Destination Imagination of New York students smiling during the Destination Imagination Global Finals tournament
Student participating in a challenge during a Destination Imagination tournament
Destination Imagination Team Managers
Students and DI Appraisers examine the team's drone in a Technical challenge
Student explaining her solution to a Destination Imagination tournament official
Calling All New York Students Who Think Outside the Box!

Welcome to the World of Destination Imagination

Student participating in a Destination Imagination challenge

What is Destination Imagination?


Destination Imagination® (DI) is a global, volunteer-led nonprofit organization that hosts Team Challenges for students who want to take on the entire creative process—from imagination to innovation. Students participate in DI in 48 states and 30 countries! The program boasts more than one million alumni and 38,000 volunteers worldwide.

Here in New York, we are a vibrant and active Destination Imagination Affiliate. We host tournaments at the regional and state levels. At our tournaments, student teams get to showcase their unique solutions to science, technology, engineering, arts, math, and service learning Challenges, watch each other present, and celebrate their achievements together.

Students who participate in DI build lifelong friendships, self esteem, and creative problem-solving skills. Not to mention DI is a phenomenal resume builder!

The Nuts & Bolts

  • New York students in grades K-12 and University can participate in Destination Imagination by forming or joining a team.
  • To form a team, you will need between 2 and 7 students (they do not need to be in the exact same grade level) and a Team Manager who is 18 or older.
  • Each DI season begins in the fall and aligns with the start of the school year. Teams select the Challenge they want to tackle and work together on their Solutions until Regional Tournaments take place in March.
  • New York’s statewide Affiliate Tournament takes place in early April and Global Finals are typically held in May.
  • New York Regional Tournament registration opens in early September. All teams must register by January 15th in order to participate in a Regional Tournament and we recommend registering by October 31st.
  • DI teams generally spend 2-3 hours a week working together on their Solutions and devote additional time fine tuning in the weeks leading up to each tournament.
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Ways to Get Involved
Form a Team

The Nuts & Bolts

Who

New York students in grades K-12 and University can participate in Destination Imagination by forming or joining a team.
How

To form a team, you will need between 2 and 7 students (they do not need to be in the exact same grade level) and a Team Manager who is 18 or older.
When

Each DI season begins in the fall and aligns with the start of the school year. Teams select the Challenge they want to tackle and work together on their solutions until Regional Tournaments take place in March.
Tournaments

New York’s Regional Tournaments take place in March and our statewide Affiliate Tournament takes place in early April. Global Finals are typically held in May.
Registration Deadlines

New York Regional Tournament registration opens in early September. All teams must register by January 15th in order to participate in a Regional Tournament and we recommend registering by October 31st.
Time Commitment

DI teams generally spend 2-3 hours a week working together on their solutions and devote additional time fine tuning in the weeks leading up to each tournament.
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The Nuts & Bolts

  • WHO: New York students in grades K-12 and University can participate in Destination Imagination by forming or joining a team.
  • HOW: To form a team, you will need between 2 and 7 students (they do not need to be in the exact same grade level) and a Team Manager who is 18 or older.
  • WHEN: Each DI season begins in the fall and aligns with the start of the school year. Teams select the Challenge they want to tackle and work together on their solutions until Regional Tournaments take place in March.
  • WHEN: New York’s statewide Affiliate Tournament takes place in early April and Global Finals are typically held in May.
  • WHERE: New York Regional Tournament registration opens in early September. All teams must register by January 15th in order to participate in a Regional Tournament and we recommend registering by October 31st.
  • TIME COMMITMENT: DI teams generally spend 2-3 hours a week working together on their Solutions and devote additional time fine tuning in the weeks leading up to each tournament.
Image

The Nuts & Bolts

Who:
New York students in grades K-12 and University can participate in Destination Imagination by forming or joining a team.

How

To form a team, you will need between 2 and 7 students (they do not need to be in the exact same grade level) and a Team Manager who is 18 or older.

When

Each DI season begins in the fall and aligns with the start of the school year. Teams select the Challenge they want to tackle and work together on their solutions until Regional Tournaments take place in March. up to each tournament.

WHen

New York’s statewide Affiliate Tournament takes place in early April and Global Finals are typically held in May

Where

New York Regional Tournament registration opens in early September. All teams must register by January 15th in order to participate in a Regional Tournament and we recommend registering by October 31st.

Time Commitment

DI teams generally spend 2-3 hours a week working together on their Solutions and devote additional time fine tuning in the weeks leading up to each tournament.
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"DI is what was missing from school for my son. He needed the creative outlet DI gave him. I'm grateful for all he (and I) learned from being involved with DI."
Risa D’Amaso, DI Parent and Team Manager
Students participating in a challenge during a Destination Imagination tournament

A Look Inside the Magic


Destination Imagination is like its own creative universe! The fun starts right here in New York at the regional level when you form a team.

Warning: This is not your average art or science club. Students who participate in Destination Imagination do things like:

Build Robots

Write Plays

Make Movies

Design Sets, Costumes, and Props

Engineer solutions to Real-world Problems

Create Original Works of Art

Give Back to Their Communities

Compete for a Spot at Global Finals

Many students participate in DI multiple years in a row and will tell you the program has changed their lives. There’s no other club or program quite like DI. When you learn how to solve complex problems creatively as a team, everything becomes possible!
Take a Look Behind the Scenes
"School taught me that I have a brain, but DI taught me how to use it."
Erin Coyer, Alum
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Up for a fun challenge? Join us!