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What is DI?

HISTORY

Texas Destination Imagination (TXCPSO, Inc.) is a non-profit, volunteer-led, cause-driven organization. Our purpose is to inspire and equip students to become the next generation of innovators and leaders.

Our organization was incorporated in 1984, when our parent organization took over the charter for OM Association, Inc. In 1999, our name was changed to Texas Destination Imagination (TXCPSO, Inc.) Since then, our non-profit has impacted more than three hundred thousand participants. Approximately 20,000 youth make friends and learn the creative process through our programs every year, and 12,000 volunteers support us!

Texas DI is the largest affiliate in the world with over 2,234 teams in 2022-2023. Texas DI has reached a total of roughly 300,000, many of who have gone on to be CEOs, musicians, doctors, lawyers, judges, and all credit DI with having a positive and lasting impact on their lives.

MISSION

The mission of Texas Destination Imagination is to inspire the community of learners in Texas to utilize diverse approaches in applying 21st-century skills and creativity.

The Destination Imagination program is a fun, hands-on system of learning that fosters students’ creativity, courage and curiosity through open-ended academic Challenges in the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), fine arts and service learning. Our participants learn patience, flexibility, persistence, ethics, respect for others and their ideas, and the collaborative problem-solving process. Teams may showcase their solutions at a tournament.

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INSPIRING STUDENTS TO GET INVOLVED WITH STEM

Destination Imagination (DI) and Texas DI believe in the importance of play, learning by doing, and inspiring more students to participate in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Our Challenge Program allows students to learn STEM concepts through self-directed, maker-style experiences and provides them with an enriching space for them to discover, explore, take risks, and ignite their passions in areas they may not otherwise be exposed to.

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TEACHING VITAL SKILLS OFTEN LEFT OUT OF THE CLASSROOM

For more than 30 years, Destination Imagination (DI) and Texas Destination Imagination have strived to prepare youth for college, career, and life through 21st-century learning and STEM principles. Students who participate in the Destination Imagination Challenge Program learn vital skills often left out of the classroom, including creative and critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, teamwork, project management, perseverance, and self-confidence. They learn risk-taking to overcome their fear of failure, as well as the importance of failure to improve upon ideas. These 21st-century skills learned through DI are not only needed to drive the movement of an ever-changing workplace but are the very skills employers are looking for in prospective candidates.

By participating in Destination Imagination, your child will have every opportunity to grow, learn and prosper in a fun, hands-on learning environment.

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TEACHING THE CREATIVE PROCESS: FROM IMAGINATION TO INNOVATION

Our goal at Destination Imagination is to give students the chance to learn and experience the creative process. The creative process is about thinking and doing in no prescribed order. Some people “do” first and then think about what they have done, while others “think” first, then initiate action.

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Below are the components of the creative process that our participants experience while solving DI challenges.

RECOGNIZE

Becoming aware of a challenge or opportunity within a domain of interest.
Possibility thinking; problem finding
Maintaining a healthy state of mind (alertness, attitude, brain health)

IMAGINE

Applying thinking skills to develop ideas for solutions
Learning to think flexibly between divergent and convergent processes
Learning fluency and future thinking

INITIATE & COLLABORATE

Using process and design thinking
Taking risks and learning to control behavior
Working in a collaborative manner
Learning and practicing interpersonal and leadership skills

ASSESS

Monitoring progress; sometimes requires starting over or admitting failure

EVALUATE & CELEBRATE

Reflecting on the experience, resources, teamwork, and celebrating the solution

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Forming a DI Team in Leander ISD

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Forming a Team

All you need to do is fill out the registration form! Forms are available here!

Campus Coordinators will form teams based on the number of applicants and what challenge students wish to compete in.

Special consideration will be given for students whose parents volunteer to be a Team Manager, Volunteer or Appraiser!

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Team Manager

Roles and Responsibilities

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General Roles of a Team Manager

Every team must have a Team Manage.This role may be shared by more than one parent!
Being a Team Manager is a big job! Please know that there is a significant time commitment that may be too much for only one manager.
Team Managers must go through a background check. LISD does not pay this fee, though teams may split the cost.
Background checks must be completed before you can meet with teams, access team resources, or register for the tournament.
Team Managers must also register as volunteers with LISD.

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Continued…

Teams must meet at a location off campus.
Team Managers are responsible for arranging a place to meet!
Teams may have members from more than one campus.
Team may have 2-7 members
Teams MUST have 2 Appraisers and 1 Volunteer or they must pay the Appraiser/Volunteer fees. LISD will NOT pay these fees.

Please Note:

● Leander ISD sponsors and each LISD team. While the DI Campus Representatives strive to put each team member in the challenge of their choice, at times the make-up of the team, grade level, or team openings may determine team placement. The LISD Campus Representative makes the final team placement decisions for each campus.

● School Jurisdiction and FERPA apply to all DI Team Members Meetings, since DI Teams are school-sponsored groups. Please refer to the “Destination Imagination Quick Reference Card''.

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General Team Manager Responsibilities

As a Team Manager you should plan on:

● Meeting with Campus DI Facilitator, as needed, to go over logistics, receive materials, etc.

● Facilitating weekly team practices to guide the team to the regionals tournament (may need more frequent meetings as you get closer to the tournament date).

● Complete required team manager training offered by DI and team manager training offered by Heart of Texas DI (check the Heart of Texas DI website for information and dates about training).

● Complete a background check before meeting with any students (you will receive information about the background check when you receive your team number and create an account on idodi.org)

● Studying the DI Program materials (Challenge, Rules of the Road and Road Map). While it is not up to you to solve the challenges, it is up to you to make sure the team understands the rules of the program and of the challenge they are working to solve.

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Continued…

Recruiting appraisers to represent your team, with the help of Campus DI Facilitator ***This is a REQUIREMENT for participating in the Regional Tournament: each team must have 2 appraisers represented.

● Completing T-Shirt order for your team and submitting it to the Heart of Texas Region by t-shirt deadline.

● Checking challenge clarifications as the Regional Meet approaches. These are published by Destination Imagination Inc. at www.idodi.org.

● Checking in with Campus DI Facilitator -- they are there to help!

● Communicating with team parents and enlisting help from parents. Be positive, upbeat and encouraging as you share the excitement and joy of DI.

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2025-2026 Challenge Previews

Challenge Previews

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Registration Forms

Registration forms are now available: DI Registration Form
Parents of students interested in participating need to submit to their completed registration forms to their Campus DI Coordinator/Facilitator no later than Wednesday Oct. 1, 2025.

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Additional Resources For Campus Coordinators

�Quick Reference Card – English

Quick Reference Card – Spanish

Team Manager Responsibilities – English Team Manager Responsibilities – Spanish

Challenge Previews 2025-2026

Heart of Texas DI Regional

LISD DI Page

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Possible DI Flyer/Blurb For Campus Coordinators

Registration Forms Are Now Available!

Destination Imagination is open to any 3rd-5th grade student. DI is an extracurricular program that brings out your creativity and builds team-based problem-solving skills and life skills!

If you are interested, please see Ms. Weiss in QUEST or check out the Akin QUEST website for a registration form! Registration forms are due Wednesday, October 1st.