Our fellow advocates for play HopeLab generously offered scholarships to our 2010 conference Play On in New York City October 12-13.

Applicants for the scholarships were asked to fill out a simple form to share why they want to attend, how they get community members playing, what they learn from youth, and of course what their favorite game is. All forms were collected and the selection process began.

Scholarship winners were chosen based in three categories: play, lead, and learn. The play category identifies those who provide play opportunities for youth as a part of their daily lives. Lead applicants primary efforts are to bring play into other people's lives and encourage others to be play advocates. And those in the learn category are working to create a better understanding of play and physical activity so that others may see the value of the play movement. And now the winners are…

Play: Quinton Buckley
Quinton provides trainings to nearly 3,000 urban camp staff through his position with the American Camp Association in New York. He uses the power of play to create a community among near strangers by beginning each training session with an hour of team-building games. He understands the value of play and fun, having learned from youth that people will listen, learn, and remember as long as its fun!

Learn: Matthew Browning
Matthew is an environmental science masters candidate at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. He is beginning preliminary work on thesis about unstructured play. He will begin unstructured play groups in natural landscapes across the country and continue researching and development these groups not only as a student, but as a continuing play professional. Matthew loves exploring a wooded area and being in the moment just like a child, open to whatever he stumbles across.

Lead: Tied! Cat Jaffe and Maggie Anderson
Cat began a monthly recess at her office Ashoka. She has begun to bring a playful and community atmosphere to Ashoka, the social innovators for the public. She hopes that by shifting her own work culture, she'll also motivate changemakers to value and provide play to youth. Cat loves fun and inclusive games that challenge players to work together toward a common goal.

Maggie connects teachers and community partners in low-income neighborhoods in order to bring opportunities for recess and play to students in need. Through the Food & Fitness program, she builds partnerships to promote the health and well-being of youth. Maggie understands that physical activity and play is essential for life!

Congratulations to each scholarship recipient and thanks to all who applied! Both the Playworks and HopeLab teams enjoyed hearing your stories and learning how you play.

To learn more about HopeLab check out their Wednesday (10/13) session Identifying Sedentary Behavior- Profiles on Youth Activity at Play On 2010 where they will share insights from their research and product development to reach kids at risk for sedentary behavior and obesity.