Bedford's Destination Imagination Program
Skills for the 21st Century
We are lucky to have supportive parents and great students participating in Bedford's Destination Imagination program. Our teams often stay together for years, giving kids the opportunity for lifelong friendships and a chance to develop strong complex problem solving skills. The legacy of Bedford DI is hundreds of students who've gone on to have successful college and professional careers by using their limitless imagination, problem solving skills and understanding of teamwork. Want to know more? Contact us.
So What is DI?
Destination Imagination (DI) is a volunteer-led nonprofit organization whose purpose is to inspire and equip students to become the next generation of innovators and leaders. This is accomplished through a problem solving program for teams of students that pick one of six open ended challenges who work together to find a solution. This solution is presented at the end of the DI season at the regional competition. Those advancing from the regional tournament get the opportunity to participate in the state tournament, and possibly Global Finals.
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What Students Do in DI
Over the course of the DI season students pick their challenge, prepare their solution, and present their solution to a panel of appraisers at the tournaments.
The main role of the student is to prepare the solution with their team. Depending on the challenge, this can mean building a robot that can deliver an item from point A to point B or perhaps creating an illusion that makes it look like a team member is flying! Students will work together to incorporate their solutions into a short, team created skit.
What are Challenges?
There are six main challenges, each with a different focus. These focuses are: Technical, Scientific, Fine Arts, Structural, Improvisational, and Service Learning, with one Early Learning non-competitive challenge. Teams pick one of these challenges and spend the DI season preparing their solution. You can preview the challenges for the 2021-2022 season here.
Each of these challenges have their own unique scoring elements, which reflect the focus of the challenge. The goal of the team is to fulfill these scoring elements in their solution. Sometimes these scoring elements require learning mechanics, or researching historical time periods to give background to a character. These elements vary from year to year, from challenge to challenge, but always challenge students to think outside of the box!
Basic Team Requirements
In order for students to be on a team they must be in grades K-12. There is a minimum of two students per team and a maximum of seven, and the team MUST have at least one volunteer parent team manager. Having two team managers is even better.
Other than that, the biggest requirement for a team is to have fun and explore where their creativity can take them!
What Students Learn From Destination Imagination
"Destination Imagination has such a positive impact on my life both academically and socially. I have learned to be innovative, to think on my feet, and to never say "I can't". I know that every problem has a solution, but sometimes you have to think out of the box to find it. I have learned how to work on a team and how to delegate to get the job done. I have made some of the best friends from all over the world. The lessons that DI has taught me help me in my everyday life, my academics, and my future career as a nurse. I am so thankful to have participated in such an inspiring and influential program."
- Shea Kuhl, DI Alumni, 2003-2013
"DI was the one place in my life that continuously rewarded me and my teammates for thinking outrageously and creatively. We learned that tough problems can be solved with unconventional solutions and failure is an opportunity for innovation."
- Charlotte Gale, DI Alumni, 2006-2013