Frequently Asked Questions
What type of organization are you?
Destination Imagination, Inc. is a non-profit, volunteer-led organization.
What is your purpose?
Our cause-driven purpose is to inspire and equip students to become the next generation of innovators and leaders.
How do you do this?
Student teams in five levels (early learning, elementary grades, middle grades, secondary grades and college) select one of seven standards-based Challenges to solve. These Challenges come out of our work with subject-matter experts and educators and take a full year to develop prior to their release.
What type of challenges?
There are seven academic Challenges: early learning, three STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), one service learning, one improvisational, and one visual arts Challenge. We also offer a Pre-K STEM and Literacy program.
What is the goal of the challenges?
Each Challenge is designed to engage students to learn 21st century and higher-order thinking skills by teaching them the creative process from imagination to innovation. The program teaches students how to think, not what to think. Students that solve the Challenges have fun and learn the skills of creativity, critical thinking, self-confidence, self-determination, presentation and collaboration. We want to enable students to identify, build on, and celebrate their unique strengths.
What is the creative process?
The creative process consists of five stages and is the integration of educational principles, psychology, biology and cognitive science. Team Challenge solutions are authentically assessed.
RECOGNIZE: What process did your team go through in order to understand all the issues or points of the Challenge?
IMAGINE: How did your team use your imagination to explore new ideas about possible solutions to the Challenge?
INITIATE AND COLLABORATE: How did your team take risks and go beyond the minimum as you committed to a solution? How did your team work in a collaborative way?
ASSESS: How did your team assess your solution as it was being created?
EVALUATE AND CELEBRATE: Reflect on your experience. What did your team learn? How did your team celebrate your journey and accomplishments?
How much does your program cost?
The final program cost depends on which state or country you are located and also depends on whether the teams compete in academic competitions. Destination Imagination charges a global team registration fee which comes with the program materials and access to DI University for online training. Team memberships cost $105.
We are a volunteer-led organization. We license the distribution of our challenge program to state and country volunteer organizations called Affiliates. Licensed Affiliates also charge a state or country fee for volunteer training and academic competitions. This fee varies by location and may be collected separately.
What is an academic competition?
Academic competitions, sometimes referred to as tournaments, are where student teams present their Challenge solutions. There are regional, state, country and global tournaments. Top-scoring teams can progress to the global tournament called Global Finals.
How do I form a team?
The Start a Team page will guide you through the team registration process. You may also call our customer service representatives at 1-888-321-1503 or email them at [email protected].
What are volunteer opportunities?
As a volunteer, you will join a network of more than 38,000 passionate people who want to change kids lives. Opportunities exist in team management, Affiliate administration, Affiliate marketing, and Affiliate tournament operations.
How do I receive training?
DI University offers online training modules and Licensee Affiliates offer face-to-face training.