Camp To Belong Washington - Seattle
Who We Are
Across our nation, nearly 75% of all siblings in foster care are separated from at least one of their siblings. In Washington state, nearly 89% of all siblings are separated. This is a staggering number! These children are not only taken from their homes for various reasons, but then taken from each other when they enter foster care. Children are separated for different reasons, which include behavior issues, safety and a lack of available beds in foster homes. Many of these siblings have not seen each other in months...or years. Camp To Belong is a bright spot in foster care! This week together allows brothers and sisters to spend uninterrupted time together, as well as creating lasting memories! One of my favorite quotes from a camper last year was this: "If I had to choose between going to Hawaii or ten minutes with my brother, I'd choose my brother." That sums up why we do this.
What We Do
Camp To Belong Washington exists to improve the lives of disadvantaged youth in foster care. We identify siblings across the state who are currently separated in foster care or through adoption and bring them together for a fun-filled week of camp during the summer. Camp To Belong International was founded by a former youth in care, Lynn Price, who believed children in foster care deserved to see their siblings and that their voices should be heard. After learning that she was not only adopted, but also had a biological sister she never knew about, Lynn decided that siblings had rights. Among those rights was the right to reunite with each other, even if they were living in separate places. Camp To Belong has grown to 7 camps across the nation, one in Australia, and three opening next summer! More than 500 siblings nationwide were reunited last summer...and many more will reunite this summer as a result of committed volunteers and generous donations. Campers attend for free. All staff and counselors donate their time.
