What is Destination Imagination (DI)?
It's a problem-solving and creativity competition. Teams of three to seven kids create a 5-10 minute skit and also present an improv-like instant challenge at a tournament competition.
At the beginning of the year, teams select their skit assignment, which has some required components for the team to include however they choose.
The emphasis is on creative and unique solutions. Teams have budget-limits to encourage resourcefulness.
All work needs to be done 100% by the kids on the team. That means the writing, building, costumes, and idea generating all come only by the kid team members.
Why do DI?
DI develops skills such as:
Creative Problem-Solving: DI teams are rewarded for creative and innovated solutions.
Planning Skills: Teams have to map out what components they have to do, project manage the process, and manage time.
Student-Led: DI requires all work to be done by the kids. That builds their resourcefulness and discipline.
Teamwork: the teams have to develop ways to brainstorm ideas as well as make decisions as a team. This includes conflict resolution skills as well as leveraging the different skills and interest among team members.
It’s Fun. Each kid has an opportunity to work on areas they are most interested in like storytelling, acting, set/prop building, costumes, and more.
Time and Financial Commitment
Practices: Each Team Manager (parent or other adult coach) sets the schedule. Typically teams practice for 60–90 minutes once a week from late fall through February. More practices and work sessions come up closer to the competition date
Cost tends to be around $100–200 per kid for the year.
Parent Volunteers
Wilmette DI and Illinois state DI are all volunteer-run. All families are required to fill a volunteer role, most of which are working a shift at the regional tournament.
Volunteer Team Coaches
The most important volunteer roles are the parent coaches called Team Managers. Being a Team Manager guarantees your child will be on a team, as we’re sometimes short of team managers to have enough teams for all interested kids. Team Managers get to set the schedule for meetings and host meetings typically at their home. We provide training and other resources for Team Managers. Please consider being a Team Manager!
Age Groups
The team competition is divided in age groups. Younger kids can be in a team a level up.
Rising Stars: K-2nd Grade. This level is non-competitive, meaning teams are not scored and ranked.
Elementary – 3rd-5th Grade
Middle: 6th-8th Grade
Secondary – 9th-12th Grade
Tournament Info
Regional Tournament:
All teams participate in the regional competition, which typically takes place in the North Shore area in late February.
Each team is expected to provide a few adult volunteers at the tournament.
Teams are given a 1-2 hour time slot but encouraged to stay around and watch other teams.
Manage parent expectations: it takes kids a lot of work to come up with solutions they can create themselves. The end product may look more scrappy and less polished than an adult-led activity. Don’t underestimate the skills they’ve developed in the process.
State and Global Tournaments
Teams (3rd grade & up) are scored and ranked. Top ranking teams have option to continue to next level (State and then Global).
State and Global Tournaments: Teams 3rd grade and up have a chance to advance to the state competition in mid-spring and global competition in May.
Competition Components – DI Calls “The Challenge Experience”
“Team Challenges” (Skit Types)
All challenge skits are prepared in advance, last around 8 minutes, and typically have some storytelling, costumes, and props.
Rising Stars (K-2) have one skit assignment.
Teams from other age groups get to select their Team Challenge. Every year there is a Team Challenge in the following categories: Technical, Scientific, Fine Arts, Improvisational, Engineering, and Service Learning. Each type emphasizes some elements more than others.
“Instant Challenges”
The team gets an instant challenge on the spot at the competition and has around 5-10 minutes to complete it.
Instant Challenges are quick creative and critical-thinking exercises. Instant Challenges can be task-based, performance-based, or a combination of both.
All teams practice Instant Challenges during the year and are given one at the tournament.
How to Sign Up
Attend an Information Session. We host a few information sessions at the start of the school year and encourage everyone to attend. Sign Up Online for an Information Session.
Complete the Online Registration Form.
To get updates on info sessions and registration in the future, you can sign up for the DI information email list.
Registration Basics
Please consider being a Team Manager (coach). The coaches are key to DI and make such a great impact on the kids’ experience and development.
Wilmette DI coordinates teams for kids in 1st–8th grade.
We help put together teams. We try to organize kids by the same grade and same school to the extent possible.
Parents who want to coach a team can have input on their team, including forming their own teams.
Teams will be formed on a rolling basis, so we encourage submitting registration forms sooner than later.
2025–2026 Tournament Dates will be on Saturdays in late winter/early spring in the northern Chicago suburbs. Here are the tentative dates:
Saturday, February 21, 2026: Regional Tournament. All teams participate.
Saturday, March 21, 2026: State Tournament. Teams 3rd grade and up participate.