Some people wonder, What is Destination Imagination (DI)? DI is a club, which is mainly based on three elements: creativity, teamwork and imagination. Each year in DI there are a couple of different ‘challenges’. Typically, there is at least one improvisational challenge, one building, and some others. In total, usually there are around five challenges to choose from.
This year, all three teams from Dobbs Ferry Middle School chose the same challenge, improvisational. This year’s improvisational challenge was called “News to Me”. In this challenge the students had to find an article in one of the designated categories, (such as technology, business, lifestyle, entertainment, etc.) within a week of the tournament, and bring it there. When they reach the tournament, they receive another randomly picked article. They then had five minutes to use their imaginations and come up with a way for one article to cause another. The appraisers grade them on teamwork, creativity, and the overall skit presentation.
Many people found this amazing, because of how people did things under pressure. Sixth grader Megan McDade said, “It was a great experience. I also like the improvisational challenge my team chose, because it was neat how we had to do things right on the spot”. There is also a unique element to the DI tournament. Unlike other extra-curricular events, after the teams finish the Main Challenge on the tournament day, they also have to do an Instant Challenge, which is not to be spoken of again until the following May!
One team, DInk About It!, used their imaginations to make everything fun and creative. They wore rainbow colored pants, and added more color to everything! At the Regional Tournament, which took place March 25, 2012, the Dobbs Ferry Middle School team InDIcisive placed first out of eight teams, and moved on. As for the other teams, they stayed behind, but they had tons of fun.
All the teams had a great time. DI rookie, sixth grader Tiko Mkhdeize, said, “This was my first year, and it was fun. It was better than I expected, and although we didn’t make it to the next round, it was an awesome experience.”