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'Camp Morty' Brings Foster Siblings Back Together

NORTH SALEM, N.Y. (CBS) ― It's a sad fact of life for thousands of children from abusive and neglectful homes: entering foster care often means separating from brothers and sisters.

This week, however, a lucky few are reuniting at a camp for disadvantaged kids.

Twelve-year-old Shantio is one of those lucky campers. She's ecstatic after reuniting with a brother she had never met.

"It was awesome. I never had seen him before, it was the first time," she excitedly told CBS 2.

Shantio and her brother are two of 40 children spending a week at Camp Morty in North Salem during its first ever "siblings session." All the children, separated from their siblings by the foster care system, are now together for a fun week of bonding at camp.

"When children are separated by foster care, it breaks the bonds they have," says Diane Sabater, a program administrator at the camp. "When they're not allowed to continue to be together they have more issues as adults, more issues creating relationships because their initial bonds have been broken."

CBS 2 caught up with a set of three brothers who were bonding nicely in their first experience together.

"It's awesome! We're never together that much, all three of us," said Patrick, one of the three.

Added Christopher, another member of sibling trio: "It's actually gonna be very, very fun, probably going to be the best time we've ever had actually."

In addition to bonding with their brothers and sisters, the campers spend a lot of time learning about Mother Nature, a big focus of life at Camp Morty.

"I hope they take away a real understanding of nature and how they relate to it," said Westchester County Executive Andy Spano.

Camp Morty is one of just a handful across the country working to reunite siblings in foster care. It's run jointly by Westchester County Social Services and Parks and Recreation.

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