Destination Imagination
Destination Imagination (DI) is an international, creative problem-solving competition for primary through college students. It develops confidence, leadership, creativity, and independence, while the students learn problem-solving skills and teamwork. Teams of 5-7 students choose a challenge and spend months preparing a solution for the tournament. They work together to develop an original skit, complete with costumes, props, and scenery. Experimenting with technical elements is often required, such as building vehicles or load-bearing structures, or making mechanical or electrical devices to perform specific tasks. Selected members of the team also do extemporaneous problem solving at the tournament after only minutes of preparation.
The most important concept of Destination Imagination is that the students solve the problem entirely on their own. Parents act as team managers to teach the students brainstorming, decision-making, time management and use of resources. Teams perform at the Regional Tournament, and third-graders and up have the opportunity to advance to the State Tournament.
What does this program require in terms of student and parent time? We asked a DI coach who works with two teams (4th grade and 8th grade):
"The commitment for a team member depends on the effort the team wants to make. A fairly standard commitment (or what our team has) is weekly meetings beginning in November going to twice a week the month before the regional tournament (which is usually in mid-March). There is also regular work including research, prop building, etc. that happens outside the meetings. As well, team members need to attend the instant challenge fair, district show night, and finally, the regional tournament. If they are successful at the regional tournament, they have another month of meetings followed by the state tournament. The parental commitment also varies by team.
I expect parents to take an active role in their child's participation in DI. This includes helping out at meetings, supporting (without assisting) the outside work their child needs to complete, making sure their child is able to attend most of the meetings and events, and helping out at the events."
What do the kids have to say about it?
The best thing about DI is...
- ...it works on my acting skills. -PJ, grade 3
- ...instant challenge. You get to make up things and use improvisation. I get to take a thing, like a comb, and pretend it is a pair of binoculars -Brian, grade 3
- ...building and designing everything. -Mihika, grade 3
- ...you think of new, good ideas for performing and it's fun! -Katie, grade 4
- ...instant challenges. -Marnie, grade 3
- ...making new friends. -Rick, grade 4
- ...cheering on younger EP teams. -Kevin, grade 8
- ...I get to work with electronics. -Drew, grade 8
- ...being able to perform. -David, grade 8
- ...meeting new people. -Sarah, grade 8
- ...learning how to cooperate and share with people. -Kaela, grade 8
- ...we get to have lots of fun!!! -Clayton, grade 2
- ...that performing is fun. - Kate, grade 5
- ...it's a nice time to get crazy. - Stephanie, grade 5
- ...it's fun and educational. - Dan, grade 5
- ...making up a play. - Mike, grade 5
- ...it's really fun. - Heather, grade 5
- ...it's fun to do things with friends. - Ann, grade 5
- ...being able to be yourself without anyone caring. -Kate, grade 8
Destination Imagination is sponsored in Eden Prairie through the school PTOs and Community Education.
For more information contact:
Eden Prairie DI Coordinator Janie Thompson
Minnesota Destination Imagination website at www.mndi.org
Minnesota DI Program Assistant Kim Kallroos at (763) 550-7356 or karen.karbo@int287.k12.mn.us