Destination Imagination, Inc.

10/30/2026

“I can't do it.”

We've all heard a child say it. And as parents, teachers, and Team Managers, our first instinct is often to step in and help.

But what if, instead of solving the problem for them, we gave them the space and encouragement to keep trying?

That's a big part of what Destination Imagination (DI) is all about.

In DI, things don't always go according to plan, and students often find themselves having to rethink an idea, make adjustments to a design, or try a completely different approach. While these moments can be frustrating, they're also opportunities for students to learn, build confidence, and discover what they're capable of accomplishing on their own.

In this blog post, DI staff member and alumna, Erica Begun-Veenstra, explores how we can help kids shift from “I can't” to “I'll try”—and why that shift matters.

🔗 Read the full article: https://hubs.la/Q04Bxm2j0

10/27/2026

In case you're in need of some costume inspo for Halloween on Saturday...

10/23/2026

Every Destination Imagination (DI) Challenge Experience team has its own personality—and that's part of what makes it so much fun!

Some students love coming up with wild ideas. Others can't wait to start building, experimenting, or bringing their stories to life. And for some, the best part is simply getting together with their friends each week to create something.

What's your team's favorite part of DI so far this season? 💜🧡

10/21/2026

A new Published Clarification has been issued for the 2026–27 Improvisational Challenge, Just Duet!

This clarification updates Section I.A.3 on the Background Music used during each Act, including how the music will be played and how tournament volume will be determined.

📌 Reminder to all DI teams: Be sure to check the DI website regularly for Published Clarifications throughout the season!

🔗 View all Published Clarifications here: https://hubs.la/Q04BN4gT0

10/20/2026

The Spalakh team from Kyiv, Ukraine, is back for another season of the Destination Imagination (DI) Challenge Experience, and they're excited to take on something new! 💙💛

Now in their fourth season, these students have already taken on Service Learning, Technical, and Improvisational Challenges. This year, they've chosen Fine Arts, where they'll explore the genre of fables and use storytelling and artistic expression to bring their ideas to life.

After attending their first Global Finals this past May, the team is also looking forward to reconnecting with friends they've made through DI, including the Creative Monsters from Mexico, and meeting more students from around the world.

For Spalakh, however, another season of DI also means navigating the realities of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Their Team Manager, Olha Morozova, shared that students frequently spend time in school shelters, and the uncertainty makes it difficult to plan team meetings or know what the coming months will bring. Despite everything happening around them, the students are eager to spend time together and get started on their Challenge.

Through it all, the students are clear about what being part of DI means to them.

"For us, DI represents unique opportunities—experiences that go far beyond standard academic learning. It is a journey of constant discovery and experimentation, filled with special moments of collaboration," the team shared.

Olha, who has been involved with DI since its first season in Ukraine in 2018, knows there are many things beyond her control. But she has no doubt about her students' determination.

"There are things I am certain of: that the children won't let obstacles stop them, and that curiosity and excitement will triumph over fatigue and fear."

We hope Spalakh has a wonderful season and gets to enjoy everything they're looking forward to, especially spending time together and seeing their friends again. And to all of our Destination Imagination Ukraine teams and their families, we wish you safety, peace, and more opportunities for these students to simply be kids. 💜🧡

10/19/2026

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Sue Brailey, a longtime member of the Destination Imagination (DI) community and former Destination Imagination of New York Affiliate Director.

For more than 20 years, Sue gave her time, energy, and heart to DI. From supporting her daughter's team to serving as an Appraiser and eventually leading the New York Affiliate, she helped create meaningful experiences for countless students and volunteers.

Sue was a dedicated leader, a trusted mentor, and a wonderful friend to so many throughout the DI community. She was someone people could turn to for guidance, a thoughtful perspective, or a good laugh. She also had a way of making people feel welcome and included, whether they were attending their first DI event or had been part of the organization for decades.

Sue worked tirelessly to support students and volunteers, built friendships that lasted for years, and brought so much warmth, humor, and a genuine love for DI to everything she did. Her impact reached far beyond New York, and she will be remembered just as much for her kindness and generosity as for her leadership and dedication.

Our hearts go out to Sue's family, friends, and everyone who knew and loved her. We are so grateful for everything Sue gave to DI and for the difference she made in so many lives. She will be deeply missed. 💜🧡

Destination Imagination of New York, and the international DI community, mourns the death of Sue Brailey, who served as New York Affiliate Director for 11 years, from 2014 to 2023.

