Foster parenting is a journey filled with both extraordinary joys and significant challenges. It requires perseverance, compassion, and a willingness to keep showing up for children who need stability, safety, and hope. That’s why EmberHope was honored to host Camp Hope: Reignite Your Spark, a day dedicated to encouraging, equipping, and celebrating the foster families who make such a profound difference in the lives of children across our community.
Hosted at the beautiful College Hill United Methodist Church in Wichita, Camp Hope brought foster parents together for a day of learning, connection, inspiration, and fun. Through engaging speakers, breakout sessions, meaningful conversations, and camp-themed activities, attendees were reminded that they are not alone on this journey.
Equipping, Encouraging, and Honoring Foster Families
According to Bill Williams, Director of Recruitment for EmberHope Youthville, the vision for Camp Hope was simple yet powerful.
“Foster parents give sacrificially all year,” Williams shared. “I wanted the conference to do three things: Equip them, Encourage them, and Honor them. Equip foster parents to be the best foster parents they can be. Encourage them in their role, so they are inspired to continue serving children who desperately need them. And finally, honor them for pouring into children 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
While Foster Parent Appreciation Month is celebrated each May, Camp Hope was designed to be much more than an appreciation event. Marty Helget, Vice President of Foster Care at EmberHope Youthville, explained that the goal was to create a space where foster parents could genuinely connect with one another while also gaining practical tools and support.
“We wanted to go deeper than just a traditional appreciation event,” Helget said. “It was our vision to create a time and space for foster parents to genuinely connect with one another as well as with EmberHope staff in order to create a more robust network of support.”
In addition to fostering connection, the conference offered relevant learning opportunities and training hour credits, helping families continue to grow in their roles as caregivers.
Reconnecting to the “Why”
This year’s theme, Reignite Your Spark, was intentionally chosen to reflect the realities of foster parenting.
“If there’s one thing camp teaches us, it’s that the best adventures aren’t always the easiest ones,” Williams shared. “There are unexpected trails, surprise weather, and moments when you’re pretty sure the map is upside down. Foster parenting can feel a lot like that.”
He went on to describe foster parents as “the steady campfires in the lives of children who need warmth, safety, and hope.”
For Helget, the theme was about helping families reconnect with the motivations that first led them to foster.
“There’s no one typical journey for a family deciding to foster and/or adopt,” he explained. “We landed on ‘Reignite Your Spark’ in hopes of reconnecting conference attendees with those ‘why’s’ that brought them into the fostering world in the first place.”
His campfire analogy resonated throughout the day.
“Fires don’t just burn on their own,” Helget said. “They need to be fed. They need to be tended. And when they’re about to burn out, sometimes you have to dig deep down in the pit to find that one little ember that can get it roaring once again. Hopefully, this conference was able to help in that regard.”
Learning, Connecting, and Growing Together
One of the most valuable aspects of Camp Hope was the opportunity for foster families to connect with others who understand the unique challenges and rewards of the journey.
“Like iron sharpens iron, foster parents will be stronger, more effective, more equipped, and better connected with other families when they engage in spaces like Camp Hope,” Williams shared. “By gathering together, we grow together as we encourage and inspire each other.”
Throughout the day, attendees participated in breakout sessions, heard from dynamic speakers, and connected with fellow foster families.
Helget noted that some of the most meaningful moments were often the simplest.
“I personally felt reignited with every smile I saw and laugh I heard,” he said. “Simple things like observing two families introducing themselves to one another and then sharing experiences.”
He also reflected on the engagement of attendees throughout the presentations, describing the head nods, smiles, affirmations, and conversations that demonstrated how deeply the content resonated.
The conference featured a diverse lineup of speakers and topics designed to balance self-care, practical skill-building, and shared experiences. Attendees heard from keynote speakers Kristi Shaw and Yusef Marshall, whose messages challenged and inspired foster families while reinforcing the lasting impact one caring adult can have in a child’s life.
Support Beyond the Conference
One of the key messages woven throughout Camp Hope was that foster parents are never expected to do this work alone.
“When you make that commitment to take the leap into foster care, you will not be on an island,” Helget said. “You are going to have an extensive network of support and knowledge that can walk with you through just about any experience—and we have a lot of fun too.”
Whether through training opportunities, support groups, staff relationships, or events like Camp Hope, EmberHope remains committed to walking alongside foster families every step of the way.
The conference also highlighted the importance of continued learning and encouragement.
“Days like this are important as they add tools to our chest,” Helget shared. “There will be times we need to let someone else tap in and give us a break. There may be times when we recall something that one presenter said in a training. And maybe there will be a time where we just need to hear that we’re not alone and that we’re doing all right. Hopefully Camp Hope was able to feed all three of those flames.”
Looking Ahead
As the day came to a close, one thing was abundantly clear: foster parents continue to show incredible dedication, resilience, and love for the children entrusted to their care.
“I am grateful for the commitment and perseverance of foster parents,” Williams said. “They give when they often get little or nothing in return. They know what is important and do what it takes because kids matter.”
Helget echoed that gratitude while also looking toward the future.
“It brightens my day to see us all in the same place celebrating one another,” he shared. “We’re bringing back quarterly family nights filled with food, fun, and games, so stay tuned for that. Next year’s conference will be part of our 100-year anniversary celebration, so expect even bigger and better.”
Thank You
EmberHope extends heartfelt thanks to every foster parent who attended Camp Hope, as well as those who continue to serve children and families every day. We are also grateful to our speakers, community partners, childcare staff, TBRI practitioners, volunteers, recruiters, trainers, foster care staff, leadership teams, and the many individuals who helped bring this event to life.
Together, we are building a stronger community of support for children and families—and keeping the spark of hope burning bright.
“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others remains.” — Bill Williams
Become a Kansas Foster Parent Today
If Camp Hope reminded us of anything, it’s that one caring family can change the course of a child’s life. Every day, children across Kansas need safe, supportive homes where they can heal, grow, and thrive. If you’ve ever wondered whether fostering might be right for your family, we invite you to take the first step. Learn more about becoming a foster parent and discover how you can help ignite hope for a child in need. Visit our website to learn more!
