A crisp, clear winter evening welcomed more than 200 Idaho foster, kinship, and adoptive family members to Eagle Island State Park on Jan. 24 for Fostering Family Adventures, an event that paired outdoor fun with connection, learning, and reflection.
After nearly a week of socked-in weather in the Treasure Valley, the skies cleared just in time. As the sun dipped low, golden light spilled across the park, casting long shadows over the snow while children zipped down the sledding hill, laughing and cheering.
Nearby, families gathered around fire pits, roasting marshmallows, sipping hot chocolate, and warming their hands as the temperature dropped and the stars began to appear.
The evening brought families together for snow tubing, s’mores, hot chocolate, coloring activities, winter-themed history stations tied to America’s 250th anniversary, and the Junior Ranger program led by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.
“Events like this create space for children and caregivers to just be families,” said DHW Family and Community Partnerships Administrator Laura Denner. “When kids feel joy, safety, and belonging, it reinforces why community support for foster and kinship families matters so much.”
The winter setting offered more than recreation. History-focused activities encouraged curiosity and conversation, weaving learning into the evening alongside sled tracks and sticky fingers from marshmallows.
Fostering Family Adventures is a cooperative effort led by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Health and Welfare, with key financial and logistical support from Idaho Business for the Outdoors.
Additional partners for the Eagle Island event included Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Cabela’s, the Idaho State Historical Society, Capital City Kiwanis, Gateway Parks & Trails, and other local contributors.
Idaho needs foster parents
Idaho continues to need foster families willing to provide safe, supportive homes for children. Those interested in fostering can learn more by calling 211 or visiting the Department of Health and Welfare’s foster care webpage. Even providing care for one child for one season can make a meaningful difference.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.
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