Destination Imagination
Destination Imagination (DI) 
Challenge Experience: Problem solving, team building, and a respect for others and their ideas are the foundation of all of our challenges. Students develop confidence and resilience while discovering their unique talents and abilities. Solutions belong 100% to the team members; no interference, suggestions, or ideas from outside of the team are allowed. Their unique efforts in engineering, construction, writing, and acting culminates in an 8-minute dramatic performance at a live tournament.
Teams of up to seven students are grouped by level: non-competitive early learners (K-2), elementary (3-5), middle (6-8), senior (9-12), and university.
Rising Stars! participate in the Starry Showcase at JeffCo Regionals.
Top-three Competitive finishers at Regionals qualify for State. Top-four at State qualify for Global Finals.
Meetings: Teams meet weekly (dates, days, and times based on team manager availability), with potential additional meetings closer to the tournaments. Meetings may be at school or off-site depending on individual team needs.
Cost: $130 for Early Learners - includes weekly meetings, team manager background checks, Challenge materials and supplies, Regional Tournament, and a Regional DI t-shirt.
$350 for Competitive participants - includes the above plus (for qualifying teams) State Tournament and a CO State t-shirt or pins.
Some financial assistance may be available for Regionals and State. Please contact Erika Deru (below) to inquire.
Global Finals can incur additional fees of up to $2,100 per participant (actual costs historically go lower with fundraising). We participate in multiple fundraising opportunities each year, including at WinterFest and Spring on the Farm.
Compass DI Awards: Since 2008, Compass Destination Imagination teams have earned numerous top-three finishes at Regional and State levels, top-ten finishes at Global Finals, and merit-based special awards at all levels for creativity and innovation. We have sent teams to Global Finals consistently since 2015. 
In 2023, our Senior Level Improv team and SL Engineering team each won first place at the CO Tournament and went to Global Finals. The SL and Middle Level Engineering teams also won Da Vinci Awards.
In 2024, our Compass Senior Level team won their Challenge at Regional, State, AND Global Finals! In 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 our Compass student + alumni University team won at Global Finals and received Renaissance Awards for exceptional skill in engineering and design.
In 2025, we had a record eight teams qualify for the DICO State Tournament, with five teams (two first place and two second place teams) invited to Global Finals. Compass earned another fourth-place finish (in addition to 2015 and 2023) and a top-ten finish.
Compass DI in China!
In December 2024, Compass students and alumni went to China for cultural exchange in DI China's invitational. The team participated in the Shanghai Regional Tournament and China National Tournament in Beijing, where they were awarded the Spirit of DI trophies.
A team of students also attended the DI China DI Extreme Challenge camp in Aug 2025 (in collage above), and were awarded "Best Improv."
These trips included experiences such as making traditional crafts, touring museums, visiting significant sites such as the Forbidden City and Great Wall, pin trading, and making friends.
Potential Managers: We always need more team managers so that all interested students can participate! We provide mentoring, online and in-person training, roadmaps, and access to materials. Successful DI managers need 2.5-3 hours per week, some time-management/organizational skills, patience in the face of chaos, and the ability to let the team make independent decisions and act upon them. No other skills required! Managers may receive a waiver for JeffCo and State fees for one participant; co-managers may receive a waiver of half of the fees. Compass DI is run completely by volunteers, and the program is supported by student fees and fundraising efforts. Global Finals incurs additional costs; one manager per team may be covered dependent on fundraising.
Please fill out the DI INTEREST form for each child. If you'd like to learn more about managing a team, indicate that on the form. You will be notified about team placement and meeting information once we have enough managers, or by the end of September (Rising Stars! will be notified in November)
Erika Deru, [email protected]
*** 2024 GLOBAL FINALS Tournament RESULTS ***
Compass sent two teams to Global Finals!
Fine Arts ML team: 11th
Fine Arts SL Team: Da Vinci Award, High Instant Challenge, 1st Overall
University team (Compass HS & alumni): Renaissance Award, High IC, 1st
*** 2024 CO State Tournament RESULTS ***
Compass brought four teams to the Colorado Affiliate Tournament and two teams qualified for Global Finals!
In addition, several Compass students were awarded the Compass Award for competing in all SIX Challenge categories during their time in DI
*** 2024 Jeffco Tournament RESULTS***
Compass Montessori brought seven teams to the JeffCo Tournament: one non-competitive team of 1st-2nd grade Rising Stars!, and six competitive teams from Elementary through High School.Da Vinci Award for Outstanding Creativity: The paths we follow on our journeys were once uncharted and unknown – until someone took a bold step in a new direction and paved a way for us to follow. To solve our Challenges, imagination, creativity, originality and courage are required. We honor those individuals and teams who most clearly demonstrate that spirit of adventurous risk in their solutions – those who most creatively traveled to reach truly new and unique destinations. The Da Vinci Award is named to honor one of humanity’s greatest creative thinkers, Leonardo Da Vinci.
Renaissance Award for Outstanding Creativity: On our journey, we sometimes encounter exceptional travelers who entertain and enlighten us along the way. The Renaissance Award recognizes those among us who demonstrate extraordinary amounts of effort and preparation in their solutions or outstanding skills in engineering, design, or performance. While the destination is creativity, these fellow travelers make the journey itself memorable. This award is given to a team for outstanding skills in the areas of design, engineering, execution, or performance.