A Weekend of Connection and Community
In June, Post Adopt hosted its 10th annual summer camp, Camp Connect, offering a vibrant and meaningful weekend for adoptive and guardianship families across the state. The camp provides an opportunity to step away from the busyness of everyday life, spend time together, learn, and connect with others who share similar experiences. Events like Camp Connect are an important part of Post Adopt’s mission to support families and create a welcoming, encouraging community.
What is Camp Connect?
The weekend kicked off Friday evening as families arrived, settled in, and reconnected, with new families quickly made to feel at home. After dinner, parents gathered with the weekend speaker, Sarah How, an adoptive mother, Certified School Psychologist, and Advanced Trainer in the Nurtured Heart Approach, for an introductory session where they created Dare to Dream vision boards. While parents met, children enjoyed a movie, giving everyone a chance to relax and ease into the weekend.
On Saturday, parents continued sessions with Sarah. Her blend of professional insight and lived experience resonated strongly with families. One parent shared, “I loved that the speaker had first-hand knowledge and was open to sharing,” while another described their key takeaway as “empowerment and encouragement.” Parents left feeling supported, with practical tools and reassurance, including the reminder that “no one is getting [parenting] perfect, and we are all doing a lot better than we give ourselves credit for.”
While parents attended sessions, children spent the day with Post Adopt staff and volunteers enjoying crafts, games, water play, and outdoor activities. The welcoming environment stood out, with one child sharing, “Everyone was very nice and welcoming,” and another adding, “My favorite part was meeting new kids that shared the same experience that I went through.”
Saturday evening, wrapped up with families and staff gathered around the campfire for s’mores, conversation, and time together. These simple moments provided space to reconnect and reflect, and they remain an important part of the Camp Connect experience.
Sunday morning included a final breakfast and one last session for parents, while children enjoyed playing together before saying their goodbyes. As one parent shared, “Expectations were exceeded, as usual!”
Who Attended Camp Connect?
This year, Camp Connect welcomed eight families, including three first-time families, with a total of 28 youth and 13 parents participating. Together, they built relationships and strengthened a sense of community that continues to support families beyond the weekend.
At its core, Camp Connect offers families a place to rest, recharge, and spend time with others who understand. This year’s event highlighted the value of that shared time and the lasting impact it can have.
We are grateful to the Post Adopt staff and volunteers who made the weekend possible. Their care, energy, and commitment are essential to creating a positive experience for families.
We also thank the families who attended and shared their vulnerability and experience, as well as Sarah How, for her insight and leadership throughout the weekend.
As we reflect on Camp Connect 2026, we are thankful for the time shared and the encouragement that came from being together. We look forward to gathering again in the year ahead!
