2017 Golden Teddy Awards — Camps + Classes

Winner: Camp Korey

Families of kids with serious medical conditions love Camp Korey and the carefree fun and games it offers to campers. Founded by the father of a teenage boy who died of cancer, Camp Korey aims to let children forget about their illnesses for a week and turn their focus to the adventure and joy of being a kid. Medical personnel on staff support campers as they partake in activities like boating, horseback riding, arts and crafts and stage night. Your votes for Camp Korey flowed in, showing your appreciation for this special place and its support of kids and families.

Finalists

Local Girl Scouts of Western Washington camps earned your votes as positive places for all types of girls. Camps are inclusive and let girls enjoy all the best summer camp activities — swimming, arts and crafts, camp fires — all while building leadership skills and an affirming community. One pleased parent noted that Girl Scout Camps offer “great opportunities for girls to explore and grow.”

Seattle Children’s PlayGarden is a special place devoted to inclusivity and meeting each child where he or she is. Summer camps welcome campers of all abilities, ages 1 to 18. One grateful 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."

The Outdoors for All Foundation understands the transformative power of outdoor recreation, and so do you. Outdoors for All’s programs get children (and adults) with disabilities out skiing, kayaking, river rafting, rock climbing and more. What started as a skiing program for handful of kids now reaches several thousand individuals each year, thanks to the dedication of hundreds of volunteers.

Your votes showed you appreciate 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 to enjoy all the typical summer camp fun: swimming, music, nature, storytelling and more. Camp Prov meets in Everett’s Forest Park.