Exceptional After-School Programs
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How does it work?
01
Challenge Experience
The Challenge Experience is the flagship program for kids and students in pre-K, K-12, and university. Teams create answers to project-based STEAM problems, which they subsequently present live at tournaments. The prompts or rules for what a team creates are called Destination Imagination Challenges. The Challenges are open-ended, allowing teams to be creative while still taking full ownership of their solutions. Challenges are intended to educate the creative process, which is at the heart of creativity and a child’s ability to bring an idea to life.
02
Tournaments
Teams compete in DI tournaments by presenting their ideas to a Team Challenge and completing an Instant Challenge to receive comments and a score. The event allows all team members to compete in both the Team Challenge and the Instant Challenge.
The results from each Team’s Team Challenge and Instant Challenge are combined and compared to others solving the same Challenge at their level. The top teams in each Affiliate are invited to the next competition in their Affiliate or to DI’s Global Finals.
03
Early Learning
Engaging young students in STEM is simpler than you may believe. Destination Imagination provides two programs for children in preschool through second grade that teach basic STEM ideas and are based on curiosity, inquiry, and play.
The CHALLENGE Experience: The Early Learning Team Challenges are intended to teach the creative process. DI offers one new and exciting Challenge each season to motivate students to explore, discover, and learn new abilities.
What Is Destination Imagination?
What is Destination Imagination? Destination Imagination (DI) is a leader in project-based learning that combines STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) with the arts and social entrepreneurship. The global community is united in the notion that when students are given the freedom to learn and interact without limitations, their confidence soars and the world opens up to them in unexpected ways. The organization facilitates this transition by presenting STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics)-based problems that stimulate unique answers using the creative process.
What is the process?
The creative process is a step-by-step technique that assists students in better understanding problems, asking better questions, developing solutions, learning from failure, and celebrating their successes.
Through this process, children learn important life and professional skills such as creative thinking, critical thinking, public speaking, and collaborative problem-solving, which make them feel empowered and set them up for future success.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Destination Imagination actually has a core of what we want to see in NASA in the STEM ecosystem – teaching participants how to think instead of necessarily what to think.
Dr. Roosevelt Johnson
/
Deputy Associate Adminsitrator at NASA
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✓ No need to stress, our after-school setup is a painless process that ensures a smooth experience for everyone.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Destination Imagination?
The Destination Imagination (DI) Challenge Experience is a project-based learning program designed to complement K-12 education. Annually, we offer new academic Challenges in the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), fine arts, service learning, and early learning. In solving a Challenge, students explore their passions, discover their unique talents and abilities, and learn new skills. Teams also participate in Instant Challenges—quick creative and critical thinking exercises that build teamwork and problem-solving abilities. Teams have the opportunity to showcase their Challenge solutions at local competitions and may advance to state and global competitions.
What is DI’s mission?
MISSION
To inspire and equip youth to imagine and innovate through the creative process.
VISION
Ignite the power of ALL youth to be the creative and collaborative innovators of tomorrow.
What are the benefits of DI? How will Destination Imagination help my child?
Destination Imagination reinforces the four Cs: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. DI empowers its participants to come up with out-of-the-box solutions to problems and work as a team to create solutions. It also connects students with other innovative problem solvers both in their area and around the globe.
Who runs Destination Imagination?
Our awesome volunteers, Board of Trustees, and DIHQ staff.
When was Destination Imagination founded? How many people participate in DI?
Destination Imagination (DI) was founded in 1999. Our non-profit organization continues to grow with the support of 38,000 volunteers throughout 27 countries. DI has impacted more than one million participants with the purpose to inspire and equip students with invaluable 21st century skills, creative outlets and the confidence needed to succeed in school, career and beyond.