What is Chameleon's Journey?
Follow along with our Chameleon friend to learn about his journey!
Our Journey begins with Chameleon, who loves changing colors and playing with his friends, especially his best friend!
They have the best time together and go on many adventures, but one day, Chameleon receives news that his best friend has died.
Chameleon is sad, he doesn't want to believe it's true that his best friend is gone.
All of a sudden, Chameleon cannot control his colors anymore...he used to have fun changing colors, but now he isn't able to control them...why is this happening? It is very confusing and scary for Chameleon. He needs to know why this is happening, so he begins a journey to find answers...
Chameleon turns RED and learns it is because he is angry..."but why am I angry?" Chameleon thought...
Chameleon turns BLUE next and learns it is because he is sad...
All of a sudden, Chameleon turns GREEN! Chameleon learns it is because he is jealous..."but why am I jealous?" Chameleon wondered...
Towards the end of his journey, Chameleon turns YELLOW and learns it is because he is happy!
"All my life I've been able to change my color when I want to, but ever since my friend died, I've been turning one color after another without even trying."
"When someone dies, we have lots of difficult and painful feelings. The feelings we have after someone dies are called "grief feelings." Grief can make us feel unhappy and out of control."
Through his journey, Chameleon learned there was absolutely nothing wrong with him, because it's normal to have lots of different feelings when we lose someone we care about. And when he was ready, he was able to see that life is full of joy and sorrow and everything in between and soon became a beautiful happy rainbow Chameleon; it just took time to heal, and in his own way.
~ Excerpts from "Chameleon's Journey,
The Tale of One Little Chameleon's Journey Through Grief"
The Camp
EXPERIENCE
A Typical Chameleon's Journey Weekend Schedule
Saturday
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM:
Arrival and Registration at Duke Pavilion.
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM:
Campers get to know their group and counselors, introductions, fellowship, and orientation to the weekend.
8:30 AM – 10:45 AM:
Optional Adult Group meets separately from campers. Adults leave at the conclusion of this session.
9:45 AM – 10:20 AM:
Welcome to CJ 2025!! Large group opening celebration for campers.
10:30 AM – 12:20 PM:
Activity Centers including Music Therapy, Group Therapy, Canoeing, Archery, Alpine Ropes Course and Service Project.
12:30 PM – 1:10 PM:
Lunch in the famous Camp Thunderbird Dining Hall
1:15 PM – 5:10 PM:
Activity Centers including Music Therapy, Group Therapy, Canoeing, Archery, Alpine Ropes Course and Service Project.
5:15 PM – 6:10 PM:
Recap Time in small groups and processing of the day.
6:15 PM – 6:55 PM:
Dinner in the Dining Hall.
7:00 PM – 7:50 PM:
Memorial Service prep time in small groups.
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM:
Memorial Service in the outdoor amphitheater.
9:00 PM – 10:00 PM:
CJ After Dark Party at Duke Pavilion.
10:00 PM:
Cabin time and settling down for the night.
7:00 AM:
Wake-up and pack-up the sleep cabins
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM:
Breakfast in the Dining Hall
8:50 AM – 10:45 AM:
Activity Centers including teaching/recap time and field games/inflatables
9:00 AM – 10:40 AM:
Optional Adult Group day 2.
10:45 AM – 11:40 AM:
Closing Ceremony in Recreation Hall.
11:45 AM – Noon:
Memorial Balloon Launch on the peninsula.
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM:
Lunch for all adults, campers, families and counselors in the Dining Hall.
1:15 PM:
Dismissal
Sunday
We hope you'll join us...
We understand that the needs of children and teens are unique when going through the grieving process. We help children and teens to understand these complex feelings, but more importantly, help them know they aren't alone by creating fun group settings and camp activities with peers their own age.
Upcoming Events
Sat, Apr 05YMCA Hemby Program CenterChameleon's Journey Spring Day Mini-CampApr 05, 2025, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PMYMCA Hemby Program Center, 9760 Happy Valley Dr, Charlotte, NC 28270, USASave the Date for Chameleon's Journey Spring Mini-Camp on Saturday, April 5, 2025! A free grief camp for children and adolescents ages 7 to 17. Registration opens Monday, March 3. To learn more about Chameleon's Journey, visit our website at www.chameleonsjourney.org.
Sat, Oct 11Camp Thunderbird in Lake Wylie, SCOct 11, 2025, 8:00 AM – Oct 12, 2025, 3:00 PMCamp Thunderbird in Lake Wylie, SC, 1 Thunderbird Ln, Lake Wylie, SC 29710, USAChameleon's Journey Overnight Grief Camp will be held October 11 - 12, 2025 at Camp Thunderbird in Lake Wylie, SC. Registration will open August 2025, online!- Sat, Oct 25Staunton Bridge Community CenterOct 25, 2025, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PMStaunton Bridge Community Center, 165 Staunton Bridge Rd, Greenville, SC 29611, USAChameleon's Journey Fall Day Camp will be held October 25, 2025 at Staunton Bridge Community Center. Registration will open August 2025, online!