The Many Adventures of C & K: Destination Imagination!

Kendra is a member of her school's Destination Imagination team. DI is a competition in which kids work on problem solving challenges. They are given a "main" challenge that they develop over the course of the year, then at the competition they present that challenge as well as perform an "instant challenge." One of the coolest things is that they are allowed to receive ZERO adult input on their challenges. Their coach is a teacher at the school, but she is not allowed to give any advice or suggestions on the challenges. Nor can the kids get help from parents or other adults. They have to come up with the solutions on their own. Pretty neat (but also hard for this teacher mama not to open her big mouth with suggestions!).

The Saturday of the challenge came and we headed out to a school about 35 minutes away for the day. Each kid was responsible for bringing parts of the costumes, background, props, etc. for the main challenge. The premise of their challenge was they had to perform some sort of skit with some required elements (a disguise and a mask that morphed into something using "technology") and some team elements that they designed themselves. They decided to have their skit be a disco competition in which the boys declare "No Girls Allowed." So the girls disguised themselves as guys and win the contest. The mask was the hard part; they had planned to have it change color using heavily colored water in a spray bottle. Here's where it got crazy. The boy who was supposed to bring the food color forgot it! So the kids are freaking out but also problem solving, trying to think of what they could use instead of red food color. Someone thought of ketchup and so I took off running to find the concessions. Unfortunately we were at the middle school, and concessions was across the street at the high school. I had to hoof it quite a ways to get it, but I got it! It was gross, but they had ketchup water so they weren't disqualified. The main challenge was cute and they did pretty well.

Next was the instant challenge and they felt like they did pretty well. They were successful in achieving what was required---but I can't tell you what it was! It is TOP SECRET---the kids have to promise not to divulge the elements of the challenge until they are 52 years old (or some such thing ;-) ) The only thing Kendra could tell me was that they were required to have things a certain length/height and if they got it longer/taller it got them extra points, and she knew they got a LOT of extra points.

Fast forward to the awards. I was sitting with another mom while the team sat on the coliseum floor, and we were hoping the kids would at least get a medal. They awarded medals for 6th place and up, and there were 13 schools in their category. They awarded 6th through 2nd place, but then waited to tell the 1st place winners until the end. As our category was announced and our team didn't get called, the other mom and I were sad for the kids. You see, we knew that they hadn't gotten a really high score on their main challenge. We kept watching the kids and they seemed hopeful still, and we were both worried they were going to be crushed. We headed down the bleachers to the rails nearby the kids as they were getting ready to announce the first place winners and I mouthed to Kendra, "I really don't think its your team, honey." (complete with an "I'm sorry" expression). She mouthed back, "I know." I hitched up my purse straps to my shoulder, ready to hug my sad child when they announced first place---and THEY WON!!!!! The other mom and I turned to each other and screamed, "WHAAAAATTTTT????" The kids were screaming and bouncing and hugging each other, then they ran full gainer up to the front to receive their medals. We could not believe it! Apparently they absolutely NAILED their instant challenge, which gained them the win. It was crazy!

So, now we're headed to the State competition in Katy, TX in April. We are ALL still amazed. But honestly, I hope they don't win at State---I don't think we can afford Nationals!!!