Recently, the children and youth living in our family-style cottages went on summer vacation with their Cottage Parents! For some of the children in our care, going away on a family vacation is a first time experience. One of our youth shared her experience of visiting the Smoky Mountains! She said, “Our vacation this summer was amazing! I kept telling my Cottage Parents to take me to the mountains. We stayed in a beautiful cabin on top of the mountains in Tennessee. My favorite part was going zip lining because I felt like I was flying through the trees. I would wake up in the morning and sit on the back porch of the cabin to see the sunrise. The sky was so pink and beautiful; I have never seen anything like it before! We took a hike into the mountains and got to see a tall waterfall. I took so many pictures I ran out of room on my phone. We also went to Dollywood and Country Splash. I rode on all the roller coasters and we even went on the Alpine Coaster, which is a rollercoaster built into the mountain. This summer was unforgettable and I’m so glad I got to see the mountains.” -Amy*, 17
*Names have been changed to protect the identities of the children and youth we serve