Local Destination Imagination Team Heads to Global Finals

The following was submitted by Susan Merryman and edited by Patch for style.

First is a great place to be but in order to continue to “Shine,” the 7 Severn Run Shining Stars need to raise $9,000. After 500 hours, seven months and two first place wins, the 7 Severn Run Shining Stars are headed to the Destination ImagiNation (DI) Global Finals in Knoxville, TN.

Comprised of third- and fourth-graders from Severna Park, Pasadena, Odenton and Gambrills, this team came together and met the challenge of the Solar Stage. They are the first homeschool team in MD in over 5 years to make it to the Global Finals.
But their biggest challenge to come is the goal of raising the money they need to reach Knoxville and compete with teams from all over the world.

This was the team’s first year being involved with DI and the kids shined bright in their Solar Stage challenge. The challenge required the team to creatively portray the use of photovoltaic cells to capture and convert the sun’s rays for energy. The kids researched the science behind this type of solar energy collection. They devised and built a prototype, wrote a fun and musical script, and performed the entire skit in complete darkness, using creative lighting techniques to make themselves visible.

DI is a creative problem solving program that is kid powered. The adult team managers just supervise the kids. It’s the kids who come up with the ideas, research, problem solve and do all the work. DI teaches life skills, while the kids solve one of six challenges using creativity and most importantly teamwork. The skills the kids learn benefit not only themselves, but our communities.

There will be over 15,000 people attending the four days of Global finals, May 22-26, and lots of exposure for our team which finished in first place at both the regional and state competition.

Here are some ways you can help the team make it to Knoxville:
• We will be having a , 6:30-7:30 p.m., at , 206 Pleasantview Ave, Pasadena, MD 21122.
• The team will be holding other fundraising events to find out more please visit our website.

Donation pledges and all questions should be sent to Jen Owen at 410-271-6035 or severnrunshiningstars@gmail.com. Businesses or groups donating at a certain level will have their logo’s printed on the teams’ shirts, prep area and all publicized materials. Donations are tax-deductible.

Visit www.severnrunshiningstars.org for the latest info.
See www.destinationimagination.org for more details about DI.