Chameleon's Journey - Not Just a Kids Camp - A Parent Story
- Chameleon's Journey
- Mar 28
- 3 min read
By: Terra White
My story with Chameleon's Journey started in October of 2022.
My husband spent 5 months, 5 days and 5 hours in the hospital with a chronic illness before he passed away in February. My 1st instinct was survival. I had to figure out how I was going to do this thing called life all alone raising 3 kids. I immediately looked for groups my youngest child could join for support. Unfortunately, I live in an area that doesn’t offer anything to help kids deal with grief besides therapists. I came across Chameleon’s Journey during one of my impulsive google searches trying to figure how to make sure my kids would be ok. As soon as I saw this website I knew my daughter needed to be at this camp.
When camp weekend arrived, we packed up the car and drove the 3.5 hours to Camp Thunderbird. We were both nervous, but I knew it was going to be ok. My daughter was so quiet when we 1st arrived, and I could see the uneasiness in her eyes. I told her to be strong and told her I was going to the “parent camp.”
As I walked towards the cabin where the parents met, I watched a counselor go put their arm around her and guide her to her group. I instantly saw the love everyone there had for these campers.
The parent sessions were amazing! To be able to let go of the survival mode and the being strong for the kid’s mode was such a relief. I seriously physically felt the weight release off my shoulders. I was in a place where others knew how I felt. That was the 1st time I was able to grieve. I was able to just let go, and I also learned that everything I felt was normal and ok. This was a safe place with no judgement. I made friends, learned coping skills and even laughed. Chameleon’s Journey is not just a kids camp.
Chameleon’s Journey is not just a kids camp.
When I left the parent session on day 2 and walked over to the closing ceremony, I saw my daughter holding hands with another little girl and she smiled and waved. I knew I had found a place to help my daughter heal. The ceremony was beautiful and of course brought tears to my eyes.
As soon as we got to the luncheon, she couldn’t wait to introduce me to her new friends and she told me every single thing she did. She was over the moon with excitement.
Chameleon’s Journey is now talked about year-round at our house! She is obsessed! She is so impatient waiting for the next camp to come around. The only thing she complains about is that only the little kids get to canoe. That was her favorite activity.
Chameleon’s Journey has taught both of us how to grieve, that it’s ok to grieve and how to face our fears to just to name a few. We both look forward to camp every year.
Camp Chameleon is not just a camp for kids. It is a camp for families that have gone through the unimaginable. It is a place that helped us find the light at the end of the tunnel.
Upcoming Events for 2025:
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.
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