Destination Imagination

   Both Destination Imagination teams from CMS have combined their talent, creativity, and teamwork to come out on top of the regional and then the state competitions this year. Our "Obstacles, Of Course" team of eighth graders came in first at Regionals on March 15th and second at the States on March 29th, but that is not all. They won a "Renaissance Award for Outstanding Design, Engineering, Execution, and/or Performance" at Regionals, and the coveted "DaVinci Award for Outstanding Creativity" at the state tournament. Our "DI've Got a Secret" team of sixth and seventh graders won first place at Regionals and third place at States.

   With these wins at the state tournament, both teams have earned the honor to represent the State of New Hampshire at the Destination Imagination Global Finals at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville May 21-24.  Teams from 50 states and 20 countries compete at this tournament, organized very much like the Olympics, with opening and closing ceremonies and loads of fun in between.   

   The Destination ImagiNation program works like this: Up to seven participants work together as a team to create their unique solution to a Team Challenge, which can have a focus that is theatrical, structural, improvisational, scientific or technical - or, if the team desires, a blend of several disciplines. These challenges are also tied into National Learning Standards. There are four levels of competition based on the age of the oldest member of the team. In all, there are about 20 scoring areas for each team rewarding teamwork, innovation, creativity, and results. Participants learn unique and critical life skills including teamwork, critical and creative thinking, project management, how to innovate, resource management, mutual respect, research and presentation skills and, as all challenges must be strictly team-solved, self-reliance. These skills make Destination ImagiNation participants more valuable to their communities and future employers.

 

 

The DaVincI Award for Outstanding Creativity

This team STUNNED us with the creative engineering of their solution that was as intricate as it was elegant. We saw an innovative gravity powered elevator triggered by the vehicle bumping various surfaces. The slalom obstacle was overcome by using a series of carefully engineered pivoting platforms that were put into motion by the vehicle’s arrival. Then, the vehicle amazed us by switching to fan power while suspended from above; crossing yet another obstacle. We were thrilled to witness this performance.

 

 

The Renaissance Award for outstanding Design, Engineering, Execution, Performance

This team overcame obstacles in a truly inventive way. They were “thinking out of the box” on many different obstacles. They overcame the twelve-inch wall utilizing an elevator that used weights and gravity to propel the car up. Then, triggering a second lever, carried it back down. They also attacked the slalom course in a unique manner. The consistent quality of the engineering of this team impressed all of us!