Overnight Camp

Top Five
  • Avid4 Adventure
  • Camp IdRaHaJe
  • Geneva Glen Camp
  • Renaissance Adventures
  • YMCA Camp Chief Ouray
Winner: YMCA Camp Chief Ouray

Camp Chief Ouray has offered overnight camp for kids ages seven to 17 for more than 100 years. Campers live in cabins in groups of six to nine kids with two highly-trained, college-age counselors. Campers are exposed to hiking, ropes courses, camping, fishing, and other outdoor skills while building community. 1101 County Rd. 53, Granby. 970-887-2648.

Dance Studio

Top Five*
  • Artistic Fusion Dance Academy
  • Cherry Creek Dance
  • Dual Star Academy of Dance
  • Leap Dance Studio
  • Miller’s Dance Studio
  • Park Hill Dance Academy
Winner: Miller’s Dance Studio

For more than 61 years, Miller’s Dance Studio has been teaching a variety of dance styles, including ballroom, ballet, and Irish step. With classes for students as young as 18 months through adulthood, there are classes just for fun, as well as performance and competitions. They believe in developing strong bodies along with an appreciation for the art of dance. Two locations in Aurora.

*Tie occurred in this category

STEM Camp

Top Five
  • Camp Invention
  • CU Science Discovery Camp
  • ID Tech Camps
  • Silicon STEM Academy
  • The Goddard School
Winner: Silicon STEM Academy

In half-day or full-day camp classes, kids and teens learn to code, develop, design, and animate. Multi-level classes are available for camps and classes throughout the year. Silicon STEM Academy’s mission is to provide a technology workspace and training center to develop skills beyond what can be offered during a traditional school day. 4201 E. Yale Ave., Suite 130, Denver. 303-800-0011.

Special Needs Camp or Class

Top Five
  • Adam’s Camp
  • Friends of Horses Rescue, Adoption, and Therapeutic Riding Center
  • Roundup River Ranch
  • Spectrum Yoga
  • STAR Institute for Sensory Processing Disorder
Winner: Adam’s Camp

Adam’s Camp offers support, education, camaraderie, and fun for families dealing with developmental disabilities that affect language, mobility, learning, and/or daily living skills. Weeklong therapy camps include opportunities for families with children as young as one year old. Adventure Camps are sleepaway camps for kids age nine and up with mild-to-moderate needs. YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch, 1101 County Rd. 53, Granby. 303-563-8290.

Children’s Acting Lessons

Top Five*
  • Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
  • Audience of One Youth Theater
  • Denver Center for the Performing Arts
  • Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids
  • St. Luke’s Performing Arts Academy
  • Talk to the Camera
Winner: Talk to the Camera

Kids gain confidence and skills while boosting creativity at Talk to the Camera’s classes, held in schools and recreation centers. Classes and camps include making mini-movies, creating YouTube videos, and news broadcasts. The experiences help kids develop on-camera personalities, and public speaking and lifelong communication skills. Various Metro Denver Recreation Centers. 720-996-0894.

*Tie occurred in this category

Children’s Art Studio or Craft Center

Top Five
  • Art Garage
  • artSPARK
  • Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
  • Lalu Denver
  • The Craftsman & Apprentice
Winner: Lalu Denver

Believing that art helps people develop life skills, the owners of Lalu feel art-making should be a part of every day. The studio has classes and workshops for kids and adults, open studio time, and birthday parties. Experiential morning classes encourage toddlers and preschoolers to explore their world creatively, and after-school courses for big kids span a variety of topics. 4317 Tennyson St., Denver, 720-773-1278.

Sports Camp

Top Five
  • Air Force Academy Sports Camps
  • Avid4 Adventure
  • Fellowship of Christian Athletes Colorado
  • TIGAR Gymnastics and Cheer Camp
  • YMCA
Winner: Fellowship of Christian Athletes Colorado

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes Colorado holds classes at parks, schools, and sports complexes. Camps aim to achieve “inspiration and perspiration” for athletes and coaches during athletic, spiritual, and leadership training. With single-sport or multi-sport camps, youth develop athletic skills to prepare them for future athletic competitions. Multiple locations around the state. 1-800-289-0909.

Musical Instruction

Top Five
  • Music Together
  • Music with Miss Stephanie
  • Rocky Mountain Aardvarks
  • School of Rock
  • Swallow Hill Music
Winner: Rocky Mountain Aardvarks

Kids learn musical skills through a sense of fun, with original songs about what it’s like to be a kid. Described as a “musical playground” for kids ages three months to five years and their grownups, students learn through singing, dancing, musical storytelling, and jam sessions. Classes are held at multiple locations in Denver and Boulder. 720-515-8275.