"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. 

• Why Parents choose Destination Imagination (2 min)

• Destination Imagination:  The Creative Journey Starts here (1 min)

• Destination Imagination Changes Lives (2.5 min)    (International focus)

• Destination Imagination National Website

• Destination Imagination Texas State Website

• Destination Imagination Heart of Texas Regional Website

• Destination Imagination Leander Website

This year's STEAM DI Challenges... 

• DI STEAM Challenge previews, 2025-26  (2.5 min)  - For grades K - 5

• How to Choose the right challenge - using teamwork (2 min)

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. 

• Typical DI Season outline (2 min)

• Austin Texas elementary team's Description of the DI process ( 6 min)

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?  

• Sign the DI Team Manager Responsibilities form, 2025-26  

• Attend the DI Informational Meeting