Behind the Scenes and In the Heart of It All: An All-About's Perspective at CJ
- Jun 8
- 3 min read
June is volunteer recruitment month for Chameleon's Journey. Over the next several weeks, we will hear from some of our beloved volunteers, learning their "why!" Are you interesting in serving as a volunteer at our Fall Overnight Grief Camp? Complete the volunteer application on the CJ website to learn more!
By: Chase Hardin, CJ Volunteer and "All-About" Co-Captain
When people think about volunteering at Chameleon’s Journey, they usually picture the counselors - the ones leading group discussions, sitting with campers, and helping kids process grief in real time.
That’s not my role. I’m an “All‑About.”
Which means I work behind the scenes - setting things up, solving problems, moving equipment, and making sure the entire weekend runs the way it’s supposed to. There are no spotlights and no formal group sessions - just a constant willingness to step in and do whatever needs to be done.
And yet, despite being in the background, I’ve never felt more connected to something so meaningful. When I reflect on my time as an All‑About, one idea keeps coming back to me—the true mission of the role:
We hold the structure so others can hold the space.
The counselors are doing incredibly important work - guiding campers through the difficult process of understanding their grief and learning how to cope with it. But that kind of work can only happen in the right environment - one that feels steady, organized, and safe. That’s where we come in.
We help create that foundation by quietly solving problems, keeping things on schedule, and stepping in wherever we’re needed to keep everything moving forward. When things run smoothly, counselors can stay fully present. And when campers feel that sense of structure and stability, they begin to feel safe enough to share.
In a space built on emotional vulnerability and healing, that sense of security isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.
Something else I’ve come to realize over the years is the quiet importance of men simply being present in a space like this.
Many of the kids at camp are grieving the loss of a father, grandfather, or another male role model. Others may not have had consistent, positive male support in their lives at all.
So even from a behind‑the‑scenes role, your presence as a man matters more than you might think.
It shows up in the small moments - in a quick game of catch, a shared laugh, or helping them roll up their sleeping bag. It’s in a brief conversation in passing, or simply being a steady, calm presence in the middle of a busy day.
Those moments may feel simple, but to a child, they can mean something deeper.
Because what they’re seeing isn’t just someone volunteering.
They’re seeing an example.
And for a child navigating grief, that kind of example can stay with them far longer than we ever realize. Maybe they won’t remember your name. Maybe they won’t remember exactly what you did. But they’ll remember how they felt.
They’ll remember that someone showed up. That someone cared. That in one of the hardest moments of their lives… someone met them where they were and quietly reminded them that they were not alone.
And in the end, that’s what the “All-Abouts” are really about. Not being in the spotlight. Not having all the right words. But simply being part of something bigger than yourself - helping hold it together, so that someone else can begin to heal.
To learn more about Chameleon’s Journey Camp or VIA Health Partners, visit www.chameleonsjourney.org or www.viahp.org.
To learn more about Volunteering with VIA Health Partners, visit us at:
About VIA Health Partners
VIA Health Partners began as Hospice at Charlotte, the state’s first hospice, in 1978 and then operated under the name Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region (HPCCR) for decades before its name change to VIA Health Partners in 2023. Today VIA Health Partners serves 3,500 patients each day for hospice and palliative care services. Our service area encompasses 14 counties in North Carolina - Burke, Catawba, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Polk, Rutherford, Stanly, and Union. Its service area in South Carolina includes Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union, and York counties.
