Frequently Asked Questions
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Siblings Forever
What is Siblings Forever?
Siblings Forever nurtures the bonds between brothers and sisters affected by sibling separation by providing free camps, events and programs creating the opportunity to build forever memories rooted in sibling connections. The sibling relationship is most often the longest relationship throughout life; Siblings Forever builds on this foundation to bring continuity in family and community.
Where does Siblings Forever get its support?
Siblings Forever has a strategic partnership with Camp Twin Lakes, a nonprofit that provides its facilities for the use of camps for children facing serious illnesses and other physical and emotional life challenges. Siblings Forever cultivates relationships with local and national partners, who contribute monetary and in-kind donations.
Volunteers
How do you find volunteers? How many volunteers participate in events?
Volunteers from all walks of life volunteer to serve at our events. They are social workers, nurses, retirees and other professionals with a love for children, who want to give of their own time to better the life of the campers. For every 2 participants, SF recruits one volunteer to become a part of their event family.
How can I get involved?
There are many ways to get involved: through monetary donations, in-kind donations or become a volunteer. In order to guarantee that events are free for all participating children, SF works hard to raise funds that will cover the cost of camp operations.
How do I learn more?
To learn more, feel free to contact us. See our “Contact Us” page to do so.
What is the child to volunteer ratio?
Child to volunteer ratio is 2:1. In addition, during camps, we have a staff of over 50 individuals along with volunteer nurses and therapists on staff.
How old do I have to be to volunteer?
Volunteers need to be at least 19 years old and out of high school.
Will I be left alone with children?
No. Volunteers work in teams. We strive to maintain a 2:1 camper to volunteer ratio during all activities and in the lodges and bunk rooms. Under no circumstance are volunteers to be left alone with a camper.
Will I have free time?
For day events, volunteers are expected to remain engaged for the four-hour event without a break. For weekend and summer camp, counselors are working in teams and are given break times at specific times of the day. If you need to take a break or have a specific time you need to get away, you can talk to the camp directors to arrange a break.
Do I need experience as a camp counselor or with the target population?
No experience is necessary. Each group will have at least one volunteer who has extensive experience with our population. Otherwise, you just need to have a caring, patient and enthusiastic personality and focus on your campers.
Will there be any training prior to arrival at events?
Yes, all volunteers are required to participate in virtual training conducted before all events. For those volunteering at summer camp, counselor training takes place 2 days before camp. It is intense but fun! It will introduce you to our program and help you to understand why we do what we do and how to work with our camper population.
Do you do background checks on your volunteers?
Yes. Every volunteer is required to apply and complete a background check, child abuse check. We have to keep our kids safe!
Summer Camp
Where is Siblings Forever Summer Camp Held?
Summer camp is held at Camp Twin Lakes (Rutledge West Campus) in Rutledge, GA.
How many campers attend?
Between 50 and 60 children from across the state attend camp. We have one counselor/volunteer for every two campers.
What happens at Summer Camp?
Brothers and sisters in out-of-home care come together in a safe, nurturing, week-long summer camp environment where they can create childhood memories together with programming designed to strengthen brothers and sisters’ ties.
Are siblings placed together at camp?
Yes! We group our campers by families so that siblings have the opportunity to spend the most time together possible participating in activities, sharing rooms (same sex siblings) and eating meals together.
What are the requirements and qualifications for your campers?
Campers must be at least eight years old to attend summer camp. Children who are younger than eight can attend our Family Connections with their siblings. Campers must be mobile, capable of benefiting from one-week residential experiences with structured support, able to listen and follow simple directions, communicate adequately to meet their interests and needs, manage basic self-care skills such as eating, dressing and using the toilet, do not need significant medical or behavioral support (do not exhibit significant behavioral or aggression traits, do not need individual nursing support to manage health needs). Campers should enjoy outdoor and group activities.
What about persons with specific dietary needs?
The application and medical forms will allow you to inform us of any special dietary needs.
What about persons with specific dietary needs?
The application and medical forms will allow you to inform us of any special dietary needs.
Where do campers come from?
We accept campers from all over the state, and surrounding states.
Do you provide transportation to summer camp?
Yes! There are two designated camper drop off points. Buses then transport the campers to the camp host site.
How many campers and counselors per cabin?
There will be approximately 8 campers and 3-4 counselors in each cabin. Cabins have air conditioning, bathrooms and showers.
Will campers go off-site for any activities?
No off-site activities are planned at this time.
What if there is a medical emergency?
Each Summer Camp session, we have nurses on-site and we will have a physician who will be on call. The Director of Health Services will be supported by nurses. All medical concerns will be directed immediately to the Health Services Director and the nurses. There will be radios with every group of campers at all times, so that the nurse can be notified immediately if there is an unexpected incident/injury. In the case of a serious injury or emergency (volunteer or camper), the Health Services Director or a nurse will contact the camp doctor, treat the camper/volunteer at camp as directed by the physician, and/or oversee transport of the camper/volunteer to the most appropriate and closest medical facility. Individuals listed as emergency contacts on the volunteer Health and Emergency Form (or camper medical form) will be contacted prior to or while in route.
