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Published March 20, 2009, 01:08 AM

DI regionals set for March 28

With the regional competition less than two weeks away, Hudson students are toiling to perfect their Destination Imagination creations.

  • The Backstreet Bagpipe Boys from Houlton Elementary
    • image
    The Backstreet Bagpipe Boys, a group of third- and fourth-grade students from Houlton Elementary, ham it up to model kilts and sporrans they made as part of the DI presentation. Front from left are Garrett Johnson, Seth Miner, Jaxon Renn and Connor Renn; back, Ryan Harper, Mac Kavaloski and Parker Lehman. Submitted photo

With the regional competition less than two weeks away, Hudson students are toiling to perfect their Destination Imagination creations. They are creating conical super-structures and multiple-task-performing vehicles, bringing to life the infamous three bears, along with lemurs, elephants, germs and detectives.

While it may sound a little strange, it is just the 150 or so students who are a part of Hudson schools’ Destination Imagination program. They are preparing for the St. Croix Valley Regional DI Performance Day from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28, with an awards and recognition ceremony afterward. Most performances are eight minutes long, and all are free and open to the public. The event takes place at Hudson Prairie Elementary and Hudson Middle School.

Destination Imagination is an international program that encourages kids to cultivate creativity and teamwork as well as communication and leadership skills. Adults volunteer as team managers and work toward helping all kids in their group feel respected, inspired and able to recognize and share their unique skills and talents.

Roger Davis, manager of a middle school team, said he takes great satisfaction in watching his team of five. Above all, he knows they are having fun as is evident to him when they declare, “You mean practice is done? That didn’t seem like two hours!”

Students work for four to five months in small groups to do research, planning and then create a play that incorporates what they have learned, with no outside assistance from adults. Hudson teams bring together students from all the schools in the district as well as home-schooled children, and the program is open to anyone in kindergarten through grade 12. Initial registration takes place in September.

For more information, contact Liz at (715) 377-9940.

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