Destination Imagination (DI) is an international program that allows young people of all ages--kindergarten through university level--to be involved in creative problem-solving in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), fine arts, and service learning.

If you participate in DI, you will join a small team with other East students to solve an open-ended problem, or “challenge,” and then present your solution at tournaments. We say “open-ended” because they have no right or wrong answer. It’s up to you and your teammates to decide how to solve your challenge. You will have an adult team manager working with you, but that person can’t actually tell you what to do… you and your teammates have to figure out your own solution.

East’s DI teams will form in the fall and meet one or two times a week until their final tournament in the spring. DI teaches skills such as collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and perseverance—all skills that are needed in the 21^st-century economy. 

You can learn more about the program at www.destinationimagination.org.

What kind of time commitment is involved?
This is up to the team to decide. Most teams meet one or two times a week, beginning in the fall and continuing until their last tournament in the winter/spring. Some teams may wish to spend more time working on their solution. We realize that high-school students are busy with a variety of activities, and we try to be flexible with the schedule.

When are the tournaments?
The first tournament is at the regional level. It will be held on Saturday, March 5, in Muskego. Each team will perform twice, so students need to set aside the entire day for regionals. It is likely that the East team or teams will advance to the state tournament (Saturday, April 9) at UW-Green Bay. Approximately the top 20% of teams competing at the state tournament will advance to DI Globals, which will be held in Kansas City, Mo., in late May.

How much does DI cost?
Each participant must pay a fee of $100 to help pay for T-shirts and other program expenses. Team managers have the option of collecting an additional fee of $10 to $30, depending on the needs of the team, to pay for materials and supplies. Students will normally spend $10-$30 on concessions and souvenirs the day of the regional tournament in Muskego. For the state tournament, families must pay for their mileage and meals and for a hotel room if they travel to Green Bay the night before. Teams that advance to Global Finals incur an additional expense—approximately $1,000 per person—although in the past we have been very successful at raising funds to offset the costs.

How do I apply to join?
Each participant must fill out this form: https://forms.gle/pXZo2Mj4u6CFZsA76. If you have questions, contact Anne Coulling, DI coordinator, at anne.coulling@wisconsindi.org or 262-501-8153.