2023 State Championship Tournament

Step-by-Step Instruction Guide

• Register your team by the Friday after your tournament. If you team is choosing NOT to attend, please email Kate. Regardless of holidays or spring breaks, your registration MUST be completed.  We cannot schedule the tournament without your registration. Go to ryt.destinationimagination.org to complete your registration online.
• To make the day complete, order tournament t-shirts, and pins and activity wristbands (complementary activity wristbands are available for each team member, only purchase wristbands for siblings and guests). Adults do not need wristbands. To order online, go to Destination Imagination CO Store.
• Payments for tournament registration and any merchandise orders are due March 22, 2023. If payment cannot be made by this time, you must contact Kate to make arrangements.
• The tournament schedule will be published by 6:00 p.m. on March 22, 2023. Remember to block the entire day for this event.
• If you have questions about anything in this packet, please call the DICO office at 720-542-3637 or email Kate or Hanna.

For State Registration instructions, Click Here!

2023 State Championship

Everything You Want to Know about Tournament but are Afraid to Ask!

Prior to the Tournament Day:

1. Have a team/parent meeting to discuss competition logistics such as:
   1. Travel plans, especially if you are coming from outside the Denver Metro area.
   2. Global Finals and what your team’s decision to attend or not. (see below).
   3. Location and possible times of Team Challenges and Instant Challenge competitions.
   4. T-shirt and pin purchases.
   5. Meal plans for the day.
   6. Where and when the team should meet on competition day.
   7. Unloading/parking/loading plans.
   8. Behavioral expectations of Team Members, Team Managers and parents.
   9. Back-up plans if you get separated or if the competition runs late.
   10. The Awards Ceremony.
   11. Emergency Contact Information.
2. State Championship Schedule:

Tournament times will be posted by March 22, 2023. Times will be posted online only; you will not receive a mail or email notification. Please remember that we schedule all regions evenly. Each region will have teams starting first thing in the morning and late in the afternoon.

Due to the scheduling nature of this large tournament, teams usually have between two and three hours between their Team Challenge and Instant Challenge. There are many activities at the State tournament to participate in during the day.

Teams may have their Instant Challenge first or their Team Challenge first.

Many presentation locations have changed from previous years. Campus maps will be posted on our website and will be available at tournament check-in. Please locate your Challenge, prop drop-off areas, and the closest parking prior to coming to tournament.

Talk with your parents, school, and school district about the possibilities of attending Global Finals.

As has been discussed, only teams that qualify can compete at Global Finals.  Discuss how your team might arrange quick financing to Global Finals held in Kansas City, Mo., May 20-23, 2023, with arrival on the 18^th or 19^th.  Your cost per team will be $5,500 plus room and board. This should average to $2,000 per student and adult traveling for teams with 2 team managers and 5 team members. Most years DICO invites the top three in each level and challenge if that helps you to make your decision. From my experience, any Colorado team in the top six will be competitive at Global Finals.

4. Check our website

We regularly post updates on our website!

5. Make reservations for overnight accommodations, if needed.

The Embassy Suites – Denver Tech Center is our only hotel sponsor this year. Book your room by Clicking Here!

6. Order Tournament T-shirts, and Pins! We are offering two different sets of four pins this year. You can view the pins and t-shirts at the Destination Imagination Colorado Store.
   1. Wristbands for outdoor activities are free for team members. Additional wristbands for friends and siblings are available for $5 a piece. You will be able to bring your team and others into an activity area for added fun!
7. More information to come as we get closer to the event.

Tournament Day

1. Bring with you:
   1. Your tournament schedule
   2. Cameras – remember that some teams may not allow pictures or video-taping
   3. Extra extension cords or power strips if your team needs them (each site will have access to one extension cord).
   4. Repair kit
   5. Small First Aid kit
2. Ensure that your team parents and other spectators have the following information:
   1. Team name
   2. School name
   3. Challenge name and level
   4. Challenge location
   5. Parking information
   6. Performance time
3. Parking
   1. Parking is NOT free on the Auraria Campus. Tickets are issued by Auraria for unpaid and improperly parked vehicles.
   2. There are several events at the Auraria Campus on our tournament day, so parking will be challenging.
   3. You will need to purchase a parking ticket in each of the lots and each time you leave or come back to the lots.
4. Food
   1. DICO is bringing two or three food trucks to the Auraria Campus and there are a few restaurants on campus. We will inform you of what restaurants will be open. There are many, many choices in Downtown Denver in a walkable distance. Or you can have your team pack a lunch.