Sue was drawn into Destination Imagination when her 4th-grade daughter, Abby, joined a team in 2000. She began as a team Mom, assisting Team Managers and helping with fundraising. Driven by a strong desire to pay it forward, she became an Appraiser when Abby’s team disbanded. Sue appraised at Regional and Affiliate tournaments from 2006 onward and served as an Appraiser at Global Finals four times before her appointment as Affiliate Director in 2014. As Affiliate Director, she provided steady leadership and guidance on policy matters, our relationship with DI Inc., and collaborations with other Affiliates. An avid pin trader, she was also known for her sharp eye for pin designs and her predictions on which pins would be hits each season.

Outside of DI, Sue had a distinguished legal career as an attorney for over 30 years. She served as Chief of the Environmental Crimes Unit of the Westchester County District Attorney's Office, conducting environmental criminal investigations and prosecutions. Later in life, she served as an administrative law judge for the Westchester County Department of Health.

When not dedicated to DI or her legal work, she could often be found cheering on her beloved New York Yankees, attending numerous games each year.

Sue is survived by her daughter Abby.

Thank you, Sue, for your 26 years of dedicated service to Destination Imagination. You remain a lasting inspiration, and we will honor your memory as we continue your work.

10/18/2026

Can creative problem-solving, teamwork, and a little more independence help support kids' mental health and well-being?

Allison Gleichman, a psychotherapist, parent, and longtime Destination Imagination (DI) Team Manager, offers a unique perspective on that connection.

After managing 14 DI teams over seven years, Allison has seen firsthand how student-led experiences give children opportunities to build confidence, strengthen friendships, navigate disagreements, and learn that things don't always have to be perfect.

In a recent Destination Imagination Colorado article, she draws on her professional expertise and personal experiences to explore how the creativity, collaboration, and independence at the heart of DI can support children's social and emotional development.

💜🧡 Read Allison's article: https://hubs.la/Q04BpV4P0

📸 Photos courtesy of Allison Gleichman

10/16/2026

What started as a Destination Imagination (DI) team has become something much bigger. 💜🧡

For the Creative Monsters, a team of five students from Mexico, DI has brought more than opportunities to solve problems and express themselves creatively. It's brought friendships that extend far beyond their team.

Over the years, the students have become close friends, supporting each other at school, spending time together outside of DI, and even bringing their families together. This summer, the families took a trip to South Padre Island, where they spent the weekend at the beach—boogie boarding, watching dolphins, playing games, and making many more memories together.

“We started as a DI team, but somewhere along the way, we became a family!” shared Laura González González, one of the Creative Monsters' Team Managers.

Now in seventh grade, the Creative Monsters are beginning another DI season and have chosen the Engineering Challenge for the third year in a row!

One thing their Team Managers have noticed is just how much the students have grown. They're more organized, they've started setting their own schedules, and they're building on what they've learned as they challenge themselves to accomplish even more.

And while they've grown in so many ways, their Team Managers say they're still the same funny, energetic Creative Monsters, and they're just as excited to work together as ever.

💬 Have a DI story of your own? We'd love to hear it! Share yours here: https://hubs.la/Q04BkZKw0

10/14/2026

📢 Engineering Challenge Resource Update!

We've made updates to the 2026–27 Mystery Weights Guide for the Engineering Challenge, Under Investigation!

This resource provides helpful information for engineering teams as they work on their Challenge solutions and prepare for tournament season.

Be sure to review the updated guide in the DI Resource Area!

10/13/2026

In fifth grade, Leah Baker helped build a giant pink cake with waving arms and flashing lights. 🎂

It was part of a Destination Imagination (DI) Challenge solution that she and her teammates dreamed up together. And for Leah, it was exactly the kind of experience she loved: combining science, creativity, and a little bit of the unexpected.

But DI gave her something even more important.

As a shy student who loved math and science, Leah found a place where her curiosity was celebrated, her ideas mattered, and she felt confident speaking up.

Today, Leah is a chemical engineer at Medtronic, where she still draws on the creativity and problem-solving skills she developed through DI.

“It’s these skills that make me a good engineer, and I first learned them during DI,” Leah said.

And now, through her involvement with the Society of Women Engineers - SWE and other STEM outreach initiatives, she’s helping more girls discover what’s possible for them in science and engineering, too.

Her story reminds us that what students discover about themselves through DI stays with them long after their final Challenge. 💜🧡

Read Leah’s story:
https://hubs.la/Q04z-YsQ0

Have a DI story of your own? We'd love to hear it! Share your story: https://hubs.la/Q04z-Yr-0