Creative Minds Wanted!

Are you Technical? An Actor? A Singer? A Comedian? Do you like to build things? Tell Stories? Perform? Are you good at thinking on your feet?

Then Destination ImagiNation® is the program for you.

Teams are now forming!!!!

What is Destination Imagination?

Destination Imagination (DI) is an extracurricular, school-based program that emphasizes creativity and team-based problem solving skills and life skills for students in kindergarten through college. The goal of DI is to cultivate the creative problem solving process and make it an unconscious part of students’ everyday lives. Teams participate in both the Team Challenge and Instant Challenge portions of the competition. A creative solution to the Team Challenge is developed by team members over several months and presented at competition in a skit using dramas, music, art, and engineering. Team Challenges build student confidence through commitment to task, group interaction and independence. Instant Challenges are designed to foster teamwork and quick, creative, strategic thinking skills. Both the Team challenges and Instant Challenges provide and promote opportunities to develop life skills that are essential in our ever-changing world. Competition starts at the local level in February and culminates at the Global Finals in May.

Why is Destination Imagination Important?

DI promotes creativity, brainstorming, divergent thinking skills, and presentation skills. Teamwork is fostered as team members learn budgeting life skills, and research skills. As they work through problem solving, they learn project management, knowledge application, and confidence. DI gives children a chance to shine and show their talents in many areas. Not only that, it is FUN!

Team Managers

All teams must have at least one team manager (two is recommended). Team Managers are typically a parent of a Team Member. Without Team Managers we don’t have teams. Don’t worry if you don’t know anything about the challenge the team chooses to work on. It is not your challenge to solve. In fact, the best team managers are those who know very little about the challenge since they aren’t tempted to interfere in the team’s solution. Team Managers can teach skills or have someone come in to teach skills. They are not responsible for solving the challenge. Mid-Cities region offers Team Manager training classes throughout the program year. Check out the website for training dates.

What does it take to form a team? Student Qualifications? Parent Involvement?

A maximum of seven students may be placed on an age appropriate team. The only qualifications are willingness to work, creative ideas and the ability to attend meetings regularly. Also, every team needs at least one Parent Volunteer to serve as a Team Manager. The Team Manager helps the students stay on schedule, gather materials, and guide them through the problem-solving process. The Team Manager DOES NOT help the teams develop their solution. The time commitment is about one to three hours each week depending on the age level of the students, team managers availability and the amount of time that the team wants to invest in it’s solution. The team’s time commitment usually increases in January as the first tournament approaches. During these weekly meeting teams will prepare a solution to present at the tournament. Team Managers can expect to spend at least an hour each week preparing for the team’s weekly meeting.

Parents must make every effort to have the student at every practice or work session. They many not contribute ideas or help prepare any part of the team’s solution. Parents must be willing to contribute some time to the Mid-Cities Destination Imagination program. Volunteers make this program possible. Many opportunities are available from being a Team Manager to helping at a workshop or tournament.

Team Makeup

Teams are age-based groups of up to 7 students:

Early Learners – K-2Elementary - Grades 3-5Middle – Grades 6-8 High-Grades 9-12

Costs at a Glance

There is a cost of $65 per team member to participate. This includes team registration fees, a region t shirt, and region pin.

Cost of the Teams Challenge Solution

Each challenge has its own cost limit ranging from $100 to $175. There is no hard and fast rule but teams can expect to spend up to double the cost limit of the solution. Since Early Learner teams are not competitive there is no cost limit. We recommend Early Learner teams adhere to a $50 cost limit. The cost of the team’s solution is shared equally by all team members.

Additional Costs

If a team advances to the State Tournament (Rising Star teams do not advance) then there are Tournament Fee and T-Shirt costs associated with attending the State Tournament .

Where can I learn more?

Visit the Destination ImagiNation Website at – you can find previews of this year’s

Team Challenges as well as other videos and information about DI.
Check out the Mid-Cities region website at

You can see video’s of previous year’s team solutions at:

- be sure to review the synopsis of
the challenges at the link on the top of this is page to understand something about the challenge the teams solved.

Contact the campus coordinator, Stella Greer, at or 214-535-2533

How can I sign up??

Fill out and turn in the attached interest form to your principal’s office by the date listed. Students will be placed on a first come basis. The $65 check should be made out to The Oakridge School.

Destination ImagiNation® Interest Form

Student’s Name / Birthdate (Include year):
Grade: / Campus/ Homeroom: /
T shirt size
Parent’s Name(s): / Home Phone
Address (City, State & Zip)
Parent 1 / Work Phone / Email
Parent 2 / Work Phone / Email
If possible, I would like to be on the same team as:
TEAM MEETING PREFERENCES: List any times when you absolutely could not meet because of regular activities. Please be specific.
SPECIAL NEEDS: List any needs that should be considered during the team placement process
Parent’s Section
Parent Volunteer Policy:
Parent volunteers make this program possible. All participants’ parents must support the program by donating TIME in some way. Every team is required to provide an appraiser and two (2) tournament helpers to assist in conducting the tournament.
The number of teams formed is limited only by the number of Team Managers available. The only way to guarantee that your child is placed on a team is to volunteer as a Team Manager. Please consider being a Team Manager this year. We have regular training sessions, a Team Managers guide (manual), and experienced coordinators to answer your questions and guide you through the process.
Please indicate how you will be able to support the program this year.
I will manage a team. (Must be at least 18 years of age).
I will co-manage a team with
I will attend appraisers training in January AND appraise at the regional tournament.
I will be a tournament day helper and work a minimum 2 hour shift during the tournament.
I will be a team volunteer
I will assist with district or regional workshops.
  • I have read the Destination Imagination description and understand the time requirements.
  • I understand how important it is that my child attends the regular weekly meeting(s).
  • I will be respectful of the Team Manager’s time by picking up my child in a timely manner.
  • I understand that all team members will share the cost of the teams solution.
  • I verify that my child’s grade level and birthday is recorded accurately.
  • I give permission for my child to participate in Destination ImagiNation© sponsored by Mid Cities CPSO.

Parent Signature:______Date: ______

Please return to your principal’s office by Wednesday September 18th!

Applications will be processed on a first come basis.