What We Are All About
Find your Talents
Uncover abilities you never knew you had.
Learn by Creating
Make cool things! Have fun! Discover new possibilities!
Compete for Fun
Show off what you’ve created and see what other teams have done!
Are you a DIer? Get the latest information for your Region.
What the Kids Do
Our Program
Teams of 2-7 kids join together to discover their creativity and solve one of our amazing Challenges! Then, they can show off their extraordinary solutions at our Tournaments.
What People Are Saying
- I owe much of who I am today to the DI program and cannot thank enough the people who made the program possible while I was a participant.
Kelsey ADI Alabama Alum - Both of my sons participated in DI many years ago and both thoroughly enjoyed it! It was such an enriching opportunity for them – creative, energetic, and empowering.
Nicole SParent - The best thing that I have taken away from all of my experiences with DI is the endless memories I have made, especially the ones that include my DI team, the Ninja Chickens.
Shannon KAppraiser and DI Alum - As a Team Manager, watching the process the kids go through to reach their final “destination” is truly an eye opening, mind-boggling experience. I have never ceased to be amazed at what can be created when they are left to their own devices and imagination.
Debbie HTeam Manager - DI introduced me to a wacky world without limits – the challenges pushed me to re-imagine the ordinary and to discover new possibilities/direction for my own future.
Lierin MDI Alabama Alum - There’s always more than one solution!
Jimmie NDI Alabama Alum/Appraiser
Our Exciting Challenges for 2017-18
Teams complete tasks by using engineering, research, strategic planning and related skills.
Maze Craze
Technical
Combines the research and curiosity of science with the thrill and creativity of the theater arts.
Unlikely Attraction
Scientific
Teams flex their creative muscles to create stories, design props, and perform on stage.
Change of Tune
Fine Arts
It’s all about spontaneity and storytelling! Teams receive topics and produce skits right on the spot.
Treasure!
Improvisational
Teams design, build and test load-bearing structures out of specific materials.
Drop Zone
Engineering
Teams engage in public service to address real-life community issues.
Inside Impact
Service Learning / Project Outreach
Younger kids (PreK-2nd Grade) work together, make new friends, and discover the Creative Process.
Friends Everywhere
Early Learning / Rising Stars
Think fast and use creative and critical thinking. You have to think on your feet to solve a challenge in just five to eight minutes.
Instant Challenge
Instant
Important Events
Central Region Tournament
February 248:00am-3:30pm
Helena, AL
Northern Region Tournament
March 38:00am-4:00pm
Madison, AL
State Tournament
April 78:00am-5:00pm
Training & Workshops
Team Manager/Coordinator Training – Central Region: October 14 | Oak Mountain High School | 8:30am
Team Manager/Coordinator Training – North Region: October 28 | Bob Jones High School | 8:30am
Appraiser Training – Central Region: February 23rd | 6-9pm
Appraiser Training – North Region: March 2nd | 6-9pm
Join in the Creativity
Volunteer Opportunities
Are you ready to jump in to support our creative movement? We have many ways for you to join in the fun!
Answer our call and start your adventure!
News & Updates
Technical Challenge
Maze Craze
The Technical Challenge prompts students to complete tasks by using engineering, research, strategic planning and related skills.
Points of Interest
- Design and build a device to navigate a tournament-provided maze.
- Design and build a prop that transforms in the maze.
- Design and build a way to remove an object from the maze.
- Create and present a story about a journey through the maze.
- Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.
Scientific Challenge
Unlikely Attraction
Our Scientific Challenge blends the research and curiosity of science with the thrill and creativity of the theater arts.
Points of Interest
- Explore scientific concepts used in amusement park attractions.
- Design and build an attraction that uses scientific concepts during its operation.
- Create and present a story that features the attraction operating in an unlikely location.
- Portray the unlikely location using sights and sounds.
- Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.
Fine Arts Challenge
Change of Tune
Our Fine Arts Challenge has students flex their acting and creative muscles as they experiment with different types of artistic media and theater arts, write scripts and design props.
Points of Interest
- Create and present a musical that includes a change in plans.
- Include music and lyrics that enhance the storytelling.
- Create and present a spectacle as part of the musical.
- Design and integrate a set change into the musical.
- Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.
Improvisational Challenge
Treasure!
Our Improvisational Challenge is all about spontaneity and storytelling. Teams receive topics and produce skits right on the spot.
Points of Interest
- Research different cultures and famous explorers.
- Create and present an improvisational skit about a quest to return a lost cultural treasure to its owner.
- Integrate two explorers and a prop into the quest.
- Show how characters work together to overcome a setback.
Engineering Challenge
Drop Zone
Our Engineering Challenge asks teams to design, build and test load-bearing structures out of specific materials.
Points of Interest
- Design, build and test a freestanding structure that can withstand impacts from dropped weights.
- Tell a story about a sudden event with dramatic impact.
- Design and create a visible or audible depiction of the story’s sudden event.
- Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.
Service Learning / Project Outreach Challenge
Inside Impact
Our Service Learning Challenge is designed to engage students in public service to address real-life community issues.
Points of Interest
- Identify, design, carry out, and evaluate a project that addresses a need in a real community.
- Create a live presentation that highlights the project and the impact it made on the community.
- Create infographics that include information about the project.
- Create a storage device that transforms as the story of the project unfolds.
- Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.
Early Learning / Rising Stars Challenge
Friends Everywhere
Our Rising Stars! for Early Learners Challenge offers simple experiences with the creative process, and it gives young kids (preschool through 2nd grade) a place to work together and make new friends.
Points of Interest
- Explore how children of different cultures live, learn and play.
- Create and present a play that tells a story about 2 different cultures.
- Present similarities and differences between the 2 cultures.
- Design and build a prop that will transform and be used in 2 different ways.
- Create costumes and scenery to help tell the story.
Instant Challenge
Instant Challenge
Think fast and use creative and critical thinking. You have to think on your feet to solve a challenge in just five to eight minutes.
Points of Interest
- Instant Challenges require teams to engage in quick, creative and critical thinking.
- At a tournament, a team will receive an Instant Challenge and the materials with which to solve it.
- The team members must think on their feet by applying appropriate skills to produce a solution in a period of just ve to eight minutes.
- Instant Challenges are performance-based, task-based, or a combination of the two. Although each Instant Challenge has different requirements, all Instant Challenges reward teams for their teamwork.
- Instant Challenges are kept confidential until the day of the tournament.
