Starting a Destination Imagination Team: In School or Out – You’ve Got Options!

Are you excited about bringing Destination Imagination (DI) to your students, children, or community? Great news: starting a DI team is flexible—it can happen within a school setting or completely outside of one.

Whether you're a teacher, parent, or community member, here’s how you can get involved and launch a team that inspires creativity, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving.

Option 1: Start a Team Through a School

Many DI teams are formed within schools, which makes it easy to access resources, space, and potential teammates.

Benefits of a school-based team:

Easier to recruit students who already know each other
Access to classrooms, libraries, or other facilities for team meetings
Built-in support from administrators, educators, or PTO/PTA groups
Potential for school funding or fundraising assistance

Who can start it?

Teachers
School staff
Parents with school support
Volunteers approved by the school

How it works:

Get permission/support from school leadership.
Register a team online with Destination Imagination beginning in August of each season.
Recruit 2–7 students and a Team Manager (often a teacher or parent, a background check is required).
Set regular meeting times and prepare for the regional tournament! Wisconsin regional tournaments run from late February - March.

Option 2: Start a Team Outside of School

Don’t have a school that offers DI? No problem! DI teams can also be started independently through families, community groups, libraries, youth organizations, or even homeschool co-ops.

Benefits of a non-school-based team:

More flexibility in scheduling and meeting locations
You can involve kids from different schools or homeschooling networks
Great option for families who want to be more hands-on

Who can start it?

Parents
Community leaders
Homeschool educators
Youth group organizers

How it works:

Find 2–7 interested students (grades K–12).
Register a team online with Destination Imagination beginning in August of each season.
Choose a Team Manager (an adult volunteer; a background check is required).
Start holding weekly or bi-weekly meetings—anywhere from living rooms to local libraries!
Compete at your regional tournament when ready! Wisconsin regional tournaments run from late February - March.

What Every Team Needs:

No matter where your team starts, you’ll need:

A Team Manager (adult volunteer, background check required) to facilitate the process
A team of 2–7 students in the same age division
Challenge Materials (provided after registration)
A meeting space (home, classroom, library, etc.)
A little creativity, collaboration—and a lot of fun!

Final Thoughts: A Team for Every Community

Whether your team meets in a school cafeteria or around a kitchen table, Destination Imagination gives students the same incredible opportunities to learn new skills, make lifelong friends, and build confidence.

So, go ahead—start your DI journey your way. The destination may be the same, but the path is all yours to create.

Ready to get started? Contact WIDI: call (414) 207-4117, email info@wisconsindi.org, or submit this form.