Foster Care Kids Fishing Camps

Healing Waters: Fly Fishing Camps for Kids in Foster Care

Healing. Belonging. One cast at a time.

For the past seven years, we’ve been hosting kids fishing days for children in foster care. Last summer, with support from the MrBallen Foundation, we took a bold next step. We brought together a group of foster care kids for something even more meaningful than a single day on the water. It became four days of peace, connection, and freedom in the outdoors.

This year we hosted our second annual Fly Fishing Camp for Kids in Foster Care, and it was unforgettable.

Surrounded by volunteers and a licensed children’s therapist we call “Grandpa Kevin”, these kids spent the week:

  • Learning how to fly fish

  • Playing team-building games

  • Building trust during daily circle time

  • Laughing, connecting, and just being kids

Ending the week with a guided float on the Clackamas River, thanks to Water Time Outfitters

2025 Fishing Camp

Why It Matters

There are over 343,000 kids in foster care in the United States. Many have experienced trauma, instability, and deep loss. These camps are built around trauma-informed care, giving kids a safe place to rest, play, and begin to heal.

Even more alarming: 60% of child trafficking victims in the U.S. have spent time in foster care.

That’s why these camps matter. They’re not just fun. They’re trauma-informed spaces of prevention.

One of the tools we teach is called the ABC Method:

Aware — Notice what you’re feeling

Breathe — Slow down and stay present

Choose — Make a wise next step

This practice gives kids something they can use long after camp ends. It helps them pause, name their emotions, and respond instead of reacting.

If even one child, years from now, finds themselves in a risky or painful moment and remembers to pause, breathe, and choose, that would be a win. That would make all of this worth it.

Foster Care Kids Fishing Camp Is More Than Fishing

Our founder shares how it brings healing, hope, and belonging.

A Rod of Their Own

After camp this year, one quiet moment led to a new dream.

A returning camper told one of our staff,

“This was my second year. I go to the park near my house in downtown Portland and use a stick with string to pretend I’m fly fishing in the fountain.”

He didn’t have a rod, but he held on to the memory of camp and recreated it the only way he could.

That moment stayed with us.

We are now looking for a brand partner or committed donors to help make something special happen. Our goal is to give every kid a fly rod to take home after every camp.

Not just a keepsake, but a real tool.

Something they can use to keep fishing, keep learning, and keep growing.

It’s a reminder that they are seen. That they matter. That they are capable of so much more than they’ve been told.

Get Involved

Are you a local fishing guide or outfitter?
You can host a day on the water for kids in your area. We will help with coordination and support.

Interested in volunteering at a future camp?
You do not need to be an expert. Just bring compassion and a willingness to show up.

Want to sponsor gear or donate?
Your support helps us send every camper home with their very own fly rod.

There are foster kids in every city. Group homes in every community. Each one holds stories that need hope, healing, and a day outside with someone who believes in them.


Special Thanks

These camps are only possible because of generous people and partners who choose to show up.

  • EcoShuttle for providing transportation throughout the week

  • Water Time Outfitters for guiding an incredible final day on the river

  • MrBallen Foundation for helping fund our first camp and share its story

  • Our dedicated volunteers for creating a safe, joyful environment filled with care

The Story Behind Our Founder’s Fight for Foster Kids

Be Part Of The Solution to Stop Trafficking Before It Starts

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Every dollar fights upstream.