2016 Family Favorites Lessons & Camps
From acting to zip-lining, extracurricular activities play an important role in a growing childs life. Here are the standout programs and lessons our readers suggest.
Children’s Acting Lessons
Top Five*
Aurora Fox Arts Center
Christian Youth Theater (CYT)
Colorado Children’s Theatre
Denver Center for the Performing Arts
Denver Children’s Theatre at Mizel Arts and Culture Center
Rocky Mountain Conservatory Theater
*Tie occurred in this category
The Winner
Colorado Children’s Theatre
Three metro locations
720-255-1228 | coloradochildrenstheatre.org
Let your children act up at Colorado Children’s Theater, where fun-filled acting classes and camps help kids fine-tune their individuality while building important attributes such as discipline and perseverance. Participants will perform in top-notch shows, including The Sound of Music and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Private lessons taught by experienced thespians are also offered.
Children’s Art Studio or Craft Center
Top Five
Art Garage
Arts On Fire
Crackpots
KidzArt
Lalu
The Winners*
Art Garage
6100 E. 23rd Ave., Denver
303-377-2353 | artgaragedenver.com
The Art Garage specializes in art classes and community activities led by local practicing artists. One-day workshops and weeklong summer camps with small student-teacher ratios are offered for kids ages 3 and up, teens and parents. Students will learn fundamental art elements, along with art vocabulary, artistic styles and more.
Arts on Fire
9358 Dorchester St., Suite #101,
Highlands Ranch and 316 4th St., Castle Rock
303-470-0530 | artsonfirestudio.com
With a massive selection of pottery pieces starting at only $12, this welcoming neighborhood pottery lab is an ideal spot for unleashing your creativity. Arts on Fire doesn’t charge studio fees, and it offers glass fusing workshops and canvas painting classes, too. Try a summer camp for kids 6 and up, or an artsy birthday party.
*Tie occurred in this category
Dance Studio
Top Five
Colorado Conservatory of Dance
Danse Etoile Ballet
Denver Academy of Ballet
Dual Star Academy of Dance
Park Hill Dance Academy
The Winner
Denver Academy of Ballet
6874 S. University Blvd., Centennial
303-723-4203 | denveracademyofballet.com
Whether your child is pursuing a professional career in dance or just wants to have fun, the Denver Academy of Ballet’s classes in ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance encourage technical skill and enjoyment while bolstering self-esteem and developing musicality in students ages 3 to 18.
Musical Instruction
Top Five*
Altitunes Neurologic Music Therapy
Gymboree Play & Music
Prelude Music
Rocky Mountain Aardvarks
School of Rock
Swallow Hill Music
*Tie occurred in this category
The Winner
Rocky Mountain Aardvarks
Seven metro locations
720-515-VARK | rockymtnaardvarks.com
Music for Aardvarks isn’t your typical parent-child music class. The songs are original, the vibe is funky and the mood is pure fun, as caregivers and kiddos ages 3 months and up rock out to original songs. Participants try a variety of age-appropriate musical instruments, all with the goal of introducing kids to music while getting them moving.
Overnight Camp
Top Five
Blue Mountain Ranch Youth Camp
Camp Chief Ouray YMCA
Camp Timberline
Cheley Colorado Camps
JCC Ranch Camp
The Winner
JCC Ranch Camp
21441 N. Elbert Road, Elbert
When it’s time for overnight camp, the Jewish Community Center nurtures and stimulates campers entering grades 2 through 11 with a western-inspired experience in Colorado’s Black Forest. Over the past 60 years, JCC Ranch Camp has established itself as a place where lifelong friendships emerge and children are challenged to grow as they try their hands at an array of experiences.
Ski Lessons for Kids
Top Five
Breckenridge Ski Resort
Eldora Mountain Resort
Keystone Resort
Loveland Ski Area
Winter Park Resort
The Winner
Winter Park Resort
85 Parsenn Rd., Winter Park
970-726-1564 | winterparkresort.com
At Winter Park, families have their pick of seven territories spanning four mountains piled with 3,000 acres of snow. The resort hosts a robust ski and ride school for kids ages 3 to 14. Whether your child is a beginner or double black diamond rider, she”ll love making friends and learning new skills in day-long sessions led by friendly, knowledgeable coaches.
Sports Camp
Top Five
Air Force Academy Sports Camps
Colorado Soccer Buddies
P.A.S.S. Camp at the University of Denver
South Suburban Parks and Recreation
Tiger Kim’s Academy
The Winner
Tiger Kim’s Academy
1480 Steele St., Denver
303-388-1408 | tigerkim.com
For four decades, Grandmaster Tiger Kim’s award-winning studio has incorporated the three major Korean martial arts of Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do and Hapkido into exceptional classes and camps that teach physical technique, along with age-old traditions of respect and discipline. Weekly summer camps run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and include one or two classes daily, field trips, indoor and outdoor activities and lunch.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Camp
Top Five
Camp Invention
Colorado Math Camp
Colorado School of Mines Summer Camps
Play-Well TEKnologies
Silicon STEM Academy
The Winner
Play-Well TEKnologies
Dozens of metro locations
720-515-7309 | play-well.org
This national organization specializes in LEGO-inspired engineering classes for kids, ages 5 to 14. Summer camp curriculum is designed by engineers to build on the math and science skills your children learned during the school year, but in a fun and engaging way. While creating elaborate objects, structures and vehicles, they”ll explore fundamental principles of engineering and physics. They”ll learn about teamwork, too, as they collaborate with new friends.
Summer Day Camp
Top Five*
Avid4Adventure
Colorado Academy
Colorado Conservatory of Dance
Denver Zoo
School of Rock
The Urban Farm at Stapleton
*Tie occurred in this category
The Winners*
Avid4Adventure
Seven metro locations
800-977-9873 | avid4.com
This day camp celebrates all that’s good about Colorado, with weeklong adventures designed to get kids excited about the outdoors. From rock climbing, stand-up paddleboarding and mountain biking to multi-experience sessions that expose preschool-aged explorers to a variety of activities, there’s a thrill for all ages and ability levels. Healthy lunches are provided, or campers can pack their own.
School of Rock
Five metro locations
866-695-5515 | schoolofrock.com
For a rocking good time, try a day camp at School of Rock, a national leader in music education. Suitable for musicians of all skill levels, comprehensive weeklong summer camps school kids on the instrument of their choice in a fun, creative environment. Campers get a chance to perform at a live rock show for family and friends.
Swim Lessons
Top Five
Ocean First
SafeSplash Swim School
Swim Otters Swim & Fitness School
SwimLabs
Swim Safe Academy at the JCC
The Winner
SafeSplash Swim School
Ten metro locations
303-799-1885 | safesplash.com
With its intimate class sizes, warm in-ground pools and UV-purified water, SafeSplash is an ideal place to introduce beginners to the water. Our readers appreciate the organization’s patient, experienced instructors and its affordable group classes; customizable private and semi-private lessons are available, too, along with camps, parties and special needs programming.
