How much does it cost?
The costs for participating in Destination Imagination in the Mid-Ciites varies widely by school district, by team and by the challenge the team has chosen. Here are the costs that you might anticipate. The numbers in this chart were accurate August, 2015.
| Expense Item | Cost | Additional Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Membership Fee (this is purchased from www.shopdi.org) | $95.00 | This membership MAY be purchased by your school district, school or PTA. (Early Learners team membership fee is $60) |
| Tournament Registration Fee | $75.00 | Your school district, school or PTA may pay this for your team. |
| Regional T-shirts | $12.00 | Cost per team member. Purchase of T-Shirts is optional. XL shirts and larger cost more. |
| Regional Pins | $3 - $5 | Cost per pin. Purchase of a Regional Pin is optional. |
| Team Solution Supplies | $50 - $300 |
This varies depending on the challenge. Most challenges have a cost limit. A reasonable rule of thumb is that team may spend twice the cost limit for the challenge. However, a technical team may spend more than this as they construct and discard different possible solutions. It is also possible that a team may take a minimalist approach and solve the challenge with very few purchased materials. (Years ago there was a team that placed well at finals who basically had no costumes and whose only props were a ladder and a plastic flower). Note that the cost limit only applies to materials that are actually presented as part of the teams solution. A team may build something that costs $30. IF they do not use for their solution it does not count against the cost limit but you have still spent the $30. Other items are exempt items for the cost limit (such as batteries). You spend the money but it doesn't count against the cost limit of the challenge. The Improv Challenge (Challenge D) has no cost limit as there are no supplies required for the Team Solution. The Rising Star challenge does not have a cost limit but in Texas we recommend that teams adhere to a $50 cost limit for their solution. Your school district may offer partial reimbursement of team solution supplies. Check with your district coordinator. |
| IC Supplies | $50 | This can vary greatly by team. Most ICs require items that are commonly around the house: paper, paperclips, paper plates, duct tape, straws, etc. You can also ask parents to donate specific supplies you need for Instant Challenge. |
| Team Workshops | $15 | Per team member. Attendance at workshops is optional for the team. The cost of a workshop varies depending on the type of workshop. Technical workshops generally have higher costs because of the material requirements. |
| Meeting Snacks | ? | Serving snacks at a meeting is optional. Many team managers of younger teams find that having a snack helps break up a meeting. You can ask a parent to bring a snack to each meeting to spread the cost between the team members. |
| Travel | ? | Other than your vehicle expenses for taking the team around, there are generally no travel expenses associated with the regional tournament. |
| Tournament Day Costs | ? | These costs are generally the responsibility of individual families. This would include cost for meals at the tournament or costs for purchases from the tournament DIme store. Teams are given the opportunity at the tournament to pose for and purchase team photos. |
| Expenses if your team advances from the Regional Tournament to the State Tournament. | ||
| State Tournament Registration Fee | $200 | Check with your school to see if they are paying this fee. |
| State T-Shirts | $17 | per team member |
| State Pins | $3-$5 | per pin. Note that there are several different state pins that team members can purchase. |
| Travel Expense | ? | Given the size of Texas, there is a good possibility that the team will have to travel over night to participate in the state tournament. This generally involves transporation and two nights at a hotel. Your school district may pick up part of this expense. |
| Team Solution Supplies | ? | A team may decide that it wants to rework part of its solution for the state tournament. The same challenge cost limit still applies but a team may abandon something that have created previously and create something new. |
| Tournament Day Expenses | ? | Tournament day expenses for the state tournament are similiar to those of the Regional Tournament. |
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