Camp to Belong - Maine

About this resource

Camp To Belong Maine Mission Statement:  

"To provide Maine youth separated by foster and/or adoptive care with shared experiences and memories; and to empower them to advocate for themselves and their siblings."

Imagine being a child who was taken from his or her home due to unfortunate circumstances that occurred through no fault of their own. Children in foster care, adoption or other out-of-home placements are frequently separated from the people they love, including their brothers and sisters. They often miss out on normal childhood activities such as learning to ride a bike, creating art, swimming or enjoying birthday parties and special holidays with their siblings, friends and family - childhood rites of passage that many of us take for granted.

For many children in out-of-home placements, Camp To Belong Maine (CTB Maine) may be the only opportunity each year that they get to laugh and play with their siblings for a whole week. This opportunity allows them to share meals, play games and even just chat with or say goodnight to their siblings each day.  The children we serve cherish these small moments that they do not always get to share. These moments are CTB Maine’s goal – to ensure that siblings separated by foster care or adoption have positive childhood-sibling  memories.

CTB Maine is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to reuniting brothers and sisters who have become separated by foster care/adoption through a week of camp in the summer and other events throughout the year.  We believe that all siblings deserve the opportunity to spend meaningful time with their brothers and sisters, and we are dedicated to helping make that happen for our campers. We also believe that every kid deserves a special place where they feel like they fit in, and aren’t judged for having atypical family situations.  We provide these siblings a chance to escape the chaos of their ever-changing worlds and come to a place where they are no different from everyone else – a place where they truly belong.