Chameleon's Journey is excited to welcome campers ages 7-17. We have set this age range based upon cognitive and emotional ability to process and participate in a group setting while adapting and creating curriculum that meets the specific needs of our campers. We are unfortunately not able to accommodate younger siblings but will gladly welcome them to our program following their 7th birthday.

Due to the incredibly generosity of our donors and sponsors, highlighted by the commitment of VIA Health Partners to financially invest in bereavement services, we are honored to offer Chameleon's Journey free of charge to all accepted campers. Thank you to the countless volunteers that provide their time to invest in our campers.

Our lead counselors are trained, clinical staff from VIA Health Partners, formerly Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte Region, or other counseling practices within the Charlotte area. We are assisted by longtime friends of CJ, former campers who now serve as Junior Counselors and volunteers from different walks of life who have skill sets in working with students in a compassionate setting. All volunteers are carefully vetted with background checks on record and receive yearly training in our curriculum and counseling methods.

Yes, we have special programming just for you! At our Spring Camp, Parents/ Guardians are invited to attend a session from 8:45 AM – 10:30 AM. Registration for this session is not required. Simply stick around after dropping off your camper(s) for a meaningful time of processing and conversation with our trained grief counselors in a group setting. We will provide valuable resources and tools to better equip you in your journey of grief with your children/students. At Fall Overnight Camp, sessions are held on both Saturday and Sunday morning, providing a chance to experience what your children/students are learning. In addition, you will be given an opportunity to explore your own feelings in a safe and loving environment, leaning into others for support and care. We look forward to this time with you!

Every part of our camp experience is intentionally crafted to meet the needs of our campers while making the most of the 30 or so hours we have together in a traditional setting. Part of the bonding and conversation that leads to deeper understanding and connection happens during our evening fellowship and night cabins. We encourage the fostering of these conversations and team building within the group by restricting parents/guardians both during our day activities and in our night cabins. However, we gladly welcome all parents/guardians/families to join us for our closing celebration on Sunday morning to see what we have learned and how we have grown!

We do not currently provide transportation to or from CJ at Camp Thunderbird. If transportation is a hardship, please call our office and speak to our Camp Director.

Campers are invited to take part in a curriculum that stresses group activity and individual processing while engaging our minds and feelings through hands-on learning and fun!! We have created a program that allows open space for the student who can't sit still to the camper who needs some time to get comfortable to speak. Campers will alternate between programming that is activity-based like yoga, zip-lining and group games to more thoughtful times in art, small group conversation and wrap-up sessions. A day at camp would not be complete without a campfire, memorial service and evening party!

Each camper will be placed in a small group with other students who are about his/her same age. We try to keep these groups smaller than 15 participants with the younger groups having a higher staff:camper ratio to meet their varied needs.