Welcome to

1. Welcome to 2012-2013 Creativity has the power to change the world. Becoming a team is a life-changing experience. Our world’s future depends on extraordinary problem solvers.

2. What is Destination ImagiNation? Destination ImagiNation(DI) is an educational activity in which student teams solve open-ended Challenges and present their solutions at Tournaments. Our Impact • 125,000 participants annually • 1.5 million alumni • 48 states; 30 countries • 38,000 volunteers

3. Why do DI? Our Impact “Destination Imagination actually has the core of what we want to see in NASA in the STEM ecosystem: teaching participants how to think instead of necessarily what we think.” NASA’s Dr. Roosevelt Johnson “We can’t teach our children everything that they need to know, but DI provides opportunities for them to think, take risks, and work together to solve common problems.” Raymond Simon, U.S. Dept. of Education, Deputy Secretary “DI Students are so curious and they’re so free.” Paul Hanson, Director of Marketing, 3M

4. The DI Program Season Suggested 16 week schedule. Details for this schedule are included in the Roadmap, which is sent to every team after they have purchased a membership.

5. The DI Tournaments • Teams first attend Regional Tournaments - Denver Regional Tournament is Saturday, March 16, at George Washington High School - Tournament registration deadline is January 15 • Top teams from the Regional Tournaments advance to the Affiliate (State) Tournaments - Colorado Affiliate DI Tournament is Saturday, April 13, on the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver • Top teams advance from Affiliate Tournaments to DI Global Finals - University of Tennessee in Knoxville, May 21-26

6. Competition Levels There are FOUR competition levels, which are determined by the age of the oldest team member. • Rising Stars! (non-competitive) – ages 4 to 7, generally K-2 • Elementary Level – K to 5th grade. Students in K-2 have the option of competing in Rising Stars! or Elementary Level • Middle Level – 6th to 8th grade • Secondary Level – 9th to 12th grade

7. Competition Components TEAM CHALLENGE • At Tournaments, competitive teams present their Team Challenge solutions to Appraisers for a score • Rising Stars teams also present their solutions but aren’t scored INSTANT CHALLENGE • At Tournaments, Competitive and Rising Stars teams also compete in Instant Challenges, which are: • Short, time-driven impromptu Challenges • Confidential until the day of the Tournament • Performance-Based, Task-Based, or a combination of the two

8. Participation Team Basics • Recruit team members • Recruit team managers • Get parent support • Find a practice space • Determine a practice schedule

9. Participation Team Managers • Attend FREE Colorado Team Manager Training - November 10, 2012 at Overland HS or - January 12, 2013 at South HS • Attend Denver Pre-Tournament Meeting for Team Managers - Will be scheduled at George Washington about a month prior to the Denver Tournament • Read and understand Rules of the Road, your team’s Challenge, and Challenge Clarifications

10. Participation Volunteer Appraiser • One required from each team • Must attend one Colorado appraiser training - January 26, 2013 in a Jefferson County school or - February 9, 2013 in a Boulder Valley school • Must appraise at one tournament • May appraise more tournaments, if desired! • May appraise at any tournament • May want to avoid appraising at the Denver Tournament in order to watch the team compete.

11. The DI Challenges All-new Challenges are written every year. Challenge categories are: • Technical • Scientific • Fine Arts • Improvisational • Structural • Service Learning – projectOUTREACH • Rising Stars! – non-competitive for very young students

12. 2012-2013 Technical Challenge Prompts students to complete tasks by using engineering, research, strategic planning and related skills. “Your vehicles are cranked and ready to tell their story. Will you push it, play it safe, or take the big risk? Just make sure you get In the Zone!”

13. 2012-2013 Scientific Challenge Blends the research and curiosity of science with the thrill and creativity of the theater arts. “Art can begin with a flick of the wrist, but can it ride on the wind? If you take on this Challenge, you will imagine a character so light and airy that it could slip, slide and sail away!”

14. 2012-2013 Fine Arts Challenge Students flex their acting and artistic muscles as they explore some of our most fascinating works of literature and media. “With the right camouflage, you can become anyone or anything. Superheroes and chameleons change themselves every day! Who will you be when you take the mask away?” .

