21+ Connection Weekend
August 7-10, 2026
This year Beyond Adopteen is heading to our neighbor up north, Canada! Get ready to explore Toronto through its diverse neighborhoods, global food scene, and endless adventures. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, explore, and celebrate together.Â
Sign up for a weekend of community and connection with fellow adoptees from around the country! Dive deep into valuable conversations and timely workshops while you take advantage of all that Toronto has to offer.
Registration Fee
Does not include lodging, transportation, or travel fees.
Early Bird closes May 24
Registration open until July 5!
Connection Weekends are a chance to get away for a long weekend to engage with fellow adoptees from around the country. They’re a brief intermission in life’s hustle and bustle and a fantastic way to check in, reflect, and reconnect with the adoptee community.
Every Connection Weekend promises to bring workshops that matter, conversations that inspire, and plenty of freedom to explore.
All activities are optional. Fill your weekend with what fuels you.
Start the weekend with good food and great people. The welcome dinner and mixer is your first chance to meet fellow attendees and get comfortable before the full program kicks off.
The weekend brings two adult adoptee focused workshops that let us delve deep into timely, valuable topics. Explore how adoptee representation influences identity and learn about the process of searching for birth parents.
Registration Fee includes two must-do Toronto attractions. For an additional cost, join us for an optional excursion to Niagara Falls the day before! Included excursions: Take advantage of all that the Toronto Islands have to offer and explore the Distillery District, Kensington Market, and Queen Street West.
Some of the best conversations happen over food and we're here to make that happen. Covered meals are indicated on the schedule.
Event workshops will all be hosted at the Hyatt Regency with the Welcome Dinner & Mixer held at Society Clubhouse.Â
Hyatt Regency Toronto has set aside a block of rooms for our group. However, please feel free to search and book any lodging accommodations that fit your needs and budget best. Listed below are some quick recommendations to start you off.Â
Hyatt Regency Toronto
Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, Hyatt Regency has set aside a block of rooms for participant convenience. Rooms include double queen rooms or single king rooms.
Address:
370 King St W
Toronto, ON M5V 1J9
If you choose to stay at the hotel, we will book your room for you and will collect payment along with registration. Pricing is as follows:
Optional: Add your name and contact information to this sheet if you are interested in coordinating accommodations with others.
For more spacious and flexible options, we suggest looking into vacation rental options in the Chicago area on Airbnb or VRBO. There are plenty of great choices in the city and surrounding neighborhoods. West Loop, River North, and Wicker Park are fun neighborhoods to explore!Â
Optional: Add your name and contact information to this sheet to find participants also looking to share housing for the weekend.
If you are looking for a more social, budget-friendly options, consider staying at a local hostel. Chicago has several well-rated hostels that offer both shared and private rooms in convenient locations for as low as $60/night.
If you’re looking to stay in the heart of the city, HI Chicago Hostel offers a prime downtown location. For a more laid-back neighborhood vibe, Stay 424 Hostel is a great option located just a bit further out in Wicker Park.
All transportation costs—before, during, and after the weekend—are on your own.
We recommend flying into the Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) or the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ). To get from either airport to downtown, there are many transportation options:
From Toronto Pearson Airport
From Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
Optional: Add your name and contact information to this sheet if you are interested in coordinating transportation with others.
Kick off the weekend the right way! Join us Friday night to share a meal, meet your fellow attendees, and settle into the Beyond Adopteen community. Whether you’re arriving knowing no one or reuniting with familiar faces, this is a welcoming space to ease into the weekend before the fun really begins.
How Adoptee Identity is Influenced by Representation
Judith Alexis Craig
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Birth Parent Search
BIOS
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Thursday, August 6, 2026
1:00 PM – 11:00 PM
$152
If you choose to go on this optional excursion, we will collect payment from you during registration! If you are unable to join us a day early, but would like to visit the falls, you are free to book your own day trip for Saturday or Sunday. If you would like to coordinate with others, feel free to add your name to this sheet.Â
What’s included:
*Please note: Meals are not included
If you choose to go on this optional excursion, we will collect payment from you during registration!Â
Accommodations:
You may book an additional night within our hotel room block, or arrange your own accommodations.
