What is D.I.?

Destination Imagination, Inc. is a leading educational nonprofit dedicated to teaching students the skills needed to succeed in school, their careers and beyond. We develop project-based learning programs that blend STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education with the Arts and social entrepreneurship.

Through our programs, students use the creative process to turn their ideas into reality and learn invaluable skills through the process including: Creative & Critical Thinking, Team Building, Problem Solving, Risk Taking, Project Management, Perseverance, and Self-Confidence.

Our Challenges are open-ended and enable students to learn and experience the creative process while fostering their creativity, curiosity and courage.

WHO?

Destination Imagination is open to all kindergarten through university level students worldwide. Students form teams of up to 7 members, select their preferred Challenge and work together to develop a solution to the Challenge. Each team has at least one Team Manager (often a parent or teacher) who helps keep the team on track, but does not assist or interfere with the team’s project.

WHAT?

Our 21st century learning programming is cross-curricular and complements K-12 education by fostering curiosity, courage and creativity. All of our academic Challenges are designed to teach students the creative process—a system of learning that is at the root of all innovation and a child’s ability to bring an idea to life. We offer seven engaging Challenges in STEAM education: Technical, Scientific, Fine Arts, Improvisational, Engineering, Service Learning and Early Learning.

WHEN?

Each season takes place from September through May. Depending on the Challenge, teams typically spend 2 to 4 months developing and practicing their Challenge solutions. Teams have the opportunity to showcase their solutions at local tournaments, many of which take place between February and April. When a team qualifies at the state level, they are invited to compete at Global Finals—the world’s largest celebration of student creativity.

WHERE?

DI is located in 45 states and 30 countries. DI is often run as an after-school program or incorporated into a school’s electives curriculum. Students may participate in DI even if their school district does not offer our program. Team Challenge solutions are assessed at regional, state or country tournaments, where teams can celebrate creativity with their peers. Each year, volunteers help run 200 tournaments around the world.

WHY?

Our Challenges help bridge the gap between what students learn in school and the skills they will need to thrive in an ever-changing economy. Through the Destination Imagination Challenge Program, students improve in creative and critical thinking, explore their curiosity, build on their unique strengths, learn how to design and manage a project, and gain the skills needed for the 21st century workforce.

Destination Imagination Instant Challenges are designed to help children understand that by working collaboratively and following their innate curiosity, they can approach any problem with confidence and tenacity.

Instant Challenges can be performance-based, task-based or a combination of the two. Many require materials—most of which are everyday items that can typically be found at your home. The best part is that you can also modify the Instant Challenge materials to better suit your needs.

Unlike a Team Challenge where teams have months to prepare, plan and create their solution, Destination Imagination participants will have to solve an Instant Challenge in a matter of a few minutes. This is designed to help students build their quick, creative and critical thinking skills. (Think of it as mini brain training!) At a tournament, Instant Challenges are kept confidential and teams will not know the details, including what type of Challenge they’ll have to complete, until they walk in the room to solve it.

One of the most important things to keep in mind is that there is no right or wrong way to solve an Instant Challenge. They are intentionally designed to have multiple solutions, which means your team can do the same Instant Challenge over and over again to come up with new ways to solve it.