Support Slocum Camp

The Planet is Our Classroom

Each summer, Slocum Camp at the George Watts Hill Demonstration Forest in Durham County becomes home to our forestry and fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology students. This 6-9 week immersive program, known as Summer Camp, offers an intensive, practical, full-time, residential experience for students to live, learn and work in an off-campus forest environment side-by-side with their professors. Here students gain invaluable field knowledge and undertake a myriad of scientific explorations. 

First utilized in 1936, Slocum Camp has grown to include three year-round cabins, 18 seasonal cabins, onsite classrooms, a workshop, storage areas, and more recently, a new kitchen and dining hall with ADA-compliant bathrooms. 

Three of the historic buildings at the camp were built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The Virginia pine Lodge is nearly 100 years old; other buildings were constructed in the mid-1960s to early 1980s. Due to safety and coding concerns, the Lodge has not been used since 2012.

We’re asking for alumni and friends to assist us as we renovate, restore and revitalize Slocum Camp and the historic Lodge.

Bringing New Life to Camp

For almost 90 years, Slocum Camp at Hill Forest has played a pivotal role in educating NC State foresters with real-world, hands-on, in-the-woods experiences. We are one of only a few forestry programs that require summer camp and one of the very few with our own dedicated camp. To keep this tradition thriving, we have embarked on a goal to make Slocum Camp a year-round facility that will:

• Provide quality facilities and experiences for current students to meet the demands of a competitive job market.
• Enhance recruitment efforts by opening up the camp to other forestry programs, NC State student groups, area schools, Scout troops, etc., to educate a wider audience about forestry and share opportunities and careers in natural resources.
• Generate revenue for continued upkeep and enhancements via rentals for special events, corporate retreats, conferences, family reunions, etc.

Your gift will help keep the College of Natural Resources a top destination for future leaders in natural resources and make Slocum Camp a year-round facility that serves our communities while sharing how our industries make the world a better place for all. Please check out the article New Campaign Hopes to Bring New Life to Forestry Summer Camp about the gift by alumni Ron and Rhett Bost.

Naming Opportunities

We are grateful for every donation received – no matter the size – and every gift will be recognized in some way. For those who wish to solidify their Summer Camp legacy or honor the memory of a particularly inspiring professor, classmate, friend or loved one, several naming opportunities are available. 

Classmates may wish to pool their resources to name a space, such as the Class of 1982 Cabin. The names of all alumni and friends participating in a naming will be permanently displayed in a prominent place in or near the named location.

The Lodge

• The Lodge Building $200,000 
• Rooms (4 of 5 available) $25,000 each

Housing

• Staff House (1 of 2 available) $50,000 each
• Cabins (8 of 18 available) $25,000 each

Buildings and Natural Features

• Reflecting Pool $50,000    
• Trails (10 available) $25,000 each
• West Classroom Building $100,000

Completed Namings

Thank you to the alumni and friends who have already taken steps to support Camp Slocum and create an enduring legacy by naming a facility, cabin or room in the Lodge.

• Dining Hall – J. Baxter Johnson Jr. Family Dining Hall
  In honor of J. Baxter Johnson Jr., Class of 1948, by his grandson Brady Johnson, Class of 1998.
• Great Room – R. Scott Wallinger Great Room
  Made possible by R. Scott Wallinger, forestry alumnus, Class of 1960.
• Porch Exterior – K.O. Summerville Porch
  In memory of Price M. and Addie Mae Summerville by K.O. Summerville, Class of 1959.
• Walking Bridge – Robert B. Jordan III Walking Bridge
  In memory of Robert Byrd Jordan III by Jordan Lumber & Supply Inc.
• Lodge Room No. 1 – Gemmer Room
  In memory of Dr. Tom Gemmer by Greg Ferguson, Class of 1977, and Teri Ferguson.
• Lodge Room No. 103 – George and Janice Smith Room
  Made possible by George Smith, Classes of 1963 and 1977, and Janice Smith.
• Staff House 33 – Joann and Joseph Cox Jr. Staff House
  Made possible by the generosity of Joann and Joseph Cox Jr.
• Cook’s Cabin – Cook and Jones Cabin
  In recognition of Sam Cook, Class of 1984.
• Faculty Cabin – George Slocum Cabin
  In memory of Teri Smith Ferguson and Graham Ferguson by Greg Ferguson, Class of 1977.
• Cabin 1 – Scarborough Family Cabin
  In honor of Rivers and Craven by Logan Scarborough, Class of 2010, and Ashley Scarborough, Class of 2010.
• Cabin 2 – Norris Family Cabin
  In honor of forestry alumni Tommy Norris, Class of 1970; Ryan Norris, Class of 1996; and Cory Norris, Class of 2024.
• Cabin 3 – James and Minnie Rackley Cabin
  In memory of James and Minnie Rackley by Frank Rackley, Class of 1973, and Nan Rackley.
• Cabin 4 – Ken Hines Cabin
  In honor of Dr. Lester Holley and Dr. Bob Kellison by Ken Hines, Class of 1979.
• Cabin 5 – Jason B. Kiker Cabin
  Made possible by the generosity of Holly Kiker, Class of 2002, and Jason Kiker, Class of 2000.
• Cabin 6 – Pam and Bob Collette Cabin
  Made possible by the generosity of Pam Collette and Bob Collette, Class of 1969.
• Cabin 7 – Jimmy Redmond Cabin
  In honor of John Redmond, Class of 1938; James Redmond, Class of 1960; and Jesse Redmond, Class of 2015, by Jimmy Redmond, Class of 1982.
• Cabin 8 – Bost Cabin
  Made possible by forestry alumni Ron Bost, Class of 1960, and Rhett Bost, Class of 1994.
• Cabin 17 – Annette and Stephen H. Conger Jr. Cabin
  Made possible by Annette Conger and Stephen H. Conger Jr., Class of 1978.
• Cabin 18 – James P. Pridgen Cabin
  In honor of James Pridgen, Class of 1960, by Canal Wood LLC.

Map of Slocum Camp

The Lodge Interior 

Need more information?

For questions or to discuss naming opportunities, contact Jonathan Hernandez at jherna34@ncsu.edu or 984-209-6234.