Destination ImagiNation at STEM

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Destination ImagiNation (DI) is a project based learning program blending STEM education with the arts.   Student DI teams solve open-ended “Challenges” and present their solutions at "Tournaments."  Teams learn to think on their feet, work together, and devise original solutions to satisfy these mind-bending Challenges.

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DI is open to student in grades K thru 12.  Each team of 2-7 students is be led by 1-2 Team Managers.  Team Managers will also determine what meeting time, place and frequency that works best for them and the team.  

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Requirements are:

• Regular team meetings 

• $125 program fee per child  Team Managers receive a discounted program fee of $75 for their child.

• Participation in the spring South Metro Regional Tournament on Saturday, March 10, 2018.

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How do I sign up?

• Recruit your own team!  Gather 4-7 interested students and 1-2 Team Managers.  Decide when and where your team will meet.

• Attend STEM’s K-12 DI Info Night on Thurs Sept 28 @ 6:30 pm in the STEM MS Cafeteria to network with other interested DI families.  

• Show your interest in DI via our STEM DI Interest SignUp.

 

Once you have your team together, email Adri Fustich, STEM DI Coordinator, at diatstem@gmail.com to start the registration process.

 

Learn more about DI at www.DestinationImagination. org

Learn more about Colorado DI at www.dicolorado.com

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2017-18 DATES OF INTEREST

 

TEAMS

Tues Aug 1 -- DI Team Registration Opens for 2017-18 Season

Fri Sep 1 -- DI Challenge Details Released

Thur Sep 28 -- DI Parent & Student Info Night at STEM

Fri Oct 20 -- DI After Dark Event (Lakewood), MS Only $20pp

Fri Dec 1 &  Sat Dec 2 (Overnight) -- DI eXtreme, HS Only $40pp

Sat Jan 27 -- South Metro Instant Challenge Day (Englewood)

Sat Mar 10 -- South Metro Regional Tournament (Englewood)

Sat Apr 7 -- Colorado Affiliate Tournament (Denver)

Mon May 21 -- Sat May 26 -- Global Finals (Knoxville TN)

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TEAM MANAGER TRAINING

Sat Oct 14 -- Introduction and Basic Skills for New Team Managers (Denver)

Sat Nov 4 -- Team Manager Challenge and Skills Training (Highlands Ranch) 

Sat Nov 18 -- Introduction and Basic Skills for New Team Managers (Centennial)

Sat Dec 9 -- Team Manger Training (Lakewood)

     Other training sessions, including online, are also available.

 

Please visit the DI Colorado Calendar for further event details as well as all other upcoming DI events.

 

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

 

What is Destination ImagiNation (DI)?

• Destination ImagiNation, Inc. is a non-profit organization offering a creative problem-solving program to kids worldwide. Destination ImagiNation (DI) emphasizes creativity, problem solving and teamwork.  Students work together in teams to create solutions to STEAM based challenges under the direction of Team Managers.  DI is "hand-on" for students and "hand-off" for adults.

• Teams of up to 7 students prepare and participate in both a Central Challenge and an Instant Challenge at their regional competition in March.  The solution to the Central Challenge is developed over a 3-6 month period and presented to the Judges in a performance. The student team designs and creates, without adult assistance, all of the technical and artistic elements necessary to bring this presentation to life.

• Teams also participate in Instant Challenges which are designed to teach students how to think quickly, creatively and strategically.  At tournaments, the team is given an Instant Challenge they have not seen before.  For example, a team may be asked to manipulate materials to build a structure, develop a non-verbal communication system with their team members in order to complete a given task, or create a skit about a mouse’s happiest day.  Team members have a few minutes to think and develop their strategy and a brief period of time to respond to the challenge.

• Both the Central Challenges and Instant Challenges provide and promote opportunities to develop lifelong skills that are essential in our ever-changing world.

• Please visit the Destination Imagination homepage (www.DestinationImagination. org) and the state homepage (www.dicolorado.com) for further information.  Read about the goals of the program, check out the upcoming events for kids in Colorado, and find information on this year’s six Team Challenges.

 

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Who can participate?

DI is open to students in grades K thru College:

• Rising Stars (grades K-2), non-competitive

• Elementary (grades 3-5)

• Middle (grades 6-8)

• Secondary (grades 9-12)

• University (college)

You may have students of mixed grades on each team. In that case, teams compete at the level of the oldest student.

 

When is the DI Season?

• DI Teams usually meet about once a week starting in Fall through the Regional competition in March. Team activity may extend into April/May if the team qualifies to compete at the State/Affiliate or National/Global-Finals DI Tournament levels.

