2018 Golden Teddy Awards — Camps + Classes

Winner: Seattle Children’s PlayGarden

Seattle Children’s PlayGarden celebrates the fact that every child is different, and its staff knows inclusivity means meeting each child wherever he or she is. Nature-based summer camps welcome campers of all abilities, ages 1–18. One thankful parent gave this testimonial on the PlayGarden’s website: “Other day camps have required a lot of work to support [our child] and help him be able to have a good time. Here, it was easy.”

Finalists

Families of kids with serious medical conditions love Camp Korey for the carefree fun it offers to campers. While medical personnel on staff support campers, children can forget about their illnesses by focusing on adventurous activities like boating, horseback riding and “stage night.”

Your votes showed your adoration for Camp Prov, a program that welcomes both kids with special needs as well as their siblings, ages 2–10. Skilled staff and teenage “buddy” volunteers assist campers, so everyone can partake in typical summer camp fun: swimming, music, nature, storytelling and more.

Every Body’s Circus program at SANCA — School of Acrobatics & New Circus Arts offers individual lessons, group lessons, inclusive classes, and camps that benefit children and adults with a range of special needs. The school knows circus is a therapeutic art and hand-craft its offerings to fit participants’ needs, including learning differences, behavioral issues, trauma- and mood-related disorders, sensory and processing issues, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, hemiparesis, spina bifida, visual or hearing impairment and other physical challenges.

Voters are glad that Social Skillz Theatre School of Tacoma is a place where all neurodiverse children and teens (3rd–12th grade) can learn together. This inclusive summer camp has built in social and emotional skills support, and the session culminates in the all-camp performance production during the last three days of camp.