Children’s Art Studio or Craft Center
Top Five
Art Garage
artSPARK Creative Studio
Art Students League of Denver
Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
Lalu Creative Art Studio
The Winner
Lalu Creative Art Studio
4317 Tennyson St., Denver
720-773-1278 | laludenver.com
This cheerful Berkeley studio is all about helping artists develop life skills through art. Experiential morning classes encourage toddlers and preschoolers to explore their environment creatively, and after-school courses for big kids span a variety of topics, from drawing and painting to carpentry. Drop-in classes are available, along with custom playgroup and homeschool options.
Children’s Acting Lessons
Top Five
Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Christian Youth Theater (CYT)
Denver Center for the Performing Arts
Noteable Kids Arts Center
Step It Up Performing Arts
The Winner
Denver Center for the Performing Arts
1101 13th St., Denver | 303-446-4892 | denvercenter.org
Go ahead and act up at DCPA, where child and teen acting classes school kids ages three to 18 in everything from acting and singing to stage combat. Under the auspices of experienced instructors, participants will fine-tune their acting skills while building traits such as confidence, critical thinking, and discipline. Don’t miss out on thespian camps this summer.
Dance Studio
Top Five
Colorado School of Dance
Leap Dance Studio
Park Hill Dance Academy
Parker Dance Academy
Premier School of Dance
The Winner
Park Hill Dance Academy
4638 E. 23rd. Ave., Denver | 303-975-6111 | parkhilldanceacademy.com
Karlyn Griswold—owner of Park Hill Dance Academy—has been dancing since she could walk. Now, she shares her passion with students. Comprehensive and technique-based ballet instruction is available for all ages and ability levels, and pointe and contemporary classes are offered, too. Dance the summer away at ballet camps for children age five and up.
Musical Instruction
Top Five
Altitunes Neurologic Music Therapy
Mile High Music
Rocky Mountain Aardvarks
School of Rock
Swallow Hill Music
The Winner
Rocky Mountain Aardvarks
Six metro locations | 720-515-VARK
Music for Aardvarks is a rocking alternative to traditional baby and toddler music classes. The songs are original, and the vibe is funky, as caregivers and kiddos three months and up sing, dance, and play a variety of musical instruments, including lollipop drums, tambourines, drumsticks, and shakers. Look for outdoor classes this summer.
Overnight Camp
Top Five
Avid4 Adventure Colorado Mountain Camp
Camp Chief Ouray YMCA
Camp Timberline
Girl Scouts of Colorado Summer Camp
IdRaHaJe Christian Summer Camps
The Winner
Camp Chief Ouray YMCA
1101 County Rd. 53, Granby | 970-887-2648 | campchiefouray.org
This century-old overnight camp for children ages seven to 17 is located on 5,100 acres of mountains, valleys, streams, and meadows. Campers live in old-school cabins with trained counselors and up to nine peers. The staff-to-camper ratio is never higher than 1-to-5. Activities include hiking, climbing, canoeing, and archery, along with arts and crafts, cooking, and horseback riding.
Special Needs Camp or Class
Top Five
Adam’s Camp
Anchor Center for Blind Children
Rocky Mountain Village/Easterseals Colorado
Roundup River Ranch
T.A.C.T.
The Winner
Adam’s Camp
6767 S. Spruce St., Ste. 102, Centennial
303-563-8290 | adamscamp.org
Adam’s Camp provides a variety of intensive, personalized, and integrated programs—both therapeutic and recreational—for children with special needs and their families. Whether your child is ziplining at an adventure camp or horseback riding at a therapy camp, he or she will be receiving outcome-based treatment designed to help participants develop their strengths and realize their full potential.
Sports Camp
Top Five
CU Buffs Volleyball Camp
P.A.S.S. Camp at the University of Denver
Rodney Billups Basketball Camps at the University of Denver
SafeSplash Swim Camps
YMCA of Metropolitan Denver
The Winner
P.A.S.S. Camp at the University of Denver
2201 E. Asbury Ave., Denver
303-871-3845 | ritchiecenter.du.edu/youth/pass-camp
Entering its 23rd season, this energetic, multi-sports camp is a DU summer tradition. Campers ages five to 11 get a chance to try their hands—and feet—at everything from basketball, soccer, tennis, and lacrosse to martial arts and ultimate Frisbee. No matter what your child is playing, the focus is always on sportsmanship, teamwork, and developing fundamentals.
STEM Camp
Top Five
CU Science Discovery Summer Camps
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
The Goddard School
Silicon STEM Academy
WOW! Children’s Museum Summer Classes
The Winner
Silicon STEM Academy
4201 E. Yale Ave., Denver and 6300 S. Lewiston Way, Aurora
303-800-0011 | siliconstemacademy.com
Silicon STEM Academy is Denver’s one-stop-shop for tech training. Through its hallmark six-week sessions, the organization’s top-notch staff delivers lessons in computer programming, 3D game design, digital media, and robotics for adolescents, teens, and adults. The organization also hosts a popular summer camp featuring hands-on, interactive, and insanely fun lessons in coding, digital media, and engineering and robotics.
