Destination Imagination

What is Destination Imagination?

• Destination ImagiNation (DI) is an extracurricular, school- sponsored program that fosters creativity, team-based problem-solving skills and life skills for students. Leander ISD DI is open to all students in third through twelfth grades. The goal of DI is to cultivate the creative problem-solving process and make it an unconscious part of students’ everyday lives.

• Teams will showcase their solutions at a Regional Tournament in February and may advance to state and international competitions later in the spring if they qualify at the regional level. Teams participate in both the Team Challenge and Instant Challenge portions of the competition. Both the Team Challenges and Instant Challenges provide and promote opportunities to develop life-long skills that are essential in our ever-changing world.

• The “Team Challenge” solution will be developed by the team. The team designs and creates, without adult assistance, all props, costumes and other artistic technical elements necessary to bring the presentation to life.

• “Instant Challenges” are designed to teach students how to think quickly, creatively and strategically. At the tournament, the team is given an Instant Challenge they have not seen before. For example, a team may be asked to tell the judge about a mouse’s happiest day, create a team story using a given set of items, manipulate materials to build a structure, or develop a non- verbal communication system with team members to complete a given task. Team members think and develop a strategy and respond to the challenge.

What does it take to form a team?

• A maximum of seven students is placed on a team. At least one parent volunteer is necessary to be the Team Manager. The Team Manager helps the students stay on schedule and gather materials and also guides them through the problem-solving process. Time outside of school is about one-two hours each week, gradually increasing as competition time approaches.

What is required of a Destination Imagination parent?

• Parents must make every effort to have the student at every practice or work session. Parents must not contribute ideas or help prepare any part of the solution but are expected to assist the team manager. There are many ways to make your contribution. In addition to team managers, we need appraisers. (See the registration form for details.) Parent volunteers make this program possible!

Is there Team Manager training available? Yes, absolutely!

• Consider volunteering as a Team Manager. It’s a great way to get your creative juices flowing! Training resources include the Team Manager’s manual, Team Manager training modules, and helpful, experienced Campus DI Facilitators who can guide you through the entire DI program! No special skills are required to be a Team Manager other than your willingness to work with a great, creative group of kids! Each year, sadly, we have kids who want to participate but can’t because we need more Team Managers. Please consider taking this on or sharing it with someone you enjoy working with.

How do students sign up to participate?

If your student is interested in participating in DI, look over the Challenge Previews, then have him or her start recruiting friends that would be interested in joining a DI team. Registration forms are available below to be printed off, filled out and returned, or students can come get a registration form in the QUEST room, #418.

Please click here see the 2022-2023 challenges

- Technical

- Scientific

- Engineering

- fine arts

- Improvisational

- Service Learning

Link to Heart of Texas Region: http://hearttx.txdi.org/