Youth Testimonials

The night before graduation last year and on graduation days this year we asked the camp youth to share with us what they thought of the camps. The teens participated enthusiastically. Their feedback was very encouraging. It confirmed that high quality support, opportunities, and rapport (SOAR) would make a big difference in the lives of middle-high school aged foster youth for whom SOAR is committed to serve. Here are some of the youth’s answers to our questions.

What did you learn that will help you the most this next year?

• Learn to love myself.
• That you are never alone and there is always a way to survive and be very successful.
• That even if you don’t see some interest in some things you should not just back away from it, give it a try…
• English and Math classes and stress relievers.
• The college info we got. And, how to give feedback.
• Planning and working as a team. Thinking outside the box.
• I learned to act my age because for a portion of the time I wasn't acting my age. I have a stronger flame now to pursue my goal.

Why would you recommend other foster youth attend the SOAR summer camp?

• It is a great experience and you learn a lot from it.
• Because its very fun, and you don’t have to worry about feeling different.
• I would recommend this to other foster youth because it is very helpful. It tells them they aren’t all alone.
• To join, because they will conquer their fears, meet more foster kids.
• Because you could really just not feel alone.
• It can open doors for them and us.
• It has many new experiences and fun people to share it with.

What was the best part of the week’s program for you? What made it “the best” for you?

• Meeting new people, I hope I will be very good friends with.
• What made this week “the best” week for me was being outside.
• Being with all my friends and laughing. Being able to express yourself anyway.
• Sailing today because it was really fun capsizing (purposely) – laughing and screaming out ……
• The Math Workshop because we got to make a video.
• My favorite part of SOAR was when we went to the ropes course. That was the best part because you could face your fears and it was really fun.
• One of my favorite parts of soar was the time we had to do whatever because we all got to hang out.

Where did the summer camp exceed your expectations?

• In having fun and meeting new people.
• The dorms, food, and activities.
• I never thought that I would get an early college experience so early and go so high in a tree.
• The summer camp exceeded by windsurfing, and all sorts of other activities. It was totally unexpected, and I like that.
• Most of it did.
• I would have to say the classes were pretty cool.
• Well I had lots of fun and more than last year.