2019 Family Favorites: Camps & Lessons
From summer camps to after-school programs, extracurricular activities allow kids to pursue their unique interests in educational and fun ways. Here’s a selection of standout programs our readers suggest.
Table of Contents:
- Art Studio or Craft Center
- Special Needs Camp or Class
- STEM/STEAM Class or Camp
- Sports Camp
- Day Camp
- Overnight Camp
- Musical Instruction
- Acting Lessons
- Dance Studio
Art Studio or Craft Center
Top Five
- Art Garage
- artSPARK
- My Make Studio
- The Craftsman & Apprentice
- The Wonder Co. (formerly LaLu)
The Winner
Art Garage
Parents love the quality instruction and patient staff at Art Garage, whether they are there for a birthday party or classes. Students learn about the fundamentals of art, famous artists, and different art styles in an environment that encourages creative self-expression. A nonprofit, Art Garage believes that art should be accessible to all and provides outreach to at-risk and underserved communities. 6100 E. 23rd Ave, Denver
Special Needs Camp or Class
Top Five
- Adam’s Camp
- Highlands Ranch Community Association Therapeutic Recreation
- Hopkins Education Services Summer Program
- Laradon
- National Sports Center for the Disabled Ski Program at Winter Park
The Winner
Highlands Ranch Community Association Therapeutic Recreation
Certified specialists with Highlands Ranch Community Association Therapeutic Recreation facilitate activities to enhance the lives of people with special needs. The programs are designed to challenge the participants and support their independence. Classes offered this spring and summer include yoga, hip-hop, Taekwondo, swimming, basketball, soccer, Lego Camp with STEM Challenge, and Special Olympics tennis. Four recreation center locations, Highlands Ranch
STEM/STEAM Class or Camp
Top Five
- Camp Invention
- Colorado Adventure Point
- MindCraft Makerspace
- Silicon STEM Academy
- TinkerMill
The Winner
Silicon STEM Academy
Silicon STEM Academy’s programs offer kids ages seven to 18 hands-on, interactive learning. Choose from summer camps featuring coding, electronics, digital media, and game design, in weeklong full- or half-day formats. There are coding boot camps, school enrichment classes, and game nights, too, at which curious, like-minded kids can gather. 4201 E. Yale Ave., Suite 130, Denver
Sports Camp
Top Five*
- Avid4 Adventure
- Camp Timberline
- Challenger Sports Summer Camps
- Denver Christian School
- University of Denver P.A.S.S. Camp
- YMCA
The Winner
Avid4 Adventure
Kids looking for outdoor adventure sports can choose from Avid4 Adventure’s mountain biking, kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, or stand-up paddleboarding, or select a camp where they get to try a different sport each day at a different location. Paired with superior attention to detail and friendly staff, kids who participate in the programs will be motivated to take on new physical challenges and skills all summer. 12 metro Denver locations
* Tie occurred in this category
Day Camp
Top Five
- Avid4 Adventure
- Chatfield Stables
- Dream BIG Day Camp
- Kathy’s Kamp Summer Camp
- School of Rock
The Winner
Kathy’s Kamp Summer Camp
Offered as an alternative to childcare, Kathy’s Kamp provides many traditional summer camp experiences to students who might not otherwise be able to experience them. A program of the Families Forward Resource Center, Kathy’s Kamp offers cooking classes, arts and crafts, sports, a talent show, and other educational opportunities for children ages five to 14, all summer long. 6750 N. Dunkirk St., Aurora
Overnight Camp
Top Winner
- Avid4 Adventure
- Calvin Camp
- Camp Chief Ouray
- Camp Timberline
- IdRaHaJe Christian Camp
The Winner
Camp Chief Ouray
Kids can’t get a better view of the Milky Way over the Rocky Mountains than when they stay at Camp Chief Ouray. Campers love the white water rafting, archery, high ropes course, and horses, as well as the ukulele music program. The camp offers programs to develop young leaders, too, including a trip to London and a three-week backcountry skills program this summer. 1101 County Rd. 53, Granby (on the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch property)
Musical Instruction
Top Five
- Children’s Music Academy
- Do Re Mi Lessons
- School of Rock
- Swallow Hill Music
- Young Voices of Colorado
The Winner
School of Rock
School of Rock’s enthusiastic instructors are dedicated to helping students become proficient on their instruments. They offer private guitar, drum, singing, bass guitar, and keyboard/piano lessons at a variety of levels, to prepare kids to perform live. Parents say it’s a great place for their kids to find connection and community with other young, like-minded rock musicians. Six metro Denver locations
Acting Lessons
Top Five
- Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
- Colorado Children’s Theatre
- Denver Center for the Performing Arts
- Talk to the Camera
- Wolf Theatre Academy at Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center
The Winner
Colorado Children’s Theatre
At Colorado Children’s Theatre, every student is guaranteed to have lines, a solo, and an overall more personal theater education within their small classes. Students perform full musical theater productions, and private voice, acting, and dance lessons are also available. The experienced staff focuses on the real-life lessons on which acting can build, including trust, connection, and hard work. Four metro Denver locations
Dance Studio
Top Five
- Dancin’ Dreams
- Denver Academy of Ballet
- Dual Star Academy of Dance
- Leap Dance Studio
- Park Hill Dance Academy
The Winner
Denver Academy of Ballet
Families choose Denver Academy of Ballet for the individual attention and small class sizes, plus fun performance opportunities and community events for the whole family, both in and out of the studio. To ensure proper growth and technique at each dance level, all classes include a planned syllabus, under the direction of highly trained, professional dancers. 6874 S. University Blvd., Centennial
