John, born in 1992, is in the ninth grade. He considers himself to be an “outdoorsman” and would love to be able to live on a farm, orchard or home that has a lot of acreage for him to roam and explore. John likes to discover nature and is particularly interested in various bugs, snakes and frogs. John enjoys most outdoor activities including hiking, camping and fishing. He isn’t partial to extreme cold weather. John doesn’t mind the heat and loves to go swimming. One of his favorite things about his current home is that it has a swimming pool, and he is anxious to take full advantage of it in the summer months.

John likes all animals and would love to be in a home with pets that he could nurture. John takes horseback riding lessons. His pride is evident when he explains how at first the horse needed to be guided around by hand. Now, he rides the horse by himself. John shared that he likes to ride horses because they are nice and friendly.

John is shy when you first meet him. Quickly, his endearing smile and kind eyes begin to introduce you to who he is inside. Once John embarks on a topic that he enjoys, he is eager to open up and share his thoughts. John enjoys shopping, especially for bargains or video games. John has a great sense of humor and his own sense of style. He is also an avid ping-pong player and enjoys playing with Pokemon cards and his Game Boy.

John looks forward to meeting and growing with his forever family, as he is very excited about the prospect of being adopted. John needs a structured but loving and open-minded family that will help guide him on his journey to adulthood. John has occasional visits with his birth mother and would hope to continue this after he is adopted.

John is one of the 150 children currently in the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ care who are seeking an adoptive family. Based in Gardiner, A Family for ME is a nonprofit program that works in collaboration with DHHS to find foster and adoptive families for Maine children in care. For more information about John, foster parenting and-or the other children available for adoption, contact A Family for ME toll-free at 877-505-0545, or visit www.AFamilyForMe.org to see the Heart Gallery of photographs of some of the many children awaiting a “forever family.”