What is Destination Imagination?
Destination Imagination (DI) is a an extracurricular enrichment program, in which students work on solving ‘challenges’ in unusual ways. It involves creative problem solving strategies, multiple intelligences, divergent thinking, originality, and teamwork. DI is sponsored in part by LISD with additional funding from the RPE PTA.
How does it work?
Students work in teams of 5-7, with 1-2 adult coaches per team. The students (not the adults) work to solve “challenges”; the adults act as facilitators and managers to help them through the process. There are 2 types of challenges:

* Central Challenge, which can take up to several months to solve, involves theatrical components or technical /construction components, or some combination of both. Teams choose from one of five challenges to solve; the type of challenge they choose is decided by the interests of the team.
* Instant Challenge, which involves thinking quickly and using teamwork to solve a challenge with only a few minutes preparation time. Students practice these skills at almost every meeting.

Teams work outside of school hours with meeting times and places determined by the team and its managers. Challenge solutions are showcased at a Regional DI Tournament to be held Sat. March 1st, 2008.
What does my child ‘get’ out of DI?

* FUN!
* Important life skills: In DI, children hone the ability to generate new ideas, use available materials novel ways, think quickly on their feet, evaluate their brainstorming, and learn teamwork in the process. What job can you envision for your child that will not value these skills?

Who can participate?
Any interested 3rd through 5th grade LISD student can be part of a team.
Solving the challenges requires out-of-the-box thinking that QUEST is known for, but you do not have to be in QUEST to participate in DI.
Volunteers make the program possible!
Without volunteer team managers, there can be no teams. Two parent volunteers are needed for each team, and manager training is available (Oct. 13 from 8:30 - 12:30 is the first of 2 or more available trainings). Managers help facilitate the process, and get the satisfaction of seeing students of all sorts come together, and create a unique solution to their chosen challenge. Managers do not help solve the challenge for their team.