5. Bring your Destination Imagination spirit and positive attitude
   1. Please remember that all of the people working at our tournament are volunteering their time to support your team.
   2. If your team has a question about scoring or tournament procedures, ask to speak with the Head Appraiser.
   3. If you feel that your issue has not been resolved to your satisfaction, team managers and/or team members can request a Dialogue with the State Challenge Master, the Tournament Director and other tournament officials. Team parents are NOT included in this process.
6. Plan to stay and enjoy the day
   1. WATCH OTHER TEAMS
      1. See what other teams are doing
      2. Cheer on teams from your region
   2. DI STORE
      1. Gifts, trinkets, and new 2023 pins will be available for purchase at the DI store
      2. There will be a FEW state t-shirts available for purchase, if your team does not pre-order

• We accept credit cards and cash

1. Activities
   1. Outdoor recreation activities on the Quad outside of the Tivoli. Wrist bands are required. They are free for team members, $5 for siblings and friends.
   2. “Escape Room,” scavenger hunt and other activities are being planned. More information to follow. Pre-Sign up required this year – information to follow.

After the Tournament

1. Take your props home. Campus dumpsters are NOT available for our props. Do not destroy your props until you hear the tournament results.
2. The celebration party will begin before the award ceremony. We have a dance party scheduled for elementary and middle school teams outside the PE center.
3. High School party begins at 5:30 PM. in the Tivoli Turnhalle. Registration is required, but this is a FREE event for our High School students. More information to follow.
4. Awards Ceremony will take place by 6:30 PM, final time is yet to be determined. We must allow late performing teams time to review their scores and the score room to finalize scores, so the start time may run a bit late. Please be patient. This time is subject to change and you will be notified. Each team member will receive one ticket for themselves, and one ticket for one parent. Teacher team managers will get a ticket. We have a wait list for extra tickets that we give out after 5:00. We webcast our ceremony for all other supporters.
5. Mandatory Global Finals Celebration meeting for all Team Managers going to Global Finals
   1. This meeting will take place on Monday, April 12, via Zoom.

GLOBAL FINALS INFORMATION

GLOBAL FINALS ELIGIBILITY 2023

1. Your team must qualify for Global Finals by finishing in the top 3.

Before the tournament, you MUST meet with your parents, school, and school district about the possibilities of competing at Global Finals. You MUST accept or decline your invitation by April 3, 2023. Discuss how your team might arrange financing to the tournament. The cost of the event is $5,500 per team exclusive of room, board, and travel. Please email Kate with invitation response.

All registrations, and deposit for Global Finals are due by April 13, 2023!!

Next Steps

1. If your team chooses to represent Colorado at the Global Finals Tournament on May 20– May 23, 2023, Kansas City, MO, with arrival on the 18 or 19 you and your team will need to raise about $5,500 per team plus room, board and transportation.
2. Team managers will be invited to attend a Zoom information meeting for information and to ask any questions.

When: Apr 12, 2022 06:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting.

Check in at the State Championship Tournament

Team Check In

• Check in will be open from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm in the atrium of the PE Center. You can go here at any point of the day. It is not a requirement to check in before your Challenge. At check in you and your team will pick up:
  • Maps and programs
  • Pins, t-shirts and wristbands
  • Tickets for Award Ceremony

Check In for Central Challenge

• All Teams must be at their Challenge Site Prep area 20 minutes prior to their performance time.
  • Thrill Ride teams need to check in their roller coaster an hour before their performance time.
• Tournament sites might run late, but they will not start early.

Check In for Instant Challenge

• All Teams must be at Instant Challenge (IC)check-In 20 minutes prior to their IC time.
• All Instant Challenges are in the Plaza Building.
• The waiting area for Instant Challenge is on the southeast side OUTSIDE of Plaza Building. There will be signs pointing the way. Dress appropriately for the weather.
• Please do not arrive more than 20 minutes before your scheduled time.

