Warrior Family Camp at Camp Southern Ground

STORIES OF IMPACT

The Leonard Family

The Leonard family were first drawn to Camp Southern Ground after hearing about it at a Zac Brown Band concert. What they found at camp was connection and a sense of belonging they had been searching for. From shared experiences to moments of real brotherhood, their time at Warrior Family Camp was a meaningful reset for the whole family. Read on as Army veteran, husband, and father Travis shares their experience in his own words.

What brought your family to Camp Southern Ground?
My family first learned about Camp Southern Ground at a Kenny Chesney concert. Uncle Kracker opened that night, followed by the Zac Brown Band, and then Kenny. During Zac Brown’s set, he invited a group of active duty service members on stage and played his song “Free” for them. Watching that moment — the gratitude, the respect, the brotherhood — hit me harder than I expected. I’ve carried a lot from my time in the Army, both the pride and the weight, and seeing that kind of recognition brought me to tears. Right after the song, Zac talked about his camp in Georgia for veterans, active duty military, and their families, and those navigating the transition back into civilian life. My wife and I looked at each other and knew we needed to be part of that. She sent in an application for Warrior Family Camp, and after speaking with Melissa and learning more, we felt like this was exactly the kind of reset our family needed. We came to Camp Southern Ground because we were looking for connection, understanding, and a place where my military experience — the good and the hard — could be shared openly with people who truly get it. We came because we wanted our son to see that other families walk this path too. And we came because, after years of carrying everything on my own, I needed a space where I could breathe again.

Was there a moment during camp that really stood out to you? A moment when you thought, “This is why we came”?
There was a moment during Warrior Family Camp when I felt something I hadn’t felt in years — brotherhood. Not the casual kind, but the real kind that’s built on shared experiences, unspoken understanding, and the feeling of being around people who “get it” without needing an explanation. We were sitting together as a group, talking openly about the transition from active duty back into civilian life, and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel like I had to translate my story or soften it. Everyone in that room understood the weight, the pride, and the struggle. I remember looking over at my wife and son and realizing they were seeing something they’d never fully seen before — the part of me that was forged in the Army, the part that carried both strength and scars. They were hearing other families talk about the same challenges, the same adjustments, the same invisible load. It made me feel less alone, and it made them feel less alone, too. That was the moment I thought, “This is why we came.” To reconnect. To breathe. To be understood. To let my family see that we’re not the only ones walking this path — and that there’s a community ready to walk it with us.

What changes or impact did you see in your child or family during or after your time at Camp?
One of the biggest impacts I saw in my family was understanding. For years, my “quirks” — the way I react, the way I think, the way I move through stress — probably looked like I was being rigid, intense, or even unreasonable. But the truth is, soldiers are wired differently. We triage. We adapt. We overcome. We don’t buckle or bend; we go straight into problem solving mode. That mindset kept me alive and made me a leader, but it can be confusing or frustrating for the people who love us. At Camp Southern Ground, my family finally saw that those traits weren’t me being difficult — they were part of the soldier in me. They heard other veterans and families describe the exact same reactions, the same habits, the same internal wiring. It clicked for them in a way that I had never been able to explain. Camp gave us a shared language. It gave my family context. It helped them see that the parts of me shaped by the Army weren’t flaws — they were experiences. And it helped me see that I don’t have to carry all of that alone.

What does Camp Southern Ground mean to your family today?
Camp Southern Ground is an experience our family will never forget. It’s more than a camp — it’s a place that pulls you away from the noise of everyday life and gives you the space to open up, reconnect, and breathe. But this camp isn’t just a nice place with activities. It feels like a fort — solid, intentional, and built with a level of care and purpose we haven’t seen anywhere else. Everything about it, from the facilities to the staff to the environment, makes you feel supported and safe. For us, Camp Southern Ground represents a reset. A place where we can step away from “home base,” slow down, and be fully present with each other. It’s where my family saw me in a new light, where we laughed, learned, and shared moments that still come up in conversation today. It remains a meaningful part of our journey — a reminder of connection, community, and the power of being surrounded by people who truly understand the military experience.

What would you tell another parent or family who is considering Camp Southern Ground?
I would tell any parent or family who’s considering Camp Southern Ground to go — without hesitation. If you’re a military family, you already carry more than most people will ever understand. This camp gives you a place to set some of that weight down. It’s a chance to step away from the pace of everyday life and reconnect with the people who matter most. The facilities, the staff, the environment… everything is designed to make you feel supported, understood, and safe. You don’t have to explain yourself here. You don’t have to translate your experiences or soften your story. You’re surrounded by people who get it. For families, it’s eye opening. My wife and son saw that some of my “quirks” weren’t me being difficult — they were part of the soldier in me. They heard other families describe the same things, and it helped all of us feel less alone. If you’re looking for connection, healing, understanding, or just a chance to breathe and reset, this camp gives you that. It’s an experience you’ll carry with you long after you leave. And it might be exactly what your family needs, even if you don’t realize it yet.

Is there anything else about your experience that you’d like to share?
One thing that really stood out to me was the staff — every single one of them. Even the youngest staff members carried themselves with a level of maturity, compassion, and genuine interest that you don’t see often. It felt like they were not only allowed to connect with us but encouraged to. And they did. Some of my favorite moments were the simple ones: conversations during walks, meals, and activities. Those small interactions made a big impact, especially for my son. He got to see adults — military and civilian — talking openly, listening, laughing, and supporting each other. That meant a lot to me. I’m grateful for the way Camp Southern Ground creates an environment where connection isn’t forced — it just happens. The staff made us feel seen, welcomed, and understood from the moment we arrived. It’s rare to find a place where you can show up exactly as you are and feel like you belong. This camp gave us that, and I’m truly thankful.