Young performers at The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center traded scripts for stethoscopes Tuesday when the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Teddy Bear Clinic visited their summer theater camp.
The Aug. 11 session gave campers ranging in age from 7 to 14 a chance to act as caregivers for their stuffed animals, guiding them through simulated medical steps like triage, X-rays and surgery. The format, part of Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital's Child Life program, helps children build familiarity with health settings and reduce fear around medical visits.
The kids got into character, taking care of their teddy bears
The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center announced the visit on X, describing it as an interactive program aimed at building confidence and easing anxiety about health and life services.
The clinic visit came one day before the final day of Summer Theater Camp Session 2, which runs July 20 through Aug. 12 at the Aventura center. The camp is a joint program of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and The Performance Project School of the Arts, founded by camp director Nina Felice. Felice, a former professional actress, holds a master's degree in child and family psychology, which she incorporates into her teaching.
Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital is a named sponsor of the summer camp program, making the clinic visit a natural extension of that partnership.
Campers in Session 2 have spent weeks rehearsing two productions: Group A (ages 7–9) is performing "Finding Nemo KIDS," while Group B (ages 10–14) is staging "Beetlejuice JR." The older group's session had a waiting list, according to the Broward Center's enrollment page, signaling strong demand. Each session costs $950 per camper, with scholarships available through the JM Family Scholarship Program for students ages 7 to 18 based on financial need.
The camp ends Wednesday, Aug. 12, with a final performance expected at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Specific showtime and ticket details had not been published as of Aug. 11.
Coming up in the community:
- Don Soffer Sharks single-game tickets go on sale Thursday, Aug. 13.
- A $35-a-week after-school program launches Thursday, Aug. 13.
