If you ask 10 of our almost 2-million Destination Imagination alumni, you may get 20 different answers what “D.I.” is – and that is understandable: it is where they learned to grow their creativity, problem-solving skills, collaboration, project management, and for many, confidence. Regardless of what field they will pursue, they take away valuable tools.
The Destination Imagination program is a fun, hands-on system of learning that fosters students’ creativity, courage and curiosity through open-ended academic Challenges. These Challenges are based in the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), fine arts and service learning. Teams get to choose a Challenge that best reflects their interests. Our participants learn patience, flexibility, persistence, ethics, respect for others and their ideas, and the collaborative problem solving process. Teams may showcase their solutions at a tournament.
In the fall, teams form in schools and community groups. There are up to 7 students on a “D.I.” team. Students from 
kindergarten through university level participate in elementary, middle school, secondary school and university levels, competing within their age level. Students preschool through Grade 2 can select the non-competitive early learning Challenge.
Each team needs an adult Team Manager that help students stay on track but cannot help the team develop their solution to the DI Challenge. Team Managers are often faculty members or parents.
Teams (not Team Managers) who select one of the seven Challenges that the team wants to tackle. After weeks spent creating and developing their solutions, in New Hampshire, they demonstrate their solution at a regional tournament. Top-scoring teams advance to their state or country tournament, also known as an Affiliate Tournament. The top tier teams from each Affiliate Tournament have the opportunity to participate in Global Finals—the world’s largest celebration of creativity.
Destination Imagination, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit, volunteer-led organization with a mission to inspire and equip students to become the next generation of innovators and leaders. Approximately 200,000 students in 30 countries make friends and learn the creative process through D.I. programs every year, and are supported by nearly 40,000 volunteers.
New Hampshire’s Incredible Creativity Connection (NHICC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that operates New Hampshire Destination Imagination (NH-DI), the local DI affiliate in New Hampshire, as well as Camp Gottalikachallenge, one of the nation’s oldest camps that focus on creativity, collaboration and problem-solving skills.
Our mascot, NHICC the gNHome, was been around for most of our 35 years. He stands for the “magic” that is creativity and recalls the Old Man of the Mountain.
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