Anybody who’s heard kids talk about Camp Hope after attending knows how special the experience is for them, and, starting this weekend, the Guilford County Family Justice Center is putting on the 2022 camp for a new group of kids. The yearly summer camp offers a weeklong, day and night camp experience for children who’ve been affected by domestic violence.
Kids between the ages of 7 and 15 will attend the sixth annual Camp HOPE, which starts on Sunday, August 7 and runs through the week. During that time, children who’ve experienced family violence will meet others who’ve gone through similar experiences and, together, they’ll engage in activities such as horseback riding campfire talks, arts and crafts – as well as challenging activities meant to help them gain confidence, heal, and learn to trust others.
Guilford County Family Justice Center Director Catherine Johnson said this week that Camp HOPE provides kids who’ve witnessed family violence “a space to share, to know they aren’t alone, and to feel valued, seen, encouraged, and loved by other campers and by our staff and volunteers.”
Johnson said that, every year, she’s “amazed and inspired” by the “bravery and kindness” of the attendees.
“I can’t wait to see this year’s kids take on new challenges, form new friendships, and find healing in this tremendous shared camp experience,” Johnson said.
Camp HOPE, a county partnership with the YMCA Camp Weaver, is supported by volunteers, with funds coming from the Weaver Foundation and other community donors.
Guilford County held the first Camp HOPE in 2017 as one of ten sites nationwide selected by the Family Justice Center Alliance to launch Camp HOPE America.
The county’s Family Justice Center has other youth-centric programs as well throughout the year.
The center _ which is not a county department – was created to be a “one- stop” location for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and elder abuse. Guilford County has centers at two locations: 201 S. Greens St. in Greensboro and 505 E. Green Dr. in High Point.
Both locations use professionals from 15 different disciplines working together to provide safety, legal, social, and health services to people.