What are the facilities at summer camp like?
Siblings Forever is held at Camp Twin Lakes Rutledge West camp site located in Rutledge, Georgia. Camp includes cabins, some designated to boys and some to girls. Each cabin is air-conditioned and has 12 beds (8 for campers, 4 for counselors), 2 showers, 2 toilets and 4 sinks.
What does a typical day at summer camp look like?
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Morning/Afternoon – Campers will participate in group activities. Recreational activities may include archery, basketball, bicycling, paddle boating, nature hikes, canoeing, fishing, arts/crafts, etc. Special daytime programming includes Siblings Give Back, Gifts from the Heart, Memory Books, Color Wars and more!
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Evening – We have a special program each night, including Party Night, campfires and more!
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Daily Routine - Campers and volunteers are up early for a full day, beginning with breakfast and camp songs. Then we are off to our activity rotations until lunch time. After lunch, all of camp has rest hour until we head back out for more activities until dinner time. After dinner, we have a different program each evening that lasts until we head back to our cabins. Campers shower each night and have some cabin fun time until counselors call lights out/bedtime to get well-rested and prepared for another fun day!
Family Connections
Where are events held?
​Day events are held at various venues. Some of our events are group events where multiple sibling sets come together. Other day events are held for individual sibling sets. Our family weekend camps are held at Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, Georgia.
Can a child attend without a parent?
Children may attend day events without a parent. Parents and other siblings are invited to these events, but not required. We have volunteers who will serve as chaperones when parents cannot attend. Parents are required to attend weekend camp, unless arrangements have been made between the families of separated siblings for children to stay with the parents of their separated sibling.
How many children attend these events?
Our day events are only limited by the number of volunteers that we can recruit. For this reason, these events are on a first come, first serve basis, with applications received and completed for all attending family members. Our weekend camps generally have around 30-40 children with their parents.
What is the cost for each person to attend an event?
The cost for each day event is approximately $150 a person, however families are not responsible for this fee. Holiday camp is approximately $800 for a family of four to attend, but again, families do not pay this fee. Siblings and families attend through the generous support of our donors and sponsors.
What happens at Family Connections?
Brothers and sisters affected by sibling separation come together in a safe, nurturing, environment where they can create childhood memories together with programming designed to strengthen brothers and sisters’ ties. Our Family Connections are also designed to bring together the families of separated siblings to help families make connections that extend beyond our events. Our hope is that after these events, foster, adoptive and biological parents can work together more easily to bring together siblings for a meal, to watch each other’s sporting events and have vacations together. For our day events, separated siblings can attend without parents, with volunteers serving as chaperones. For our winter camp, parents are required to attend.
Are siblings placed together at these events?
Yes! We group our children by families so that siblings have the opportunity to spend the most time together possible participating in activities and eating meals together.
What are the qualifications and requirements for children to attend?
​Children of any age can attend these events (with those under eight attending with a parent or guardian). They must be mobile, capable of benefiting from experiences with structured support, able to listen and follow simple directions, communicate adequately to meet their interests and needs, manage basic self-care skills such as eating and using the toilet, do not need significant medical or behavioral support (do not exhibit significant behavioral or aggression traits, do not need individual nursing support to manage health needs). Children should enjoy outdoor and group activities.
Can children who are adopted attend these events?
Yes! Children who are adopted. but impacted by sibling separation are welcome to attend our events with their separated siblings.
What about persons with specific dietary needs?
The application and medical forms will allow you to inform of us of any special dietary needs.
How many volunteers will you have?
We have one volunteer for every two children at our events.
Where do attendees come from?
A large portion come from the greater metro Atlanta area, but we accept families from all over the state and surrounding states.
Do you provide transportation to these events?
​Parents or transporters are expected to transport children to events. Parents are invited to participate in these events with their children.
What if there is a medical emergency?
Each child must have a mandatory authorization signed that gives us permission to treat children in a medical emergency. For most events, parents are also involved, so parents would be responsible. If a child is attending without a guardian, individuals listed as emergency contacts on the Health and Emergency Form will be contacted prior to or while in route.
What are the arrangements at weekend camps?
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Children must attend with a guardian at our weekend camp. WIth the proper permission from case managers and other parents, siblings may stay with the family of a separated sibling if their foster, adoptive or biological parents cannot attend.
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Families stay in their own cabin at this camp. Each family will have a cabin (or a half of a cabin for smaller families that is divided by a wall) with a private bathroom and shower. Parents are responsible for bringing sheets, towels and toiletries for family members.
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Parents will get children ready in the morning and then bring them to the dining hall where they will eat together with other families. For portions of the dav, children will go with volunteers for activities while parents have the option to join their children for activities or attend activities for parents. Our schedule clearly defines when parents are responsible for their children and the times that our volunteers are responsible for children, giving parents an opportunity to relax!
How to get involved
What can I do to help?
There are numerous ways to support Siblings Forever. Donate. Sponsor. Attend a Fundraiser. Volunteer. Make a corporate donation. Sponsor an event. If you or your company are interested in our corporate sponsorships, please contact us directly. You can also share the word about what we do!