Novi Kids Exercise Innovation to Solve Complex Challenges

When thinking of after-school activities, sports, drama club and student council are often what come to mind.

Novi's extra-curricular program Destination ImagiNation brings innovation to the table, allowing students to plan, design and create complicated projects — all on their own. 

"There is no interference of outside adult help. This is what they’ve done together," said Novi Destination ImagiNation Coordinator Donna Collins.

She said the non-profit, volunteer-driven program — in Novi for 18 years — is registering students now from grades third and up. The six challenges were released in August and groups, of five to seven students, have until the first weekend in March to work on their project of choice in these categories: Technical, Scientific, Fine Arts, Improvisational, Structural and Service Learning. 

What the kids say, the kids do 

"This is where they learn to negotiate, to lead and to work together as a team. They make all of the decisions," she said. 

The team manager only offers a place for teams to work and store their projects. Collins said there are often about five returning teams and several new ones each year. The teams are separated typically by age:

• Elementary level: third through fifth grade
• Middle school level: sixth though eighth grade is middle school
• High school level: ninth through 12th 
• University level

"They all will have a portion that will be script writing and will require a background and some kind of costume," she said. 

The competition also includes what's called an instant challenge.  She said groups will be asked to solve a challenge with the materials they are given in a matter of minutes. The kids complete these instant challenges at the state level competitions, she said. 

Advancing teams compete internationally

After regional competitions, the top three teams in each region will head to Central Michigan University for the state level competitions. From there, the top two will go to the Global Final at the University of Tennessee Memorial Day Weekend. 

"It’s about 10 to 12,000 students that go to the University of Tennessee campus that weekend," Collins said.  

Teams come from around the country and from Canada, China, Korea, Turkey, Mexico and more places.  

The fee is $99 per student, which includes the team's challenge pack, the fee for the regional and state competitions and a T-shirt. Teams are forming through Oct. 13.  For more information, contact Destination ImagiNation Novi at dinovi@novi.k12.mi.us.