State Championship Hotel Information

Embassy Suites – Denver Tech Center is the hotel sponsor for our event this year. They have offered us a discount rate on all rooms reserved for the tournament! Reservations should be made by March 20, 2023 to receive the block rate for the rooms. Late reservations will be charged the prevailing rate.

Hotel:  Embassy Suites Denver Tech Center

Rate per Room:  $119.00 for a 2 Room King Rooms and $129.00 for 2 Double Bedrooms

To Make Reservations, Click Here!

Where To Find Your Challenge:

• Technical, Piece by Piece: TBD
• Scientific, Far-Fetched: TBD
• Fine Arts, Flip the Script: TBD
• Improv, Showdown: TBD
• Engineering, Thrill Ride: TBD
• Service Learning, High Stakes: TBD
• Instant Challenge: Plaza Building (Map)

Props and Escape Room:

• Props Loading Area: TBD
• Escape Room: King Center (Follow The Signs)

1. On Friday night, we have a dance party at the Embassy Suites,10250 E Costilla Ave, Centennial, CO 80112 from 6:30-8:30 pm. There will be snacks, but NO Dinner.  You must pre-register here:

Elementary Registration

Middle and Secondary Registration

and we are limited to 300 guests. Parents and siblings are NOT included in this event. If we have more than 300 people, we will be doing a lottery.  A high school team will be playing music and we will have an Instant Challenge to try. (First come, first serve for the IC)

2. On Saturday, weather permitting, we will have inFUNity events providing an obstacle course, hippo chow down, joust and slide.  You will need a wristband for this activity. Wristbands are provided free of charge to team members (pick up near the store in the P/E center) If you would like to purchase wristbands prior to the tournament you may do so at the DICO Store. Remember you do NOT need to purchase for team members.

3. Also on Saturday, our teen leadership committee has put together a scavenger hunt and some games as well as an “escape” room. The games and scavenger hunt can be found in the quad, the “escape” room will be in the King Center on the 2nd floor. We will be having a reservation process for this event.

4. Watch other teams. We have wonderful teams from all over the state. Locations are all over campus, so take in a challenge or 2.

5. From 5:00 – 5:45 we have a High School Only Pre-Party in the Tivoli Turnhalle. There will be a snack, but not a dinner. You must pre-register.

6. From 5:00 – 5:45  we will have a pre-party from our Middle and Elementary School teams. This is a dance party tentatively scheduled for outside near the bandshell, depending on weather.

7. Our award ceremony will be starting at 6. Please be patient if we are a few minutes late. We will be in the PE Center. As in the past, team members may bring one parent only. We will be webcasting this event as well. This is to keep within fire codes and to keep our numbers down. Please cooperate. Tickets will be available in the PE Center during the day.

To Be Determined.

To Be Determined.

Our Award Ceremony and Dance Party will be at the P/E Center Gym beginning at 5:15. This is a procedure and time change.

Please pick up tickets for this event at the team check in at the PE Atrium prior to 4:00.

We will start awards promptly at 6:15.

To Be Determined.

State Championship Tournament KICK-OFF Party

Music, Dancing, Instant Challenge Practice, Games, Food, and FUN!

When: Friday, March 31, 2023

Time: 5:30 -7:00 p.m. (Elementary School)

            7:30-9:00 p.m. (Middle and High School)

Where: Embassy Suites – DTC

10250 E Costilla Ave Centennial, Colorado 80112

Who: All State Qualifying teams

Cost: Free for team members and up to two team managers (or chaperones) per team

Register:

Elementary teams: Click Here!

Middle and Secondary teams: Click Here!

Attendance is limited. Teams MUST be chaperoned at all times. You are responsible for your team’s behavior.

1. Snacks provided, NOT DINNER
2. Teams must be chaperoned at all times
3. No alcoholic beverages in party rooms
4. IC on first come, first serve basis

Party is for all qualifying teams. There is no preference for Hotel guests. All teams must register to attend.

This party generously sponsored by: