Each year, following the Play Conference, we celebrate one attendee who embodies the heart of what we stand for: bringing play back to children’s lives in meaningful, accessible, and imaginative ways. The Play Promoter Prize recognizes a therapist-led initiative that champions play, inclusion, and creativity in the real world – and this year’s winner, occupational therapist Angela Mann, has done exactly that through her nature-based program, Hope Grove.
A Place Built on Play, Inclusion, and Nature
Hope Grove began during the pandemic, when Angela – then pregnant with her fourth child and supporting her oldest son, who has Down syndrome – noticed how much her children struggled to play independently. Screens were creeping in; creativity felt harder to access; play wasn’t flowing in the way it once had.
So she sent them outside.
What unfolded became the seed for Hope Grove: a space where children of all abilities could explore, imagine, climb, dig, create, and connect with nature – without pressure, without structure, and without screens.
Today, Hope Grove offers mixed-age drop-off playgroups, nature-based camps, and caregiver–child programs for babies through teens. All siblings are welcome, all abilities are included, and all children are supported through gently facilitated free play in a rich outdoor environment. Activities shift with the children’s interests, from climbing the treehouse to painting rocks, inventing games, or quietly exploring on their own.
Angela also integrates her OT background, offering sensory-rich movement, motor skill opportunities, and naturally embedded social experiences – all led by the child’s curiosity.
Hope Grove Information:
Website: http://www.hope-grove.com
Instagram: @hope_grove_llc
Facebook: @HOPEGroveLLC
Growing Impact, Growing Community
Over the past five years, Hope Grove has more than doubled in size. Families register eagerly each season, and the program has expanded to include nature-based one-to-one OT sessions, with plans for more year-round offerings. Angela also mentors pre-OT students and OTD capstone students, bringing future clinicians into the world of play-based, inclusive practice.
Her work is grounded in a simple but powerful belief:
Nature and play are therapeutic on their own – our job is to protect and support them.
This perspective is exactly what the Play Promoter Prize exists to highlight. It represents courage, creativity, and a willingness to build something outside traditional models – something rooted in what children truly need.
Watch our interview with Angela
Want to Enter the Play Promoter Prize?
The next competition window will be March 16–29, 2026.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be recognized for your dedication and innovation in promoting play among children. If you’re building something meaningful in your community – big or small – we’d love to hear your story.
Watch this space and our social media for more information on how to apply for the 2026 Play Promoter Prize
