Travis Johnson
Member
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We had a pretty good family day today. Being a Foster Parent we were privy to a day when Fort Knox and The Penobscot Narrows Observatory is opened to foster parents of Maine. We were fed lunch too, had a bunch politicians tell us how great we are, then had a bunch of things for the kids to do. For us that meant climbing around in the old granite fort for a few hours, but kite flying and other kids activities were there as well. It should be noted that Home Depot was there in force and every child got to have a small wooden tool box they could make and bring home thanks to their donations and volunteers.
Thanks Home Depot, that was truly benevolent.
As for a few facts and figures...on average 3200 foster kids are taken into care every year, and about every year 70% of those children end up being adopted by foster parents, reducing the overall number of kids going to group homes and other non-family related 'homes" significantly. So in short, things are improving for most of the children who enter 'the system" here.
So then it was on to the observatory. For people that don't know, this is one of 3 bridge observatories in the world, the only one in the Northern Hemisphere and the tallest in the world. A 50 second elevator ride brings you 42 stories up (420 feet) with 100 mile views. It was pretty cool to go up and see for sure.
I have pictures, but the YouTube Video I found does a better job of showing everything, including the views and the bridge itself. The first is of the Bridge, while the second video is of the fort.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mErWqXQgsQw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lvX72oADXw
Thanks Home Depot, that was truly benevolent.
As for a few facts and figures...on average 3200 foster kids are taken into care every year, and about every year 70% of those children end up being adopted by foster parents, reducing the overall number of kids going to group homes and other non-family related 'homes" significantly. So in short, things are improving for most of the children who enter 'the system" here.
So then it was on to the observatory. For people that don't know, this is one of 3 bridge observatories in the world, the only one in the Northern Hemisphere and the tallest in the world. A 50 second elevator ride brings you 42 stories up (420 feet) with 100 mile views. It was pretty cool to go up and see for sure.
I have pictures, but the YouTube Video I found does a better job of showing everything, including the views and the bridge itself. The first is of the Bridge, while the second video is of the fort.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mErWqXQgsQw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lvX72oADXw