Fraase Family: Destination ImagiNation

Monday, April 4, 2011

Destination ImagiNation

This weekend my two oldest went to the State DI Tournament!! What is DI, you ask? Destination ImagiNation is an amazing kids group. Here’s what the Destination ImagiNation website says:

Destination ImagiNation, Inc. is an extraordinary non-profit organization that provides educational programs for students to learn and experience creativity, teamwork and problem solving. Every year, we reach 100,000 students across the U.S. and in more than 30 countries. Destination ImagiNation, our core program, is an educational program in which student teams solve open-ended Challenges and present their solutions at Tournaments. Teams are tested to think on their feet, work together and devise original solutions that satisfy the requirements of the Challenges. Participants gain more than just basic knowledge and skills—they learn to unleash their imaginations and take unique approaches to problem solving.

This year I coached and co-coached Aria and Max’s teams. It seems like the season flew by. Both teams did similar challenges that involved writing and performing a play, making all the props, scripts, backgrounds and costumes. Parents and kids sign an “Interference Contract” that states the adults will not have any part in making up the solution for the challenge. (Basically I’m there to referee and secure supplies!) I was SO proud of my teams, they worked together and did an awesome job! Here’s our pictures from State:

The whole set of photos from our journey to State DI can be found HERE. Unfortunately, none of my groups are old enough for Global Finals yet. Global Finals are held every year in Knoxville, TN. Kids from all over the US and many other countries come to compete. There is also an independent documentary called “Don’t Tell Me I Can’t” coming out later this year featuring California DI teams on their way to Global Finals.