Family Care Adoption Services were delighted to host another post adoption family day at Belfast Zoo. Despite the poor weather conditions at times, our families were able to enjoy some quality time together and make the most the day.
The main objective of our post adoption gatherings is to provide adoptive families with the opportunity to meet each other in a fun, informal setting; for the adults to meet others who have also become parents by adoption and for the children to make friends with children like themselves.
Upon arrival, the families were warmly welcomed by our CEO Maggie McSorley along with experienced Family Care Staff Anne & Mary. The families were then invited to explore the Zoo at their own pace dodging rain showers and battling against the steep hill climb on their way to the top.
From Lions to Giraffes and Penguins to Scottish Wildcats each family was able to see the huge variety of animals who are at home in the Zoo, building up quite an appetite just in time for lunch.
The menu at the Zoo café consisted of a wide range of food from sausages and chips, chicken goujons, burgers and veggie burgers, all prepared especially for Family Care by the lovely Café staff, who opened up especially for us and our families.
After lunch it was time for some Zoo themed mask making and face painting, and Family Care would like to say a big thank you to Face Mates for coming along and being part of our event. All of the families were delighted with the activities and the children looked wonderful with their beautifully painted animal faces.
The day wrapped up around 3pm but not before Maggie made sure each child had an Easter Egg (which Maggie made sure to announce had to be opened at Easter and not on the way home in the car!)
Events like these emphasize the importance of building a supportive community with and for our adoptive families and the benefits to adopted children of meeting other children who are adopted too!
Family Care would like to thank all of our families who came along to enjoy a day at the Zoo, and we look forward to seeing everyone again for another event very soon.
