Destination ImagiNation is the world's largest creative problem solving organization with over 200,000 students in 56 countries and all 50 states participating .

Illinois has been running "kids hands-on; adults hands-off" creative problem solving programs for 24 years.

Here are a few important things to know about the core Destination ImagiNation program:

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. The national compendium of standards referenced in this study and created by the Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning Group, can be located at http://www.mcrel.org/standards-benchmarks/. There are four levels of competition based on the age of the oldest member of the team. We have something for every age group, pre-school through university!

Teams learn and practice creative, quick-thinking skills for the Instant Challenge portion of competition.

In all, there are about 20 scoring areas for each team rewarding teamwork, innovation, creativity, and results.

For students Pre-K to second grade, we have a non-competitive version of the program called Rising Stars!™

Destination ImagiNation helps young people learn in a fun and supportive environment, and the valuable skills they have acquired will be with them for a lifetime.

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. Read an article about How Destination ImagiNation Is Influencing Creativity In The Corporate World. 

Programs generally start for most school districts in the fall, but some districts prefer to hold their first meetings in January. Most schools and community groups use Destination ImagiNation as an after school activity, but some add it to their curriculum.