Why would the National Dairy Council, 3M, Best Buy, BrightHouse, FirstBank of Colorado, Warner Television, Einstein Bagels, IBM, NASA, Scientific American, Chick-fil-A, and hundreds of other companies across the United States, Canada, and other countries support an educational program such as Destination ImagiNation? The answer is the direct educational benefits of Destination ImagiNation and their applicability to the issues and environment that companies deal with everyday. The three key creative problem-solving components of the program include the following: the Presentation of the solution (project management), the Instantaneous Challenge (brainstorming), and the Improvisation portion (thinking on your feet). These preceding techniques are extremely important and necessary for corporate entities to succeed in the global economy of the 21^st century.

The Destination ImagiNation challenges students face in this program, whether technical, marketing based, dramatic, historical, or deal with social issues, require the use of long-term project management skills to achieve maximum success. What events happen in what sequence, when, and with what interdependencies are some of the skills learned.

Companies use the instantaneous brainstorming process every day. It has proven its value in creating divergent, out-of-the box solutions that push the envelope in creating new products and paradigms unimagined even ten years ago. The effect is no different to students who participate and learn this technique in solving the Destination ImagiNation challenges. Tom Camerlo, Chairman of the National Dairy Association, and Tom Jenkinson, executive director of the Western Dairy Association, worked with a team of marketing staff, dairy farmers, and corporate employees to use Destination ImagiNation brainstorming techniques to design a new milk container for commuters all over the United States. We now have plastic milk bottles that fit most automobiles cup holders rather than the rectangular cartons (that were not designed for a round hole).

The new improvisation part of Destination ImagiNation teaches students to deal with the unexpected on the day of the competition after all the months of planning and preparation of their solutions for the tournaments that are held each spring throughout the world. We know how vital it is to react quickly, accurately, and decisively when the unexpected arises. The scene from the movie Apollo 13 ( when the carbon monoxide build-up threatens the lives of the astronauts and the scientists are given duct tape, wire, tubing, and a few other items available on the spacecraft with limited time to vent it) is a perfect example of a Destination ImagiNation improv problem that students must deal with on the day of the competition.

Destination ImagiNation provides a unique resource pool of future employees who are creative, critical thinkers, know how to get things done, take risks, solve problems, and believe that anything is possible. More of these types of students are entering the workplace everyday. Colleges and universities - including Harvard, the University of Denver, the University of Scranton , and the University of Wisconsin - review their student applications for involvement in creative problem solving activities like Destination ImagiNation. When college recruiting, many employers such as IBM, FirstBank, Navigant, and others look for participation in Destination ImagiNation.

"Destination ImagiNation participants stand out among our new employees," said Roger Garriock, IBM Canada director of e-commerce development. "Their presence, confidence, and ability to lead put them years ahead of their age and experience. Destination ImagiNation is making a difference in the high-tech future on a global basis."

The teamwork, cooperation, and communication skills the seven Destination ImagiNation team members learn are invaluable training for performing on a typical corporate project team. Some members are artistic, others technical. Some lead and others follow. It is virtually impossible to perform well unless the whole team learns who does what and the best with the varied tasks required to solve their problems.

Marketing is a key element of Destination ImagiNation. A team cannot solve a technical challenge simply by building a bridge that holds the most weight or a vehicle that does certain tasks. The team must market their solution with flair. This is exactly what must occur when a product goes to market or services are being provided in the "real world." Destination ImagiNation teaches the importance of "show time" to the engineers and techies of the future as well as the promising actors and actresses in the program.

Strategic and operational planning are indirect benefits of Destination ImagiNation. Strategic planning in business usually includes a three-to-five year horizon. For children, particularly those in elementary and middle school, a six-to-nine month horizon is long and strategic in nature. This causes the students to look at problem solving with a long-term perspective and vision for continuous improvement. They also learn operational techniques such as budgeting and tactical operations (i.e., how much can we spend or how can we do it differently with less dollars?)

Destination ImagiNation kids want to perform in front of their peers, adults, and anyone else who will watch. They are willing to put it all on the line with their whole heart and soul so as to present the best solution possible. They have no fear of the "show biz" Presentation aspect of the problem solving. In Destination ImagiNation every team member can participate by performing in this part of the competition. This is a critical public speaking and sales skill they will carry with them throughout their private and professional lives.

The Destination ImagiNation teams also learn a great deal about detail orientation, rules, deductions, and organizational skills. They must determine which skills of which team members best contribute to the overall presentation, brainstorming, and improvisational aspects of problem solving. Organizational concepts are developed as certain students rise to the occasion to be leaders and others learn to follow. They all learn the importance of each making a contribution to the effort. They also learn how difficult it is to "manage" the team, handle a tough situation with prima donnas, slackers, or cut ups. Sometimes they have to "fire" or reprimand a team member if the job is not getting done appropriately. Development of interpersonal skills, powers of persuasion, and giving/taking direction by peers is all a part of a successful solution to their challenges.

Finally, the ability to bring the product to market (the competition) at the tournament is accomplished with developed skills that allow Destination ImagiNation team members to serve productively in the corporate world of the future. Because these concepts and skills are integrated into the Destination ImagiNation school program, corporations across the world are willing to contribute to the financial and organizational success of Destination ImagiNation. They need these types of students in order to survive and prosper in the future, to respond quickly to change, and to take advantage of the next market to be served or the next world need to be met.

Destination ImagiNation has brought to life an enjoyable educational experience that is enriches our children’s lives and contributes to our individual countries’ and the world’s positive future. These students deserve your support.

Representatives from large and small corporations serve on community boards to support Destination ImagiNation world-wide or act as local and state/province/country sponsors. If you know of a company that would like to be involved, ask them to contact