"Where will your child's imagination take them?"
How do I sign up for DI? Registration Deadline: September 29, 2025
DI Registration Form (2025-26) for Grades 3rd - 5th (Financially supported by Leander)
DI Interest Form (2025-26) for Grades K - 2nd (NOT financially supported by Leander)
(Submit forms to: keni.renner@leanderisd.org)
How are Teams formed?
Spots on teams assigned on a first come, first served basis.
Exception: Team Manager’s child is guaranteed a spot
Exception: Returning teams can remain together but are encouraged to have 7 team members.
DI Information Meeting:
K - 2nd: Tuesday September 30th, 3 - 4pm River Ridge Library
3rd - 5th: Thursday October 2nd, 3 - 4pm River Ridge Library
What is Destination Imagination?
Destination Imagination (DI) is an international, creative, problem-solving challenges for students K - University. Teams of 5-7 students work together for several months to solve a STEAM challenge then bring their solution to the spring regional competition. Along the way students learn, laugh and practice life skills including team-work, time management and creative problem solving. River Ridge usually forms multiple teams each year in the early fall.
Destination Imagination: The Creative Journey Starts here (1 min)
Destination Imagination Changes Lives (2.5 min) (International focus)
This year's STEAM DI Challenges...
DI STEAM Challenge previews, 2025-26 (2.5 min) - For grades K - 5
How does Destination Imagination work?
Students work in teams of 5-7, and learn team management skills from their team managers. Their solution must be created with NO assistance from anyone outside the team members, including the team manager.
What does a Destination Imagination Challenge Solution Look Like?
Example of a DI middle school team - with explanations to clarify each part of the process (3.5 min)
Example of a top performing DI elementary team at Global finals (9 min)
Team Member Time Commitment & Location
Team members need to commit to a minimum of a 1-2 hours per week for team meetings.
Meeting times and locations are determined by the team and its team managers.
Some teams meet on the River Ridge campus early in the season, then move to a team member's home when they start to build.
3 DI team workshops on Saturdays offered by our DI Region (optional - about $10/child)
One all-day Regional competition in early February.
Heart of Texas CPSO Regional Meet: Saturday, February 7, 2026, @ West, TX.
Highly successful teams move on to State competition in April, then Globals competition in May.
Lonestar (State) Finals: Friday and Saturday, April 10 - 11, 2026 @ UT Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Global Finals: May 21 - 24, 2026 @ Kansas City, Missouri
Parent/Guardian Time Commitment
DI at the Regional and State level is 100% volunteer run. (hence the low cost)
EVERY parent/guardian is expected to contribute to the program in some way.
Team manager - see description below
Appraiser - aka the judges.
Each team MUST provide 2 so we have enough judges for the competition.
DI believes that many appraisers make more fair competitions.
Tournament volunteer
commitment is 4 hours on tournament day in early February, variety of roles
Who can participate in DI?
Grades 3 - 5 (Competitive teams)
Anyone can participate. You do not need to be in QUEST.
These teams are financially supported by LISD.
The River Ridge QUEST teacher helps coordinate team formation, provides information on team manager training resources, and offers support throughout the season as needed.
For more information: Contact keni.renner@leanderisd.org or attend the October information meeting.
Grades K-2 level (non-competitive teams)
Also known as "Early Learning" or "Rising Stars".
About the DI Early Learning Experience
These teams are NOT financially supported by LISD
The River Ridge QUEST teacher helps coordinate team formation, provides information on team manager training resources, and offers support throughout the season as needed.
For more information: Contact keni.renner@leanderisd.org or attend the October information meeting.
Destination Imagination Team Managers
Why to become a Destination Imagination Team Manager (1.5 min)
A DI team manager is a crucial part of a team's growth and development (30 seconds)
What do Team Manager do?
Team Managers help to facilitate the problem-solving process by helping the team:
understand the constraints of the central challenge
focus on the solution
manage its time
Team Managers have no input into the actual solution. That is the team's job.
Team Managers get the support they need
Most elementary teams have 2 team co-managers
Beginning and advanced Team Manager training is available both in-person and on-line from our DI Region. (optional)
Regional Team Manager Mentorship program (optional)
Regional student Mentorship program
Highly experienced high-school DI team members teach/coach at the regional training sessions for younger DI teams
Dozens of excellent 2-minute Team Manager trainings videos created by a High School DI team to make the process more fun.
Ready to commit?
Attend the DI Informational Meeting