Welcome to

Destination ImagiNation ®

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© 2003 Massachusetts Destination ImagiNation. All rights reserved.

... Just Imagine competing with the best and

brightest students in New Jersey…and if you outperform those

students you could earn the right to compete on an International Level!

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Made Possible by

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Destination ImagiNation® is . . . a non-profit corporation supported by International Affiliates throughout the world who work together to offer the world’s largest kid-powered & team-driven creative problem-solving program

...in which the kids have fun, and learn without realizing it!

® Destination ImagiNation® teaches...

Total Team-generated Solution without adult “interference”

n Creative problem-solving n Teamwork to solve a complex

challenge • No single answer (open-ended

Challenges) • Balance time, budget, creative ideas

n Presentation skills

All in a supportive environment where all ideas are team-generated so that team members have ownership of the solution.

® Destination ImagiNation®

Program Structure

n  Teams are 5-7 participants n  Throughout the program year, teams work to solve

a Team Challenge as well as learn the techniques of brainstorming and instant problem-solving through Instant Challenges and the use of Improv items

n  Culmination of each team’s work is showcased at Destination ImagiNation® tournaments •  Local and Regional Tournaments, State Tournaments, and Destination ImagiNation® Global Finals

Tournaments are incredible expositions of the team’s creativity

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Instant Challenges teach our kids to think quickly with confidence

Instant Challenges teach participants to take what life is handing them moment to moment. These Challenges spark and quickly capture the team members’ wild imaginations by requiring them to solve a challenge quickly and decisively.

Destination ImagiNation® Program - Instant Challenge

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Teams use art, technology and performance as they tackle one of the six Team Challenges. The Team Challenge solution can take from several weeks to several months to develop.

The teams must do the research and experimentation needed to solve every aspect of the Team Challenge and develop a performance-based presentation demonstrating the team’s solution.

Teams work together to solve complex problems

Destination ImagiNation® Program - Team Challenge

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Participant Eligibility

n  Pre-school thru College Participants compete in 5 age-

based or grade-based levels: Rising Stars!™ (Ages 4-7), Elementary (3rd to 5th grade), Middle (6th to 8th Grade), Secondary (High School), University

No formal academic requirements

® What’s Expected of Participants

n Must be willing to work as part of a team

•  Listen, evaluate and build upon teammates’ ideas

•  Ability to compromise •  Constructing & refining solutions •  Presenting solutions •  Stay positive with teammates

Teamwork teaches Leadership and Compromise

® Destination ImagiNation® Typical Year

•  Team building exercises •  Understanding the Team Challenge •  Brainstorming of solutions •  Working, refining, and more refining

•  Technical elements, props, costumes, script...

•  Lots of practice for Instant Challenges •  Local trips for junk and supplies •  Practice dry-run (school presentation) •  Tournament time – February or March

And lots of snacks

® Skill Development

Lifelong skills

•  Teamwork •  Cooperation •  Collaboration •  Time management •  Communication •  Set Design •  Power tools •  Costume & make-up

® Rough Schedule

•  Learning to work as a team •  Instant Challenges •  Understanding the Team Challenge

•  Brainstorming ideas •  Research & experimentation •  Creating the presentation •  More Instant Challenges

•  Finalizing, refining solutions •  Props, artwork, costumes, scripts •  “Crunch” time, rehearse •  And more Instant Challenges

Time flies when you’re having fun

Parent Manager

DI Training

SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY

Regional Tournament

February “ish”

STATE Tournament*

April

GLOBAL FINALS

* Top teams advance

Team Trainings

Instant Challenge Workshop

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Technical—Design a Vehicle

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Science—BUILD A PIECE OF KINETIC ART

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FINE ARTS—A STORY WITHOUT WORDS

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Improvisational—REACTING TO CHANGE

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Structural—Battle the Wind with Glue

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Service Learning—Helping Your Community

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What is the time commitment?

•  Auditions in January (Bring Completed Student Information Form)

•  Grade 5---Monday, January 7th @ 3:00 pm WW Library •  Grades 6 & 7 --- Tuesday, January 8th @ 3:00 pm BC Library •  Grade 8 --- Wednesday, January 9th @ 3:00 pm BC Library

•  Practice and Preparation (5-8 Hours Per Week Outside of School)

•  January – March Independent Research—1-2 hours per week •  January – March Team Practices ---4-6 hours per week •  Grade 8 --- Wednesday, January 9th @ 3:00 pm BC Library

•  New Jersey State Tournament (Robinsville High School)

•  Saturday, March 23rd State Tournament—All Day

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“Imagination is more important than knowledge.

-Albert Einstein

Imagination encircles the world!”

Knowledge is limited.

Destination ImagiNation ® International Sponsor