Are you a parent who is looking for new opportunities to inspire your kids? Or maybe you’re an educator who is passionate about STEAM-based learning?
Our program is 100-percent kid-driven. Students work together in teams to generate ideas, research different topics and techniques, and plan and build their Challenge solutions. This is done under the guidance of a Team Manager (often a parent or teacher), who serves as a mentor and team meeting facilitator but does not contribute ideas or help the team with their project.
Become a Destination Imagination Team Manager
As a Team Manager, your team will have the opportunity to explore their curiosities and be creative while building their teamwork, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. And best of all—you will have the opportunity to be a front row spectator as this experience unfold.
Each DI team needs an adult Team Manager to be in charge of meetings, planning, team registration, tournament logistics and team safety. Team Managers are in high demand and are key to the success of any DI program, and while most are volunteers, some receive stipends or some degree of compensation for their time. A DI Team Manager:
- Appreciates creativity and innovation in all of its
forms. - Enjoys working with children and young adults.
- Is interested in helping young people learn
about creativity, teamwork and problem solving. - Wants to join the DI community and share with
other caring adults. - Has a positive and friendly attitude.
The degree of a Team Manager’s involvement will depend upon the team’s schedule, tournament progression, and the overall goals and needs of the team. In any case, the team does the real work – the problem solving – and the Team Manager facilitates the process, which allows the team to have the best educational experience possible.
NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Being a team manager can be a truly rewarding experience. We want to make this program available to as many interested students as possible. All Teams are managed by volunteers and are required to obtain a background check to ensure child safety.
We provide extensive training and support for Team Managers to help guide you through the season. Team Managers attend a training session and there is online training available. Team Managers also receive amazing Challenge materials from DI! Every Region also hosts workshops for you and your team to help build skills.
As a TM, you’ll have the opportunity to teach real-world, life-long skills to your team. You’ll have the satisfaction of watching kids come together to create a unique solution that they can be proud of. And, they’ll rub off on you, as you become more creative as well!
As a Team Manager, you:
- Supporting your team with encouragement.
- Organize a time and place for your team to meet together regularly (Your home, garage, neighborhood club house or school)
- Act as a facilitator to the team, making sure the kids are making progress in solving their challenge and preparing for the tournament. Team Managers don’t solve the challenge, the kids do!
- Help the team obtain materials to solve the challenge,
- Find people to teach skills the team needs to solve their challenge. Ie. Cutting wood, using a hammer or sewing and painting
- Keep parents informed about the Team’s progress
- Prepare Instant Challenges for the kids to practice at team meetings.
- Cheer for your team on tournament day
Who can be a Team Manager?
Some Coordinators find Team Managers through an Informational Meeting held for parents, potential participants, administrators, teachers, and other interested people. Some have said they find Team Managers by asking parents if they would “work together with the team.”
Team Managers could be:
- Parents
- Teachers
- Administrators
- College students
- Team member’s older brother or sister
- Community members
- School paraprofessionals
Looking for resources as a team manager? Check out our page devoted to resources just for you!