Adoption summer camps offer a unique space for adopted children and their families to connect, learn and create lasting memories. Here’s what you need to know about these supportive and fun experiences!
What Are Adoption Summer Camps?
Adoption summer camps provide a welcoming environment where people who were adopted can share experiences with others who truly understand their journey. These camps include age-appropriate programming that helps children, and sometimes their families, explore topics such as identity, race, birth parents and the complexities of adoption — subjects that may not be widely understood outside of the adoption community.
Beyond these meaningful discussions, adoption camps also offer all the fun of a traditional summer camp, including games, crafts, skits, songs, campfires and more. Some are overnight camps, while others operate as day camps.
There are three main types of adoption summer camps:
- Adoptee Camps – These camps are designed specifically for adopted children, providing a space where they can be themselves among peers who share similar experiences. Adoptee camps welcome children from all backgrounds and offer opportunities for connection and support.
- Family Camps – Family camps allow adopted children and their parents to experience camp together, creating shared memories while also engaging in supportive and educational activities. These camps provide a space where families can embrace the joys and challenges of adoption alongside others who understand firsthand.
- Heritage/Culture Camps – Designed mainly for internationally adopted children, these camps focus on cultural identity by offering experiences rooted in a child’s birth culture. Through traditional cuisine, music, crafts and language activities, children can celebrate their heritage while building connections with others who share a similar background.
Why are Adoption Camps Beneficial?
Adoption camps can help children feel less alone. They offer a rare opportunity for children to be surrounded by people who understand their experiences. Outside of camp, they may not know many other people who have been adopted. Adoption camps provide a safe and supportive space where they can simply be themselves without having to explain their adoption. Some camps even have counselors who were adopted also, who serve as mentors and role models, offering guidance as they navigate their own journeys.
This sense of belonging can be especially important for transracial and intercountry adopted children. Being in an environment where they are surrounded by others who look like them, sometimes for the first time, can be a powerful experience. Some participants have shared that attending an adoption camp was the first time they saw beauty in themselves, as they were surrounded by peers who looked like them.
Advice for Sending Children to Camp
While adoption camps can be a wonderful experience, they can also come with challenges. While this is true for any child going to camp, the grief and loss inherent in adoption can make this more complex. Here are some tips to help your child have a successful camp experience:
- Start young: As children get older, they may become more self-conscious about what makes them different from their peers. The older they are, the more hesitant they may be to this unique experience. Introducing camp at a young age can help them see the benefit of these spaces before they become “too cool.”
- Prepare for sleepaway camp: If your child has never spent nights away from home, a sleepaway camp may feel overwhelming. Starting with a day camp or a short overnight experience can help ease the transition, especially for younger children.
- Advocate for your child: If your child has specific needs, don’t hesitate to ask the camp staff about accommodations. Camps want children to have a positive experience and are often happy to help.
- Send them with a friend: If your child has a sibling or friend who is also adopted, consider sending them together. If that’s not possible, try connecting with another camper before camp starts, either online or in-person, so your child has a familiar face when they arrive.
- Prepare for the transition home: Leaving camp can be difficult. After spending time in a space where they felt truly understood, children may struggle with returning to environments where that sense of belonging isn’t as strong. Be patient and recognize that behavioral changes may simply be their way of expressing that they miss camp and the connections they made.
- REGISTER EARLY: Adoption camps tend to fill up quickly. Be sure to check registration dates and plan ahead to secure a spot.
Adoption Camps to Check Out
Adoption summer camps can be a life-changing experience. Whether it’s a place to make lifelong friends, celebrate cultural identity or simply have fun, these camps provide something truly special. If you are interested in finding an adoption camp for your child or family, check out our list below!
Please note that The Cradle does not endorse any specific camp. Be sure to research each camp to find the best fit for your family.
Adoptee Camps
Family Camps/Weekends
Heritage/Culture Camps
