North Carolina Children Achieve More, Perform Better With Critical Thinking and Creative Skills Learned With Destination ImagiNation

Parents, educators, school administrators and youth leaders urged to sign up kids now at www.startateam.org

This unique after school program is easy and fun, helps end bullying, and gives young people an advantage in future job market with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)

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Destination ImagiNation

Nov 16, 2011, 11:37 ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Parents and teachers love Destination ImagiNation because it teaches kids creative problem solving, critical thinking, the arts and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills they need to excel in the classroom and in life in the 21st Century.

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Destination ImagiNation is in the final weeks now of enrolling youth throughout North Carolina in the 2011-2012 team challenge year. Go to www.startateam.org to join in now!

Destination ImagiNation is the only extra-curricular program that ties directly back to the classroom. DI is curriculum compliant and does not create any more work for teachers -- in fact, teachers say it makes their work easier.

Kids say this after school program helps them improve their grades, and teachers report increased participation and better performance in class.

In a survey, DI kids said they communicate better in school, and learn to be project managers and leaders.

In the worldwide after school program, they can meet other kids from all over their area, region, state, nation and even the world as they advance in the competitive tournaments.

DI kids interviewed in the survey said the competitive challenge program is fun, and helps improve their self-confidence.

Because kids learn mutual respect, teamwork and communication, DI is an antidote to bullying, harassment and intimidation.

School systems can get grants that help them fight bullying, and DI can help schools qualify for anti-bullying grants because DI teaches collaboration, understanding, respect and teamwork.

With DI, parents know where their kids are after school: They are learning to be creative, and becoming world leaders of tomorrow.

DI costs only pennies a day, and gives kids an advantage in getting into college and getting good jobs later on, studies show.

A major university study concluded that DI kids are better at creative problem solving, critical thinking and finding innovative solutions to challenges than kids who are not in DI.