Siblings Making Memories at Ocean 5

Sibling Strong/Camp To Belong Washington continued its outreach to separated siblings January 23 with an afternoon event in Gig Harbor.

“The kids had so much fun,” said Volunteer Coordinator Brittany Clyde.

A teenage girl won a tablet in the Arcade at Ocean 5 In Gig Harbor, where separated siblings gathered in January for three hours to have fun and make memories.

“This girl won the tablet and gave it to her younger brother who she doesn’t live with. It was super sweet,” said Brittany Clyde, volunteer coordinator for this event and other half-day and full day events, held as part of the mission of Sibling Strong/Camp To Belong Washington

While the anchor event of the organization remains the 5-day camp in June reuniting siblings separated due to foster, relative or adoptive care, sixteen other events have been held the past three years to bring those siblings together outside that week at camp.

At Ocean 5, they began at a pizza buffet and the young pizza aficionados “raved about how good it was,” said Brittany (a counselor at camp whose camp name is Twister).

They moved on to the Arcade and then to Laser Tag. “I don’t know who had more fun, the kids or the volunteers “Brittany said of playing Laser Tag.

The kids then went bowling and “while nobody was really good, everybody cheered when someone got a strike,” Brittany said

They ended the day with cupcakes which put a smile on everyone’s face, she said.

They hope to come back to Ocean 5 in the future.

Coming Up

The next event is ice skating scheduled for Saturday, February 19 at Sprinker Recreational Center in South Tacoma from noon to 2:30. Sign up for the event can be done at https://www.sibling-strong.org/events-registration

The same link can be used to apply for this year’s camp, to be held June 27-July 1 for separated siblings ages 8-18.

If you would like to volunteer or learn more about Sibling Strong/Camp To Belong click on www.sibling-strong.org