance each act with a technical effect to amaze the audience. Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interest, skills, areas of strength, and talents. Technical

Scientific The Scientific Challenge blends the research and curiosity of science with the thrill and creativity of the theater arts. Create and present a story about a secret mission. Research and apply methods from cryptography and steganography to reveal secret messages. Design and create a gadget that appears to be an everyday item. Create and integrate a disguised character into the story. Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.

Engineering The Engineering Challenge asks teams to design, build, and test load-bearing structures out of specific materials. Design, build and test multiple free-standing structures that work together. Develop a strategy for placing structures to support as much weight as possible. Develop and present a collaborative solution to a global issue. Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.

Fine Arts In the Fine Arts Challenge, students flex their acting and artistic muscles as they experiment with different types of artistic media and theater arts, write scripts. and design props. Research the meanings, roles and uses of colors. Present a story about how the disappearance of a color changes the world. Create a colorful character that is involved with the color’s disappearance. Use technical theater methods to create a vanishing act. Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.

Improvisational The Improvisational Challenge is all about spontaneity and storytelling. Teams receive topics and produce skits right on the spot. Create three improvisational skits from the same story prompt. Present each skit in a different performance genre. Portray a different stock character in each skit. Enhance each skit with props.

Service/project outreach The Service Learning Challenge is designed to engage students in public service to address real-life community issues. 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.

Early learning/rising stars The Rising Stars! for Early Learners Challenge offers simple experiences with the creative process, and it gives young kids (preschool through 2nd grade) a place to work together and make new friends. Learn about simple and complex machines. Use simple machines to create and build a new invention. Create a play that tells a story about how the new invention helps to save the day. Create props, scenery, and costumes to help tell the story.

What do we do Now? If your child is interested in participating, please fill out the Di Participant form If you are willing to be a volunteer, please fill out the di participant form indicating how you would like to volunteer. Team manager Appraiser volunteer If you want to volunteer and have no idea where to begin or what to do, please do not worry. We will provide you with the help you need and there will be trainings available for team managers and appaisers.