“Learning-it is a journey that begins at birth and continues for as long as we permit it.”   That’s a tag line right off the Rising Stars!™ Program flyer.  But is it true?  Can Destination ImagiNation® REALLY design activities that help children ages 4-7 develop confidence in their creative problem-solving abilities?  Just ask THREE YEAR OLD, Kara McAnally, a 2004 Team Member from “The Veggie Kids” Rising Stars!™ Team in Elk Grove, California.

Susan McAnally, Kara’s mother, said “Kara came to the first meeting because I couldn't find a baby-sitter. It was to be a one time thing.  And as I watched her interaction with the group, I was already dreading the next week when I was going to have to leave her at home.  But fortunately Felicia [Borges], our Team Manager, had the insight to put Kara on the team.”

The older kids on the team were thrilled with the idea.  They all “adopted” Kara as their little sister and could often be seen putting their arm around her or whispering ideas into her ear when she was stuck.    Kara also had one of the more prominent roles in the Team’s solution.  She was one of three vegetables that get swallowed down the wrong pipe, ended up in the lungs, and went on a journey to find her way back into the stomach.  Kara contributed story ideas and lines for the script, and even designed her own costume, a green bean with “bean bones.”

“She was so proud of her green bean costume, she never wanted to take it off.  She couldn't wait to get home and show her daddy what she had made!” said McAnally.

Kara was seen as an equal on the Team.  “She just gets in there and gives it her all every week.  It’s really quite impressive to watch her in action.” Team Manager Felicia Borges said.

Susan McAnally added, “Kara has amazed me with how comfortable she is with the other kids and the program. She loves having her ideas heard.”

The Veggie Kids demonstrated their creativity at the Region 3 Tournament Celebration on March 13, 2004 in Modesto, California.  After the Team’s performance, Kara took her first of what’s sure to be many bows as a Destination ImagiNation® participant.

McAnally summed up the experience by saying, “Kara was made for DI™ or DI was made for her, I am not sure which.  DI has taught me not to limit Kara to what I think her abilities are, but allow her to show me what her abilities are.  That is a great thing!  DI is definitely a part of our family’s future!”