15. 2012-2013 Improvisational Challenge Is all about spontaneity and story-telling. Teams receive topics and produce skits right on the spot. “The world has undergone a dramatic change overnight! OK team, grab some T-shirts and markers and see if you can make sense of this Change in RealiTee!”

16. 2012-2013 Structural Challenge Asks teams to design, build and test load-bearing structures out of specific materials. “Let’s do the twist! It goes like this: Build a structure that can survive a serious hit while holding weight. That’s what we are torqueing about!”

17. 2012-2013 Service Learning Challenge – projectOUTREACH Is designed to engage students in service learning to address real community issues through personal expression. “LIGHTS: Find a community need. CAMERA: Solve the problem the best way you can! ACTION: Then unveil your documentary film to a captivated audience.”

18. 2012-2013 Rising Stars Challenge This non-competitive category is especially designed for K-2 students. “The colors of the rainbow are everywhere you look. In this Challenge, it is time to celebrate them all on ROY G BIV’s birthday. Pick your favorite color and join the party!”

19. Starting a Team Competitive Teams • Purchase Single Team Registration from Denver Public Schools as part of the DPS 30-pak at a cost of $110 • Unique Team Number will be assigned (106-xxxxx) • Will receive printed copies of DI Program Materials (Road Map, Team Challenges, Rules of the Road)

20. Starting a Team Non-Competitive Rising Stars! Teams • Purchase Team Registration online at http://shopdi.org at a cost of $85 • Unique Team Number will be assigned (106-xxxxx) • Will receive printed copies of the Rising Stars! materials, including the Rising Stars! Challenge

21. Denver Region Regional Directors • Becky Butz & Lindsay Kennedy Regional Challenge Masters • In The Zone (Technical) – Art Mander & Susie Balagna • Wind Visible (Scientific) – Jim Butz & Dick Witulski • In Disguise (Fine Arts) – Nancy Kennedy & Marta Garbowski • Change in Realitee (Improv) – Amanda Tipton & Mary Ann Barwick • Twist-O-Rama (Structural) – Steve Taylor & Jes Cofran • Real to Real (Service Learning) – Angela Maez • Roy G. Biv (Rising Stars!) – Jenny & Natty Spampinato • Instant Challenge – Ardith & Mike Pace

22. Out of the Mouths of Denver Team Managers! “When you coach a DI team, the experience will change the way YOU think. Being a coach has opened my mind to the world of possible solutions to problems. All kinds of problems! When I’m stuck on a home or work project, I reflect on my DI coaching experiences and look for creative solutions. Imagine giving children the same license to think and create solutions to problems throughout life.” Lane Miller, Teacher Team Manager “Have you ever watched a flower bloom, a butterfly grow wings or a baby bird learn to fly? Well, none is as exciting as watching a DI team grow together and learn to cooperate through their own collective creativity. The rewards of being a team manager are boundless and truly a learning experience for both manager and team. It is a transforming journey and one that I highly recommend. Alice Bauer, Parent Team Manager “Being a Team Manager lets me spend time with my kids and their friends while teaching them creative problem-solving. I love watching the team struggle with something and then have that ‘ah-ha’ moment. I actually feel like I’m helping them get skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives.” Yvonne Kellar-Guenther, Parent Team Manager

23. Out of the Mouths of Denver Team Managers! “The tears of joy you can’t help when you watch your team of seven 2nd/3rd grade boys calmly ace a building Instant Challenge at Regionals. You remember when they first started practicing Instant Challenges – someone cried, someone threw a punch, someone was bossy, someone gave up, someone yelled, someone rolled around on the floor…” Michelle Miller, Parent Team Manager “Being a Team manager is an extremely rewarding experience. You get to watch students blossom into creative problem solvers, especially if you follow a team over a number of years. Watching them discover how to express themselves, work collaboratively, and take ownership for their final product is priceless.” Katy Hoops, Teacher Team Manager Coaching a DI team is a great lesson in giving up control and watching – with amazement – how capable and creative children can be when the adults move out of their way.” Mona Ferrugia, Parent Team Manager “I manage our team because I want to create memories for the kids. Twenty years from now when the kids are reminiscing about the good old days, I hope they will fondly recall their experiences with their DI team.” Kern Karkos, Parent Team Manager