What is Destination Imagination?
It's a creative problem-solving competition for students K-12. Students work in teams of 4-7 to build, act, create, and play while learning teamwork, communication skills, delegation, conflict resolution, perseverance, & strategic thinking.
Sign-up will take place at the start of the school year. Learn more below.
Why do DI?
DI develops skills such as:
Creative Problem-Solving: DI teams are rewarded for creative and innovated solutions.
Planning Skills: Teams have to map out what components they have to do, project manage the process, and manage time.
Student-Led: DI requires all work to be done by the kids. That builds their resourcefulness and discipline.
Teamwork: the teams have to develop ways to brainstorm ideas as well as make decisions as a team. This includes conflict resolution skills as well as leveraging the different skills and interest among team members.
It’s Fun. Each kid has an opportunity to work on areas they are most interested in like storytelling, acting, set/prop building, costumes, and more.
Time and Financial Commitment
Practices: Each Team Manager (parent or other adult coach) sets the schedule. Typically teams practice for an hour once a week from late fall through February. More practices and work sessions come up closer to the competition date.
Every team needs a parent volunteer coach (team manager), so please consider volunteering to coach. The bonus for coaches is you get to set the schedule that works for you.
Cost tends to be around $100 per kid for the year. For teams that qualify and choose to attend, the State Competition costs more and the Global Competition requires travel and additional costs.
Age Groups
The team competition is divided in age groups. Younger kids can be in a team a level up.
Rising Stars: K-2nd Grade. This level is non-competitive, meaning teams are not scored and ranked.
Elementary – 3rd-5th Grade
Middle: 6th-8th Grade
Secondary – 9th-12th Grade
Competition Components
DI Calls “The Challenge Experience”
”Team Challenges”
All challenge skits are prepared in advance, last around 8 minutes, and typically have some storytelling, costumes, and props.
Rising Stars (K-2) have one skit assignment.
Teams from other age groups get to select their Team Challenge. Every year there is a Team Challenge in the following categories: Technical, Scientific, Fine Arts, Improvisational, Engineering, and Service Learning. Each type emphasizes some elements more than others.
“Instant Challenges”
The team gets an instant challenge on the spot at the competition and has around 5-10 minutes to complete it.
Instant Challenges are quick creative and critical-thinking exercises. Instant Challenges can be task-based, performance-based, or a combination of both.
All teams practice Instant Challenges during the year and are given one at the tournament.
Tournament Info
Regional Tournament:
All teams participate in the regional competition, which typically takes place in the North Shore area in late February.
Each team is expected to provide a few adult volunteers at the tournament.
Teams are given a 1-2 hour time slot but encouraged to stay around and watch other teams.
Manage parent expectations: it takes kids a lot of work to come up with solutions they can create themselves. The end product may look more scrappy and less polished than an adult-led activity. Don’t underestimate the skills they’ve developed in the process.
State and Global Tournaments
Teams (3rd grade & up) are scored and ranked. Top ranking teams have option to continue to next level (State and then Global).
State and Global Tournaments: Teams 3rd grade and up have a chance to advance to the state competition in mid-spring and global competition in May.
How to Sign Up
How to Sign Up
Complete Online Sign-Up Form here
Both new and returning DI kids need to complete the form by September 20th at the latest.
The sign-up form includes: child information, parent information, parent volunteer role preference. Every family needs to commit to one parent volunteer role, and most are a single half-day tournament shift.
Registration is open to kids Kindergarten-8th grade.
Team Assignments
The registration volunteers will coordinate assigning new teams. Returning DI kids can sign up with their existing team, if they have one, or request a new team.
Teams are assigned on a rolling basis with a registration closing date of September 20th.
Wilmette DI Info Sessions
We suggest all new DI parents attend one info session. Sign-up here.
Tuesday August 29, 8-8:30pm, parent’s house
Wednesday, September 6, 8-8:30pm, Zoom
Wednesday, September 13, 8-8:30pm, parent’s house
Consider Being a Team Manager (parent coach):
All DI teams need a parent volunteer Team Manager (coach) who hosts practices at their home. We often need more coaches each year to support all the kids interested.
Benefits of being at Team Manager include:
You set the team’s schedule.
You get to see the kids’ progress first hand and get to know the kids on the team well.
Guarantees your kid will be on a team.
2024 Tournament Dates:
Saturday, February 24, 2024- Regional Tournament. All teams participate.
Saturday, April 6, 2024 - State Tournament. Teams 3rd grade and up that qualify can participate.