Destination Imagination is a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math) challenge program for kids. Students form teams that are presented with a multi-faceted problem. They have five months to solve the problem using STEAM concepts and creativity. They then create a performance to present their solution to a panel of appraisers at regional, state and global level tournaments.

This year a talented group of young girls from Chaffee County have come together as the “Nerds” to present an amazing and creative solution to an engineering problem. The team was asked to design and build a transporter mechanism that weighed no more than 500 grams, but could climb a rope at a 14 degree incline while carrying 2500 grams in weight. The team was then asked to create a story told in the technique of contemporary circus, and also include two team choice elements which display the team’s interests and talents. The story they created gives a lesson that one bad decision can lead to another, using the classic children’s story of the Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. To tell the story the Nerds made paper mache masks for humanoids and singing marionette puppets to augment the human characters. The creatures swallowed by the Old Lady then take a journey through human digestive system anatomy. They took 1st place at Regionals in Pueblo in March. And they qualified for Globals by winning the State Tournament on April 5.

Now they are headed to the Global Finals in Kansas City to compete against 8000 competitors from teams based all over the world.

The team received the Renaissance award for outstanding creativity and skill in engineering, design, or performance and is awarded to teams demonstrating exceptional effort, preparation, and skill in their solutions or execution. The Appraisers had this to say:

“This team amazed us with their beautiful and detailed uses of a classic elementary school craft. Their paper mache creations were used everywhere in their performance with great effect. And their innovative transporter mechanism was used in multiple places in their presentation.”