Bringing PLAY back to LIFE.
Our mission is to bring the benefits of play into the lives of every person by providing
spaces where individuals, families and communities can come together to play, connect, and grow.
Get to know us!
Şeniz Yargici: Founder, Director
Having happily spent her career and life exploring meaningful applications of creativity and play, Şeniz (she/her) has nearly 25 years of experience teaching, designing youth and adult workshops, and managing arts integration programs in Minnesota and New York City. As a founding member of the North American Adventure Play Association and a Play Ambassador for the US Play Coalition, Şeniz is active in the global play community and has committed her entire life to making a difference through PLAY. She performs with HUGE Improv Theater when she can and sings wild harmonies in the local indy-pop band, School for Girls. She loves hanging upside down, climbing trees, finding new ways to move her body, and hanging out with her two hilarious and exceptional kiddos and magnetic partner.
Samantha Dillon (Sami D): Accessibility Specialist, Preschool Teacher, Playworker Backyard Camp
Sami (they/them) is a child advocate, playworker, teacher and learner. As the oldest of some amazing siblings, with some age gaps beyond a decade, Sami is naturally buddies with humans of all ages. They have been a Playworker with OYNA’s Backyard Camp since 2018 and have been a preschool teacher with Temple Israel ECC since 2017.
From their first time teaching improv to kids at Brave New Workshop, to coaching theater with middle schoolers to now, Sami has always believed in the powers of using dance as dialogue, improvisation as conflict navigation, and free play as learning. In their spare time, they research how to deepen and broaden ADHD advocacy, other learning disabilities, and sensory disorders, and then sometimes bake bread.
Nina Roberson: Preschool Teacher, Playworker Backyard Camp
Nina (she/her) has been humbled to work alongside many young children and families as a youth worker. She has spent several years playing and learning with children in arts programming and most recently in Minneapolis Public School’s pre-k program, High Five. She has a BS in Early Childhood Studies from Metropolitan State University. Nina likes to make stuff, be in the beauty of outside, and cook with loved ones.
Maggie Kennedy: Playworker, Backyard Camp
Maggie (she/her) feels reassured and energized by the confident curiosities of young people. She works in a kinder and first grade Autism classroom in Minneapolis Public Schools, and studied Sociology at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Maggie enjoys time around loved ones, naps, dancing, and potato salad.
Jen Scott: Playworker Backyard Camp
Jen is a Twin Cities based actor, improviser, playwright, teacher, and sometime musician. She’s been an artist-in-residence at Pillsbury House + Theater since 2013, and also teaches for HUGE Theater, Children’s Theatre Company, Park Square Theatre, and others. She also works in informal science education, was a performer at the Science Museum of Minnesota for over 8 years, and is currently an educator at the Bakken Museum.
Rita Boersma: Playworker Backyard Camp
Rita (she/her) is a performer, teacher, writer and coach. She has been an improvisor for over 15 years. She is a company member at ComedySportz and performs regularly with Show X and The Mess at HUGE Theater where she is also the Artistic Director.
Outside of the theater community, she has over 10 years experience working in education, both one-on-one in the classroom and on a large group scale as a Program Facilitator with the nonprofit, Youth Frontiers. She is also mother to one whip-smart and terribly hilarious kid. It couldn't hurt to mention she has a truly unreasonable love of mashed potatoes.
Hello, and welcome to OYNA!
You may recognize us by our former name, Twin Cities Adventure Play.
We are a HUB for PLAY, offering day camps, online courses for parents, family team-building workshops, one on one support, and in-person play opportunities for people in all stages of life.
We define PLAY broadly: free play, games, art, improv, fitness, puzzles…really anything that makes us lose track of time and self-consciousness, creating the clearing where we can quickly get to our hearts and practice being the truest versions of ourselves. A major bonus is that play helps develop imagination, physical and mental dexterity, and emotional strength!
When we open ourselves to play, we open ourselves to a more balanced, joyful, happier life.
I’m so excited that you’re here to learn more about how practicing play and playful perspectives can be a part of you and your family’s wellness.
Let’s play!
Şeniz Yargici
Founder OYNA|Twin Cities Adventure Play