• Teams meet at a time and place designated by the Team Manager (as decided by what works best for the team). Teams usually meet after school in a classroom, although other locations and times are possible with STEM Enrichment approval.

 

How much is Registration?

• $125 program fee per student.  Team Managers receive a discounted program fee of $75 for their designated student.

• Student registration is a 2 step process involving (1) payment and (2) registration of student information.  You cannot register for STEM’s DI program until you have been placed on a team.

• Participation in the Regional Tournament on Saturday, March 10, 2018 is mandatory.

• Registration includes a DI T-Shirt as well as a team budget for Regional Tournament Fees and team challenge supplies.  Team costs beyond the provided budget are the responsibility of the team. 

• New this year, registration also includes a STEM Enrichment King Sooper reloadable Gift Card. A percentage of all funds loaded onto this gift card throughout the year will raise money in support of STEM’s DI program.  This is an easy way for each DI family to support STEM DI with no additional out of pocket expenses.  

• Additional funds may be needed to attend optional local DI Events and post-Regional competition fees.  These costs can be offset by fundraising efforts throughout the DI season.

 

Is travel involved?

Teams travel locally for both the South Metro Regional Tournament in March (held in Parker last year and Littleton the year before) and the Colorado State/Affiliate Tournament in April (held in Denver).  The National/International “Global Finals” DI Tournament  is held in Knoxville, TN each year in May and, if invited, teams will decide on their own about attending.

 

What parent involvement is required?

• Destination Imagination is a volunteer led program and we ask that you give what you are able. Throughout the season, DI Teams may need parent support for snacks, supplies, helping hands, fundraising and as DI event appraiser/volunteers.  

• Each Team is required to supply one volunteer to work on the day of the Regional Tournament.  This volunteer can be a parent, relative or friend.  Also, this volunteer can be a MS or HS student looking to earn volunteer hours.   

• Volunteer hours in support of STEM DI can be logged via Helpcounter and count towards your required annual STEM Family Volunteer Hours.

 

Who runs the teams?  

• The students run the team!  That said, each team must have at least one adult volunteer Team Manager, preferably two. Team Manager(s) are responsible for facilitating the team’s schedule, activities and budget as well as guiding the students through the problem solving process.  The Team Manager can be a teacher, parent, relative or friend. DI is "hands-on" for students and "hands-off" for adults.

• Team Managers receive special training in how to coach while letting the students create their solutions wholly themselves -- this is call "non-interference."  All Parent/Guardians are required to sign a DI Non-Interference contract and students also pledge that they will not let adults interfere with their solution.

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About Being a Team Manager

• Each DI Team needs 1-2 Team Managers. At STEM we recommend 2 Co-Team Managers for Elementary School Teams and 1-2 Team Managers for Middle School and High School Teams.

• Team Managers are encouraged to co-manage a team to divide up the duties.   

• Each Team Manager sets their meeting times and frequency.   

• No experience is necessary to be a Team Manager.  

• Team Manager Training and ongoing support is provided by Colorado DI.  Both in person training sessions as well as online webinars/recordings are available for training purposes.

• Team Managers are also provided with a “Roadmap” from DI that lays out team meetings and activities to guide the Team Manager from team formation to Tournament Day.   The DI Roadmap also includes Instant Challenges to use. STEM DI also provides managers with an "Instant Challenge Kit" that contains all the items needed for the Instant Challenges listed in the DI Roadmap.

• Your school DI coordinator also serves as an important information resource for Team Managers and is there to help get the team started, answer questions, check in regularly and generally help Team Managers with whatever support they need.

• Colorado DI provides email access to "Instant Challenge Masters" that will answer questions that come up throughout the DI Season.  

• Team Managers receive a discounted student registration fee of $75 for their child.

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Each year, we have students who want to participate but can’t because we just don’t have enough Team Managers.  Please give serious consideration to managing a team or sharing the responsibility with someone else.  

 

How else can I help?

We would like to expand STEM’s DI program offerings and are looking for volunteers to help in the following areas:

• Form a DI Steering Committee comprised of 2-4 members.  This committee would help organize the DI Season at STEM as well as review and approve yearly budgets.

• DI Fundraising Co-Chairs to help grow our DI fundraising program.

• DI Challenge Event Co-Chairs so that we can offer our STEM DI Teams Instant Challenge Practice as well as Central Challenge dry-run opportunities in tournament-like conditions.

• DI Year-End Banquet Co-Chairs so that all STEM DI Teams can come together to celebrate their success.

Please consider volunteering at Help STEM DI SignUp
 

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