Arrival Information:
If you plan to attend, please schedule your travel to arrive in Toronto with enough time to reach the pickup location by 1 PM. Pickup will be near the hotel; the exact address and details will be shared with registered participants in advance. Transportation will depart promptly at 1:25 PM. If you arrive after departure, you will need to arrange your own transportation to Niagara Falls.
You will be provided with ponchos, but please wear clothing you don’t mind getting wet.
*Please note: Transportation vans are not wheelchair accessible. Please contact us with any accessibility questions.
Saturday afternoon is yours to explore! We’ll point you toward some of Toronto’s most beloved neighborhoods — think the Distillery District, Kensington Market, Queen Street West, and more — but feel free to wander wherever calls to you. No tickets, no agenda, just the city at your own pace.
Start your Sunday with a breath of fresh air. We’re heading to the Toronto Islands — just a short ferry ride from downtown — where you can explore scenic beaches and pathways, check out Centreville Amusement Park with its classic rides and games, or simply relax with a view of the lake and good company.
Don’t let the costs of registration keep you from accessing important adoptee community connections
Thanks to generous donors, we are able to provide financial assistance to attendees who are unable to afford the costs of attendance. Partial and full fee waivers are available!
Applications will be reviewed promptly, with respect and care. Please contact us with any questions.
Funds are distributed on a case-by-case basis.
I have been involved with Adopteen since 2020. I have attended 2 previous Beyond Adopteen Retreats. Being involved with Beyond Adopteen has given me a greater adoptee community from across the USA and Canada.
I received my undergraduate degree in Communication from the University of Dayton in 2013. I am currently working on my Master’s Degree in Communication. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, exercising, watching and analyzing movies, and playing with my cat.
Hello! My name is AnnaLee (not Anna) and I am originally from Taizhou, China. I first became involved with Adopteen’s local chapter meet-ups. Since then I have connected to fellow adoptees through other local groups. I’m excited to join the Beyond Adopteen committee as I have loved joining a community full of people from a similar background.
I currently work in FinTech and am always happy to chat if you need help with anything! In my free time you can find me riding horses, running, crafting, hiking, and traveling!
Hello! My name is Lara Chunko. I was adopted from Hunan, China, and I currently live in San Diego. I’ve been to the 2016 Adopteen Midpoint Retreat, 2024 Beyond Adopteen, and 2025 Grand Heritage Tour events and I loved them. In my free time, I enjoy dancing, reading, or watching tv. I’m looking forward to contributing to this amazing community!
By day, I work in digital advertising as a product researcher, developer, and manager—building platform features, analyzing online behavior, and helping clients use data to make smarter ad decisions. Whether it’s through Python scripts or strategic insights, my goal is to improve ad performance and make sure every dollar is spent reaching the right audience.
Outside of work, I’m a passionate dancer and instructor, specializing in hip hop and heels with roots in ballet and jazz. I perform regularly and teach weekly classes focused on both technique and expression.
I am excited to be on the 2025 Beyond Adopteen committee this year! Building space that supports self-discovery, community bonding, and real-life skill-building is something deeply meaningful to me as part of the adoptee community.
Hey everyone! My name is Zoe and I have been involved w/ Adopteen since the Midpoint Conference in 2014. I was adopted from Guangxi Province, China and 11 months old and grew up in Texas with a single mom. I am a current graduate student at the University of Michigan School of Social Work and recently came back from a year in Taiwan with the Fulbright Program. Before that, I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Psychology and minors in Math and Chinese. I am also currently interning at an outpatient treatment program for adolescents!Â
In my free time, I enjoy watching shows and movies, hanging out with friends, crocheting, dancing, and playing with my cat. I am so excited to be back to help plan my second Beyond Adopteen Retreat and look forward to having an amazing retreat!
Yes! Accommodations are entirely up to you. Please select the type that best fits your comfort and schedule.
Absolutely! Our “build your own adventure” schedule is designed so you can participate in the sessions that feel most meaningful to you. Join what fits your comfort level and personal schedule.
If your schedule only allows you to attend for one or two days, that’s totally fine—come for what you can!
Please note: The registration fee covers all listed activities. Choosing not to attend certain sessions does not reduce the registration cost.
Our refund policy is as follows:
**If a participant is unable to attend due to any unforeseen emergency or distress before or during the Connection Weekend, we will do our best to refund as much as possible.
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