Nestled in the lush Ponderosa pine forest, resting well above six-thousand feet sits a cozy camp far away from the rush hour traffic, stark heat and desert landscapes we are accustomed to on a daily basis."
Each year in September, our foster care and adoption staff gear up for our annual family camp. It creates a unique opportunity that brings foster and adoptive families together for a weekend filled with crafts, dance parties, outdoor activities and lots of quality time to renew friendships and forge new ones. This year we had more than 175 campers join us for the weekend!
The atmosphere is filled with laughter, excitement and some truly amazing stories from families that speak to the reason we continue this longstanding tradition each year.
A little boy who spent two years in our Emergency Children’s Shelter returned to camp and met a friend who had been in the shelter with him at the same time. The two little boys reunited as you would after years of being away from your brother. It is these unique and heartwarming experiences that allow for growth as well as healing. Many siblings look forward to spending time with their brothers and sisters each year. Originally, the camp was a way to bring families together who may not have all been placed in one home, to give siblings a chance to spend quality time together and stay connected.
“Words can’t express how much it meant to us to be part of a weekend so meaningful once again,” said the parent.
Some of the highlights for kids at camp include playing with water balloons, swinging, hay rides, dance night and flying kites.
There are new families that join us as well as families that return year after year, sometimes starting off as volunteers or staff and returning as a family that has adopted or fostered a child. Such is the case with a couple who began their journey as volunteers, sharing their love for the great outdoors and gaining true respect for the love and support that our staff members have for our families. Five years later, they returned as a family, having adopted a 14-month old child. “Words can’t express how much it meant to us to be part of a weekend so meaningful once again,” said the parent. “I truly knew I was in the place where I was meant to be in life, where all that mattered was that we were a family.”
Another parent mentioned how much they appreciate the opportunity to attend camp each year, saying “If it weren’t for the camp scholarships, we wouldn’t have been able to afford to go and would have missed out on a great time together as a family.” The cost of the camp is completely covered for all of our foster and adoptive families thanks to our continued partnership with the Arizona Workers’ Compensation Claims Association as well as a private donor, Melissa Myers. We also want to appreciate the staff at Camp Shadow Pines, the National Charity League and all of the foster care and adoption staff for their hard work coordinating the camp.
Most importantly, what differentiates our camp experience for parents and children is that it is a place for families to bond and offer unconditional support in an environment where kids are just kids, no matter how your story began.
