Adopteen is The Park’s teen-centric programming, dedicated to celebrating teenaged and young adult adoptees as individuals and as a community, inspiring fellow adoptees and friends in the larger community around us, and taking pride in where we have been, where we are, and where we’re going. Founded in 2007, Adopteen was the young adult adoptee “culture”, focused on the young adult adoptee experience. 100% organized and led by adoptees, for adoptees, it’s not a stretch to say that Adopteen is the greatest thing since grilled cheese.
Along with its sister programs (AdopTween and Beyond Adopteen), Adopteen has grown to connect with and serve over 7,500 adoptees around the world through its varied programming. Providing adoptees ages 13-20 with valuable connections and life-affirming experiences through leadership, mentorship, service, and dialogue, we hope that you are able to find an Adopteen event that is perfect for you.
Explore opportunities offered throughout the year for audiences near and far. Please feel free to email adopteen@theparkcommunity.org if you have any questions.
Oh, the Places We’ve Been
Our Adopteen Camp-Conferences and Midpoint Retreats visit new states every year in an effort to make adoptee connection opportunities accessible for as many people as possible. In our 13 years of operation, Adopteen has coordinated 24 national events in 16 different states/provinces. We still have many new places left to visit and we will continue working to bring Adopteen to as many states, provinces, and countries as possible!
Here is a short list of our past event locations:
- Denver, CO (2008, 2009, 2010)
- Tupelo, MS (2011)
- Chesapeake, VA (2011)
- Atlanta, GA (2012)
- Denver, CO (2013)
- Fort Worth, TX (2014)
- Toledo, OH (2014)
- Orlando, FL (2015)
- Denver, CO (2015)
- San Diego, CA (2015)
- Conyers, GA (2016)
- Vancouver, BC (2016)
- Washington, D.C. (2016)
- Portland, OR (2017)
- Denver, CO (2017)
- Wilmington, NC (2017)
- Austin, TX (2018)
- Denver, CO (2018)
- Minneapolis, MN (2018)
- Conyers, GA (2019)
- Colorado Springs, CO (2019)
- Denver, CO (2021)
- Orlando, FL (2022)
- Haverford, PA (2022)
- Denver, CO (2022)
Apply to Serve on the Adopteen Leadership Committee
Our conferences and retreats are all coordinated and led by our incredible Adopteen Leadership Committee, the driving force behind all the magic that is Adopteen.
Adopteen Leadership Committee Expectations:
- Must be an adoptee or adult who has experienced foster care, 16 years old or older
- Must be able to commit to at least one full season of Leadership Committee work
- Passionate about building connections for adoptees of all ages
- Able to dedicate a maximum of 10 hrs/month to Committee work in the 3 months leading up to an event
- Must be a responsible, empowering, kind and open-minded peer for adoptees of all ages
- Big team player
- Passionate and dedicated to the overall mission, policies, and values of Adopteen
Learn More about Leadership Opportunities
Providing leadership development opportunities for adoptees is extremely important to our mission. Leadership provides the chance to be the person others can look to for guidance and assurance. Through leadership, you are able to gain confidence, develop important life skills, and dig deeper into your own story.
Learn more about Adopteen’s Leadership Opportunities:
- Chapter Coordination
- Virtual Engagements Committee