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Fall 2007

Destination ImagiNation® At A Glance

• Destination ImagiNation®, a program of Destination Imagination, Inc., is one of the world’s largest creativity and problem solving programs for youth of all ages, with thousands of participants in 48 US states, 28 countries, and Canadian provinces participating annually. It is operated by Destination Imagination, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation located in Glassboro, New Jersey.  Although this is the 8th program year under the brand name Destination ImagiNation®, the corporate entity, OM Association, Inc., has existed as a non-profit organization since 1983 and now begins its 27^th year operating a quality problem solving programs for kids.

• Destination ImagiNation® helps kids develop a unique and critical skill set by emphasizing:

• Destination ImagiNation® is not just an extracurricular activity. It is an extension of a Destination ImagiNation® brand of curriculum which draws on Creative Problem Solving strategies and the multiple intelligences of students to use what they have learned in the classroom in new and creative ways. 

• The Destination ImagiNation® program helps kids build important, lifelong skills, such as problem solving, teamwork and divergent thinking.  Our teams solve two types of Challenges within the program year.  The Central Team Challenge involves structural, technical or theatrical oriented Challenges and takes several months to solve.  Throughout that time the teams also practice improvisational Instant Challenges, which stimulate the team’s ability to think quickly and creatively with only minutes to prepare solutions.  When tournament time rolls around, each team’s score reflects its Central Team Challenge performance plus its response to an Instant Challenge.

• Creativity isn’t just a school year activity.  Many state, local and international affiliates offer creativity activities for kids year-round, including summer camps that incorporate all of the fun and thoughtful activities that make learning interesting.

• Destination Imagination® is a membership-based organization. On a yearly basis, thousands of committed volunteers, parents, educators, and former program participants generously offer their time and effort in support of the program.  Many of these volunteers serve as Team Managers, Program Coordinators, Tournament Officials as well as Affiliate and International Board members.

• Corporate America believes in Destination ImagiNation®!  Our program receives significant corporate support from several important organizations, including National Dairy Council (our International Sponsor) as well as 3M, and Velcro USA.  Sponsorship opportunities exist at the international and local levels.

• Destination Imagination Inc.  Offers a variety of other products for use in schools and community based activities.  In addition DI-COR, developed by Destination ImagiNation Inc., is a training program for businesses, corporations, and institutions of higher education. This program teaches creative problems solving techniques to business leaders, employees, and educators.

Destination ImagiNation® in Oregon

OM Associates Inc. of Oregon is the nonprofit organization that offers Oregon Destination ImagiNation®. This nonprofit association has presented creative problem-solving activities to students in Oregon for more than 27 years.

The vast majority of the more than 500 volunteers who participate in this program began when their own children started, and continue volunteering because they saw the benefits first hand, and wanted other children to have those same opportunities. These volunteers serve as state board members, school building coordinators, trainers (for both student teams and adult team managers), tournament appraisers and other regional personnel. It is this volunteer base that provides the backbone of the Destination Imagination program in Oregon and assures a quality program to support student participation in a very worthwhile activity.  

How Do Teams Form?

Teams form through a school or school district, a club such as the Boys and Girls Club or the YMCA, or any group of students. For example, some teams form as part of an after-school activity, or as family members or neighboring kids. In other cases, one or two students decide to form a team, find a parent, grandparent or family friend who is willing to act as the team manager and then get classmates or friends to join them. 

Teams are made up of up to seven students, grouped by age or grade. Students in kindergarten through second grade usually participate in the non-competitive primary program, Rising Stars. The other three categories are for students in grades 3-5 (elementary level), 6-8 (intermediate level) and 9-12 (secondary level).

The DI Year

Below is a brief outline of the program year in Oregon.

August:  www.IDODI.org and www.shopdi.org updated and ready to receive memberships

September:  Challenges and Team Manager materials released to paid teams

September – November:  Information nights held at schools (contact the regional director in your area for details).  Teams form, and team managers attend training (held in all regions). Dates and information are on the Oregon website:  www.oregondi.org

September - February:  Teams work on Central Challenge and on Instant Challenge under guidance of the team managers.

February 23, 2008: Regional Tournament held in Baker City

March 1, 2008:  Regional Tournaments held in (Hillsboro), Milwaukie, and Pleasant Hill. Hillsboro tournament dependent on the number of teams that form in the Portland Metro area.

April 5, 2008:  State Tournament held at Oregon State University. (Teams advance to state based on regional placement.)

May 21-25, 2008:  Global Finals, Knoxville, Tennessee (First place winners from State advance to Global Finals.) 

Program Information

Complete programmatic information, including registration instructions, can be found at www.IDODI.org . If you are new to the program, we encourage you to start at that site. On September 1, 2007, the six challenges for 2007-2008 will be posted to a secure site  Once a national membership has been purchased, the purchaser will be given access to the site to download the materials. The Oregon Destination ImagiNation site, located at www.oregondi.org, provides specific information related to National Registration and a Program guide (both located on the front page under WHAT’S NEW!) In addition, information about participation and registration in Oregon, as well as links to Regional Directors and other resources to help team managers and coordinators provide a quality program for their students can be found on the site.  Contact your regional director or Karen Anderson, Affiliate Director, KarenA@oregondi.org or (541) 754-3811, for additional information.

(click HERE for a printable copy of this page!)

Page revised Friday, June 06, 2008