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By: Guilford County News

For an eighth year, the Guilford County Family Justice Center (GCFJC) will host Camp HOPE America – North Carolina, Guilford County a national evidenced-based camping and mentoring program for children impacted by violence and abuse. Camp HOPE’s vision is to break the generational outcomes of domestic violence through team building, evidence-informed programming, and high adventure, challenge-by-choice activities.

Approximately 85 youth are expected to participate in the six-day, five-night sleepover camp August 11-16 at the YMCA Camp Weaver, 4924 Tapawingo Trail in Greensboro.

Campers were hand-chosen by the center’s many partners. “Community partners including social workers, law enforcement, and therapists nominated children who we thought would greatly benefit from this type of experience,” said Catherine Johnson, Guilford County Family Justice Center Director. “This program has proven results. The last eight years of programming have shown positive outcomes for the young people who go to the camp and who participate in our year-round programming. It really changes the trajectory of their lives.”

This is the eighth year that the GCFJC will host Camp HOPE. The camp experience adheres to the requirements of Camp HOPE America, which is an affiliate program of the Alliance for HOPE International. Camp HOPE focuses on three key elements: 1) “Challenge by Choice” activities; 2) Affirmation and Praise for developing observed character traits; and 3) Themed, small group discussion and activities focused on helping children set goals and then pursue those goals.

Trained camp staff members and volunteers provide a 1:3 ratio of counselors to campers. This year, three campers will transition to the leadership role of Hope Counselor. “Camp counselors have a tremendous impact on our camper’s experiences, and this experience is life-changing for both the camper and counselor,” said Johnson. “HOPE counselors represent youth leaders from Guilford County high schools and North Carolina colleges and universities. They are the champions for youth attendees and aid immensely in our goal to end the cycle of violence and change the destinies of youth exposed to trauma.”

Funding for overnight camp was provided by corporate and community donations. Thus, all campers will participate without cost.

“We are proud to celebrate year eight of our impact in the lives of children particularly in the areas of self-esteem, emotional stability, confidence, and academic performance,” said Johnson. “We are on a journey to helping these young people become healthy, confident adults.”

Click here to view original article on Guilford County News. 

The post Guilford County Family Justice Center Offers Camp HOPE for Eighth Year appeared first on Camp HOPE America.

By: Danielle Saitta

The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office is the host of ‘Camp Hope’, a week-long sleep away camp experience for kids to work out their trauma and build a bond with each other and the sheriff’s office.

Mom, Stephanie Curtis says being away from home has helped her kids heal from a heartbreaking experience.

“It was a domestic violence situation with their father and we ended up getting a divorce, and the girls were going through a very hard time so I ended up putting them through counseling and I was told us they had a camp for them,” explained Curtis.

Curtis says it’s transformed her kids from that trauma.

“It was miraculous for them as far as facing their fears, anxiety

or just meeting new people as well as being in an environment without mommy,” said Curtis.

In 2021, the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office teamed up with the city’s family justice center to create the camp. At the time it was the first one in the country, lead by a sheriff’s office.

The camp is geared towards kids who have personally experienced trauma, primary and or secondary abuse.

“They’ve had to grow up a little faster than normal and had to deal with some things that a lot of people have never even had to deal with before,” explained Lt. Juan Serrano who runs the community affairs division at the sheriff’s office.

He says trauma and abuse can come in different forms.

‘Some of the trauma experiences are domestic violence, whether they are victims or witnesses,” said Serrano. “Sometimes it’s sexual assault, sometimes its assault so anything domestic inside the family home are some of the traumatic experiences they’ve been through,”

Sheriff Joe Baron says trauma from domestic violence isn’t something kids should face alone.

“It’s all about breaking the cycle of violence, breaking the cycle of domestic violence,” said Sheriff Baron. “We know that children who grow up in atmospheres of domestic violence are 9 times more likely to become domestic violence offenders themselves because they think that is what love is or victims themselves,”

At the end of camp, kids will walk away with more than just lifelong memories. Once they return home, the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office continues year-round mentoring with the same group.

