Sibling Strong

All other programs: SIBLING BIRTHDAY PARTY CELEBRATIONS - Since many separated siblings miss celebrating birthdays and other life events together, a camp-wide birthday party enables them to share a birthday celebration! Campers choose and wrap gifts for their siblings in our birthday shop. An evening at camp is set aside for a birthday party, which includes cake, a gift exchange and more festivities. SIBLING PILLOWS AND QUILTS - Being apart is hard. A reminder that you are in someone's thoughts helps, so brothers and sisters create and exchange pillows or quilts with personal messages of love and encouragement to each other. This provides a take-home keepsake and comfort object for their sibling. Here's how one child expressed her feelings on a pillow. Inspiration Night -We devote an evening designed to reduce isolation, empower youth and provide positive role models. The event features inspirational guest speakers and siblings sharing their stories and messages with other campers. Inspiration Night contributes to each young person's ability to respond to conflict and grief, to improve their self-esteem and to foster hope and healing. LIFE SEMINAR -Campers 14 and above attend the Life Empowerment Seminar. The program is designed to empower older youth to advocate for their rights, and also to give information about post-high school educational and career-path resources. Included is information on many education options, education funding sources and other supports available to help foster youth become successful young adults. SCRAPBOOKS - Each camper receives a scrapbook supplies and photos of their week at camp. Before camp closes, he or she creates a memory album of their experiences and special moments during the week. These mementos include written messages to one another and personal reflections about the week. For so many children in care, this memory album will contain the only photographs they have from their childhood. TRADITIONAL CAMP ACTIVITES - Throughout the week, campers participate in traditional camp activities, including canoeing, horseback riding, swimming, a ropes course, archery and rock-wall climbing. For some, these activities are a first, and what better way to make new memories than doing them with your brother or sister!