Send Watertown DI to Global Finals

We are a group of high school freshmen who are part of Watertown DI. Watertown DI is a chapter of the organization Destination Imagination (DI) and have earned the opportunity to compete in the global finals in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Destination Imagination is an organization that teaches kids the creative process and gives them the skills to be leaders in the world. Through fun, hands-on, STEM based activities participants develop creativity, courage, and curiosity. It teaches patience, flexibility, persistence, ethics, respect for others and their ideas, and the collaborative problem solving process.

Participants in DI work over many months in a team to devise a solution to a given task. Our task was to build a structure that could support as much dropped weight as possible. Ours weighed 32 grams and held 720 pounds. In addition, we had to write and perform a skit telling the story of a sudden event with dramatic impact. To show this event, we had to create an Event Depictor that would show the event using technical methods. We told the story of the invention of the hot air balloon. Two inventors, Jacque and Charles, are working on the balloon. But because of a disagreement over Charles being lazy, they split up. The fight is depicted by a pneumatic machine that splits their laboratory in half. With help from Jacque's assistant Frances, the hot air balloon is created. To determine who actually came up with the idea, Charles and Jacque have a competition to see who's balloon works. Jacque's does, and he wins!

Our team has earned the opportunity to showcase our solution in the global finals. This is a great accomplishment, as we have had had to pass through two tough levels of competition prior to the global tournament! However, to get to globals, we would require a significant amount of money to transport the team and our props to Knoxville. Our goal is to raise $10,000 to cover the expenses by May 1.

We would be thrilled to get to go. We have put in so much work over the past months, and it is our dream to see our work pay off in the global tournament. We will be extremely grateful to get this money and this chance!