Countdown to Summer Camp 2024 Begins Now!!
Countdown to Summer Camp 2024 Begins Now!!
Summer Camp
June 24-28th
Sibling Strong summer camp is a program created for brothers and sisters who are separated. Children entering foster care are often placed in separate homes due to a lack of homes, family circumstances and more. Brothers and sisters who may have leaned on each other through times of trouble are no longer able to give their support and comfort, which adds to a child's trauma and sense of isolation. Some siblings in care have almost no visits with because they are placed in different cities, across the state, even in different states.
For one week each summer, we reunite siblings with ties to Washington state. We believe they have a right and a deep need to spend time with each other to strengthen their relationship when it is impossible for them to live together. Being with other youth who have experienced the same trauma helps them realize they are not alone in this difficult situation. Brothers and sisters reunite at Miracle Ranch on Horseshoe Lake on Washington's beautiful Key Peninsula for some quality time. They laugh, cry, experience hope, begin healing, and create positive memories that will last a lifetime.
Did You Know?
Youth living in foster care often have very few photos of their childhood. At camp, each child creates a scrapbook filled with photos of themselves and their siblings to remind them of their time together.
Youth in foster care often miss family celebrations. At camp, one night is devoted to a camp-wide birthday party at which brothers and sisters exchange presents and enjoy their own family cake to celebrate the birthdays that they may have missed during the year.
One week at camp provides more sibling time together than an entire year's worth of state-mandated visits.
Many children in foster care feel an overwhelming sense of isolation and have reduced self-esteem because of their experiences. Sibling Strong works to create normalcy by providing them time together and experiences with others who have faced similar challenges and understand their feelings.
