WHAT IS DESTINATION IMAGINATION?
Who we are
Destination Imagination® (DI) is a global, volunteer-led nonprofit organization that hosts Team Challenges for students who want to take on the entire creative process—from imagination to innovation. Students participate in DI in 48 states and 30 countries! The program boasts more than one million alumni and 38,000 volunteers worldwide.
Here in New Jersey, we are a vibrant and active Destination Imagination Affiliate. At our tournament, student teams get to showcase their unique solutions to science, technology, engineering, arts, math, and service learning Challenges, watch each other present, and celebrate their achievements together.
We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to tell their story, share their unique creations and be celebrated for what they’ve accomplished. Through witnessing this process of creative self-expression and validation, students blossom into more confident and knowledgeable individuals.
To learn more about us, including our values, commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and the Creative Process, check out our global organization.
If you’re a teacher, parent, or community member who is:
Seeking creative challenges for kids
Wondering how to start a STEM or art club but don’t know where to start
Know a group of talented/gifted students who would benefit from a team-based activity they can work on together after school
Destination Imagination is your answer!
The Nuts and Bolts
WHO
New Jersey students in grades K-12 and University can participate in Destination Imagination by forming or joining a team. Check out age and grade requirements for the Challenge Experience here.
HOW
To form a team, you will need between 2 and 7 students (they do not need to be in the exact same grade level) and a Team Manager who is 18 or older. Different ways to get involved can be found here.
WHEN
Each DI season begins in the fall and aligns with the start of the school year. Teams select the Challenge they want to tackle and work together on their solutions until our State Tournament which takes place in March. Upcoming events such as tournaments and trainings can be found here.
TOURNAMENTS
New Jersey’s State Tournament takes place in March and Global Finals are typically held in May. Learn more about our tournament here.
DEADLINES
NJDI registration opens in early September. All teams must register by February 15th in order to participate in our State Tournament. All deadlines can be found here.
TIME COMMITMENT
DI teams generally spend 2-3 hours a week working together on their solutions and devote additional time fine tuning in the weeks leading up to each tournament. A great place to start is by reviewing the Challenge Previews or DI’s collection of free STEAM activities.
“I admittedly joined DI without fully knowing what it entailed, but I can now confidently say It was one of my best decisions. I met life-long friends and developed the creative problem-solving skills I use every day. Having gained so much from the program, I eagerly started volunteering as an appraiser to give back and now have the pleasure of helping run the affiliate.
— Matt Wilson,
DI Alum, NJDI Board member, Joined DI in 2006
Meet the Team
Jay Barre
Early Learning / Rising Stars Challenge Master
Erin Gomyo
Score Room
Jenna Laham
Technical Challenge Master
Carmine Liuzzi
Affiliate Director
Jennifer Marazzo
Treasurer
Larry Viezel
Improvisational Challenge Master
Nancy Webb
Service Learning Challenge Master
Lisa Winter
Scientific Challenge Master
Peter Winter
Tournament Director
Carrie Williams
Engineering Challenge Master
Matt Wilson
Instant Challenge Master