Local camp helps children through their trauma

A plethora of children and teenagers have endured the unthinkable. Camp Hope Chattanooga is a year-round program that provides care and counseling.

Located in Ocoee, Tennessee, the camp offers mentoring programs for kids ages 7 to 17 with troubled backgrounds, like abuse and family addiction.

Some staff have endured these difficult situations themselves. Michelle Howard, Hope Initiative Program Manager, says she knows "what it's like to be a child to have constant day in and day out." Her goal is to make Camp Hope a "safe space to share their feelings."

Camp Hope's focus is to help the kids face the bad they have experienced, while offering coping strategies through hands-on activities. The organization ultimately wants to give children hope for a brighter future.

Some of these campers have returned year after year and now shepherd other kids.

Camper turned counselor, Juan Felix, recalls his deep conversation with a counselor about "some struggles" while at Camp Hope. Felix believes this was a major "turning point" in his life. He was able to take back his life right before his senior year of high school.

Camp Hope has evolved over the years. The organization first started with 17 camps in 2020. Today, it has grown to over 80 campers. None of this would be possible without passionate volunteers and staff.

Camp Hope's mission is simple: "generational cycles are broken, and voices are heard. Most importantly, hope is given and carried through our community."