The summer sun is shining in Vermont and, in this issue of Head to Heart, I want to highlight an afterschool program that shines in its commitment to SEL, teamwork, and fun. Here is Jane Youngbaer, a champion of Vermont’s Destination Imagination program..
Did you know that Vermont has a program that gives kids of all ages great opportunities for social-emotional learning? It’s called Destination Imagination (DI). It’s a STEAM program, yes, but it’s also so much more.
In DI, social-emotional learning is embedded in the experiences of solving creative STEAM challenges as a team. Kids are in charge of research, decision-making, projects, and performance. Adults facilitate and may teach skills, but are not allowed to provide ideas or hands-on assistance.
As a team moves through the creative process to work on a variety of challenges, kids develop self-confidence, empathy, respect, and perseverance. Since they have ownership of their projects, they are motivated to learn, create, and collaborate to meet the parameters of each challenge in their own unique ways.
Sometimes being on a DI team can bring out positive characteristics that may not have been obvious before this opportunity occurred. At a recent workshop for a new middle school team, one young man appeared to be very quiet, and I had the feeling that the rest of the team—very talkative and assertive—might make it hard for him to express his ideas.
As I later found out when this student was nominated for a special award, he turned out to be the catalyst for the team’s growth and success. He emerged as a true leader, helping with differences of opinion, making sure all ideas were heard, and keeping the team on track. It was not always easy with this group, which had some kids who were neurodivergent in their thinking, communication, and behavior. As the team manager said in the award nomination, this student exemplified, “the school principles of being kind, safe, and responsible, while showing with a smile that he was having a fun time himself and with others.”
While these may have been intrinsic qualities, DI gave this student the opportunity to grow and develop in the way he expressed himself and brought his team together for a common purpose. The performance of their challenge solution demonstrated wonderful creativity and teamwork by the whole group, and it was clear they had all grown in so many ways since that first meeting just a few months prior. As one team manager said:
“I loved watching it all come together in the end. I’m beyond proud of my team. The team that couldn’t seem to say anything nice to each other in the beginning, ended up being the team to receive the DI award for teamwork and inclusivity.”
We want more children and youth from kindergarten through high school to have these opportunities! To participate in Destination Imagination, an adult team manager is needed to supervise and facilitate team meetings. DI provides training online and, in Vermont, we also offer in-person training, introductory workshops for groups, and ongoing consultation. Check us out!
If you’re interested in bringing Destination Imagination and its many SEL benefits to your program, you can email Jane Youngbaer at vtdicreativity@gmail.com.
Marla Goldstein
Youth Resilience Coordinator
