International Interest Growing In Destination Imagination, As New Teams Forming From Countries All Over The World

CHERRY HILL, N.J., May 21, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Worldwide interest in Destination Imagination's critical thinking challenge programs outside of North America has been increasing steadily over the years, and in 2012, record numbers of new international affiliates have come aboard. This challenge year, 1,768 international teams were formed, compared to 1,245 last year -- a 42% increase.   

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"The sustained worldwide growth of Destination Imagination proves there is significant interest in exposing youth to challenging situations in which they learn how to apply creative thinking, critical analysis, communication and collaboration to solve hands-on problems," declared Chuck Cadle, CEO of Destination Imagination Inc., a global non-profit based in Cherry Hill, NJ.

More than 15,000 youth, parents and volunteers from the U.S., seven Canadian provinces and 12 foreign countries are participating in Destination Imagination's Global Finals celebration of creativity May 23-26, hosted on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville.  

New countries joining the Destination Imagination family of nations for this challenge year include Romania, Georgia, the United Arab Emirates, Cyprus, Panama, Costa Rica, Norway, Hungary, Switzerland, Guam and Vietnam.

The biggest growth by an international chapter in number of teams came in China, up from 456 teams last year to 730 this year -- an increase of more than 60%.

This year, DI's Challenges were offered in English, French, Mandarin, Korean, Spanish and Polish.

"International team growth is a testament to the universal nature of our program as language and cultural differences are transcended. Our program adds value to each of our participants and acts not only as a collaborative problem solving program, but in some cases, an English as a second language supplement," commented Emily Panasowich, Director of Asian Operations.

In Canada, the number of teams increased 12% from 1,835 last year to 2,059 this year.

Destination Imagination is an educational program in which student teams solve open-ended Challenges and present their solutions at Tournaments. Teams are tested to think on their feet, work together and devise original solutions that satisfy the requirements of the Challenges. Participants learn to unleash their imaginations and take unique approaches to problem solving.

SOURCE Destination Imagination