Sophia and her family live in a very rural area of Washington County. As newcomers to the state, when they learned about Pine Tree Camp it felt like a perfect fit.
“We saw it as a great way for her to meet people and explore new things,” her mother, Jamie, recalled.
There was only one question: Would she feel comfortable staying overnight by herself for a week? She’d gone to a camp before and, at the time, didn’t want to stay without her parents.
“We talked about it and she said she would be fine,” Jamie continued. “I was so surprised that she stayed overnight. She absolutely loved it and when I picked her up she was already counting down to next summer.”
At camp, Sophia made new friends, participated in many activities and enjoyed helping out in the barn and spending time caring for the goats.
When she came home, her mother said “She seemed happy and content after spending the week around different people.”
In 2025, she deepened Sophia connection to camp by being the first ever Pine Tree Camper to have artwork featured on the annual fundraising holiday cards.
“She is passionate about drawing and art plays a big role in her life,” Jamie said. “She loves Pine Tree Camp, so this was very meaningful to her.”
The goal is for Sophia to explore independent living near her parents’ home and they see Pine Tree Camp being her home away from home every summer so she can stay connected with friends, explore new interests and be part of a larger community.
