CHIMACUM — Three teams from Chimacum Schools’ Pi Program are traveling to Wenatchee today to compete in the Washington State Destination ImagiNation competition.
Formerly Odyssey of the Mind, the competition is a creative, team-building, problem-solving activity that engages students to address a structural, technical or theatrical challenge.
Students from elementary, middle and high schools participate.
The three teams consisting of 18 students qualified for the finals after competing last month against about 80 teams at the regional competition at Klahowya School in Silverdale.
The state finals are scheduled Saturday.
Going to state every year is now a well-established tradition for Chimacum schools, said Pi teacher Nita Wester.
She helped send several teams, mostly high school students, to the finals for the past six straight years.
With sports becoming a higher priority after ninth grade, qualifying for the high school team for Destination ImagiNation is not difficult, said Wester, but it’s much different for middle schools.
“Middle school is extremely competitive and we have two teams going this year,” Wester said.
International event
Winners of the state competitions qualify for the Destination ImagiNation Global Finals event, which poses problems to teams from 50 states and 14 other nations.