Six Clarkston teams placed at the Destination Imagination (DI) regional tournament at Waterford Mott High School, Feb. 23.
All will be going on to the state tournament at Michigan State, April 13.
The teams worked on projects to solve challenges designed to build confidence, creativity, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork, with adults serving only as assistants.
“Learning not to interfere with the students’ process and ideas is difficult for many hands-on parents,” said past DI team manager and parent Barbara Chick. “But the outcome is something that cannot be underestimated. It provides these students with amazing self confidence in all areas of their lives.”
Student teams came from Pike Knob, North Sashabaw, Bailey Lake, and Clarkston elementaries, Everest Academy, Sashabaw Middle, and Clarkston Junior High schools.
“This program holds all the elements of STEM and STEAM based learning and the kids have fun doing it, not realizing how much they are learning,” said Ruth Dargay, whose own children have graduated but continued to volunteer as a team manager.
Clarkston has sent teams to the state tournament 11 of the last 12 years and from there, to Global Finals seven times. This year’s Globals competition will be May 22-25 in Kansas City.
Follow the teams on Facebook, “Clarkston Creativity Crew Destination Imagination,” or desinationimagination.org.