Destination Imagination is a project based, student-driven program that teaches kids to be innovative problem solvers. Using STEAM, teams of students collaborate, think outside the box, and create unique solutions to one of seven different challenges in preparation for a fun, problem-solving competition. This year GCS brought Destination Imagination to the Middle School, and what a spectacular success it was! Both middle school teams placed first in the state in their challenges to advance to Global Finals in May. The community's support will help support our Middle School teams next year as well as extend our program to the Lower School, inspiring and equipping an even greater number of GCS students to become the next generation of innovators and leaders.

Since November, two teams of sixth and seventh graders spent hours each week developing solutions to their respective challenges. One team tackled a technical challenge requiring them to build two puzzle solvers that use technical methods to build a puzzle they also had to create. Only the puzzle solvers could touch the puzzle pieces. Along with this, they also needed to tell a story where a character had a pivotal moment along with the placement of crucial piece of their puzzle. The second team tackled an engineering challenge where they had to build a golf ball roller coaster that traveled as far and fast as they could. They were limited to only fourteen materials with which they could build (including no nails or screws!). In addition, they had to create a presentation that showed what the roller coaster experience was like that included a thrilling event. The team also had to build a launching mechanism that used technical methods to start the golf ball on its track. Both teams also were scored on team choice elements that highlighted particular skills which included their own composition and playing of music, digital artwork, spray paint techniques, and lighted scenery design. These were no small feats! Along the way, the students grew as a team, as problem solvers, and as project managers. They had to develop their own ideas for their solutions and troubleshoot along the way, learning the hard lesson that sometimes you have to start at the beginning again. Teams also are required to complete instant challenges where they put their problem-solving and teamwork to the test to solve task and/or performance-based challenges in 5-10 minutes.

The Destination Imagination Program is incredibly unique in giving students the opportunity to see they are capable of solving complex problems and managing large and complicated tasks as team. We hope through this project to support the work our current teams completed and support the future of the program at GCS!