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Destination Imagination

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Destination Imagination (DI) • Challenge Preview

Student-led teams build a solution to a challenge and perform it as a short show. Below: what DI is, this year’s challenge areas, and how it compares to TSA.

https://www.destinationimagination.org/challenge-experience/challenge-previews/

What is DI?

  • Team challenge chosen from categories below + a surprise Instant Challenge.
  • Make a story (skit), engineer props/tech, and perform live.
  • Student-run: you plan, build, rehearse; adults coach process, not solutions.
  • Scored on creativity, teamwork, and how well your build works on stage.
Best for students who like acting, storytelling, making/engineering, costumes, and collab.
DI preview video

Choose a Challenge Area

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Technical

Build a device or mechanism that performs reliably on stage—then weave it into a story.

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  • Good for: builders, coders, problem-solvers
  • Skills: prototyping, testing, storytelling
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Engineering

Design and build a structure or object that meets weight/strength or task goals—then show it off in a skit.

Engineering challenge banner
  • Good for: tinkerers, designers, precise builders
  • Skills: materials, iteration, stagecraft
Scientific atom icon

Scientific

Explain a science idea with a creative performance and a working demonstration or effect.

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  • Good for: explainers, experimenters, visualizers
  • Skills: modeling, clarity, audience engagement
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Fine Arts

Tell a story with bold design: sets, costumes, props, music, and visual tricks.

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  • Good for: artists, performers, makers
  • Skills: design, composition, stage timing
Improvisational comedy masks icon

Improvisational

Perform a skit built from surprise prompts, with almost no time to prepare.

Improvisational challenge banner
  • Good for: actors, fast thinkers, storytellers
  • Skills: collaboration, adaptability, presence
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Service Learning

Plan and complete a community project, then present the impact with evidence and a story.

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  • Good for: organizers, advocates, communicators
  • Skills: research, outreach, reflection
Instant Challenge clock icon

Instant Challenge (Everyone)

5–8 minute surprise task. Build, communicate, or act—no adults helping, and a clock running.

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  • Good for: quick thinkers, calm under pressure
  • Skills: planning fast, sharing roles, creativity

DI — When it’s a good fit

  • You like skits/acting and building props or effects.
  • You want one big team project + live performance.
  • You enjoy open-ended creativity over strict specs.
  • You want to blend engineering + art + story.

TSA — When it’s a better fit

  • You prefer individual or small-team events (coding, CAD, video, etc.).
  • You like clear specs/rules and judged submissions over live skits.
  • You want competitive STEM categories without performance.
  • You enjoy technical artifacts (robots, designs, software) as the focus.
Next steps: Talk with your teacher about teams and challenge picks. We’ll register once groups are set.
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