Curtis says families who think the camp might benefit their child should go for it. She says it’s given hers all sorts of peace, inner peace, peace of mind, and a little peace and quiet for a week.

Click here to view original article on 3WTKR.

The post Norfolk Sheriff’s Office Helps Norfolk Kids Cope with Trauma appeared first on Camp HOPE America.

By: Kenny Beck

It has been seven months since Greensboro Police Sergeant Dale Nix was shot and killed while he was off duty at a convenience store in Colfax.

His funeral in January drew dignitaries from across the state and country. In May, he was recognized during a candlelight ceremony in Washington D.C. for fallen members of law enforcement. Throughout this time, his widow has remained intentionally out of the spotlight – until now.

Kelly Nix is speaking exclusively with WXII 12 News for the first time since the Dec. 30 incident. She said it is finally a little bit easier to talk about what happened that afternoon and also wants to thank everyone who has helped her during this excruciating time.

She said it does not feel like her husband has been gone for seven months.

“Sometimes it feels longer, and sometimes it feels like it was just the other day. I think about it every night, so I relive it every night,” Kelly Nix said. “I don’t think I processed it until about six months later. I think it was a shock, and just trying to get through day by day and minute by minute. Just that’s all we could do. We don’t think long-term around our house these days.”

She was the one who had to break the news to Sgt. Nix’s father, Eddie, over the phone. “I answered the phone, and she told me what had happened, and then I just totally lost it. I mean, I just lost it,” Eddie Nix said. “It couldn’t be possible. We got him off the streets. He was a detective. We have a second wonderful son who’s a firefighter, so you direct your worry that way because I was a firefighter for 30 years. So you start to look at it that way. Dale was safe now. We had Dale safe. And all the sudden, all the safety was gone.”

Kelly Nix described her husband’s funeral as a “blur” but said she still managed to find some comfort that day.

“When we pulled in (to the church), seeing everybody lined up and all the officers, all the family members, all the friends, the community, even driving over there, there were people lined in the road. It just, it made me think, you know, how great he was and you know, we knew it. Just seeing everybody else acknowledge him and acknowledge what he did really was touching,” Kelly Nix said.

The Nix family, along with a number of his law enforcement colleagues, made the trip to Washington, D.C., to see the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and attend the vigil nearby on the National Mall. Kelly Nix said seeing his name engraved there was one of the hardest things she had to see because it was so final.

Moving forward, both she and her father-in-law say the best thing the public can do is keep thinking of them and keep thinking of him.

“Me and my son, Will, talk about it, and when somebody comes up and just says ‘we’re thinking about you,’ that means more to us than anything because it means he’s not forgotten and people still support us, and it gives us some comfort,” Kelly Nix said.

“My biggest fear was this would go away in a few months, and people would forget him. But I’m a retired builder also, and I was at supply, building supply house, Lowe’s, not too long ago. And I gave her my ID, and she looked at it and said, ‘Nix, were you any kin to the officer that was lost?’ And I said, ‘he was my son.’ She went on to say all the stuff she’d heard about him,” Eddie Nix said.

Kelly Nix said her son, who recently turned 16 years old, has a great support system between his group of friends, and the Greensboro Police Department, whose officers regularly check in on him and take him out to lunch. She said he is also a great help to her because he is so much like his dad.

The Nix family gets together once a week for dinner to tell stories about him, laugh, and heal. As Eddie Nix puts it: He’s not gone – he’s just not here.

Both Kelly and Will Nix plan to be at registration for Camp HOPE, which runs from Aug. 11 to 16 in Greensboro. It’s a week-long program put on by the Family Justice Center for children who’ve experienced trauma. Sgt. Nix worked closely with the FJC during the final six years of his life and was a passionate supporter of Camp HOPE.

Click here to view original article on WXII 12.

The post Exclusive: Kelly Nix, Widow of Greensboro Sergeant, Gives First TV Interview Since his Death appeared first on Camp HOPE America.

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