Naming Opportunities Still Available to Support Slocum Camp Enhancements

July 16, 2025 Andrew Moore 4-min. read

College of Natural Resources alumni and friends have donated more than $800,000 to the Slocum Camp Hill Forest Enhancement Campaign through pledges, gifts and other forms of support. Their generosity will help the college provide quality facilities and learning experiences for decades to come.

“Making improvements at Slocum Camp has been a priority for the college for many years,” said Jennifer Piercy, assistant dean of philanthropy for the College of Natural Resources. “We are truly grateful to all those who have given to this campaign, and we hope others will join.”

Piercy added, “The success of our students depends on providing them with spaces that nurture their growth and provide hands-on experiences that prepare them to address real-world challenges.”

Slocum Camp, located at the George Watts Hill Demonstration Forest in Durham County, has long served as an outdoor classroom for College of Natural Resources students majoring in forest management and fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology.

Each summer, the camp becomes home to a 6-9 week hands-on learning program that allows students to gain invaluable field knowledge of prescribed burning, tree identification and other topics as they live, learn and work in an off-campus forest environment side-by-side with their professors.

While the facilities at Slocum Camp have been repaired and maintained over the years, a full renovation is needed to ensure it remains a premier location for hands-on learning experiences that support some of the nation’s top degree programs.

The Slocum Camp Hill Forest Enhancement Campaign was established with the goal of raising at least $1.5 million for the renovation, restoration and revitalization of the camp’s cabins, classrooms, trails and other facilities.

Rhett Bost ‘94 and Ron Bost ‘60 kicked off the campaign in 2023 by naming Cabin #8 the “Bost Cabin.” More than a dozen other alumni and friends have since joined the father-son duo to solidify their own legacy or to honor the memory of someone close to them.

By giving to the campaign, College of Natural Resources supporters are doing more than just funding facility improvements for students; they’re also helping the college carry out its land-grant mission of providing education, research and service to the public.

The improvements made at Slocum Camp will allow the college to open the site to other groups, enhancing outreach and recruitment efforts by educating a wider audience about forestry and careers in natural resources — and generating additional revenue through rentals.

Dining Hall – J. Baxter Johnson Jr. Family Dining Hall in honor of J. Baxter Johnson Jr. ’48 by Brady Johnson ’98.
Great Room – R. Scott Wallinger Great Room made possible by R. Scott Wallinger ’60.
Porch Exterior – K.O. Summerville Porch in memory of Price M. and Addie Mae Summerville by K.O. Summerville ’59.
Walking Bridge – Robert B. Jordan III Walking Bridge in memory of Robert Byrd Jordan III by Jordan Lumber and Supply Inc.
Lodge Room 1 – Gemmer Room in memory of Dr. Tom Gemmer by Greg Ferguson ’77 and Teri Ferguson.
Lodge Room 103 – George and Janice Smith Room made possible by George Smith ’77 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 ’84.
Faculty Cabin – George Slocum Cabin in memory of Teri Smith Ferguson and Graham Ferguson by Greg Ferguson ’77.
Cabin 1 – Scarborough Family Cabin in honor of Rivers and Craven by Logan Scarborough ’10 and Ashley Scarborough ’10.
Cabin 2 – Norris Family Cabin in honor of Tommy Norris ’70, Ryan Norris ’96 and Cory Norris ’24.
Cabin 3 – James and Minnie Rackley Cabin in memory of James and Minnie Rackley by Frank Rackley ’73 and Nan Rackley.
Cabin 4 – Ken Hines Cabin in honor of Lester Holley and Bob Kellison by Ken Hines ’79.
Cabin 5 – Jason B. Kiker Cabin made possible by the generosity of Holly Kiker ’02 and Jason Kiker ’00.
Cabin 6 – Pam and Bob Collette Cabin made possible by the generosity of Pam Collette and Bob Collette ’69.
Cabin 7 – Jimmy Redmond Cabin in honor of John Redmond ’38, James Redmond ’60 and Jesse Redmond ’15 by Jimmy Redmond ’82.
Cabin 8 – Bost Cabin made possible by Ron Bost ’60 and Rhett Bost ’94.
Cabin 17 – Annette and Stephen H. Conger Jr. Cabin made possible by Annette Conger and Stephen H. Conger Jr. ’78.
Cabin 18 – James P. Pridgen Cabin in honor of James Pridgen ’60 by Canal Wood LLC.

Make an Impact

You can join the Bost family and other supporters by making philanthropic gifts to the Slocum Camp Hill Forest Enhancement Fund. Naming opportunities are still available for buildings, trails and other facilities at the camp.

Alumni and friends wishing to support our goal may pool their resources to name a space. The names of those making the gift, or those they would like recognized, will be permanently displayed in a prominent place in or near the named location.

Below is a list of the naming opportunities still available:

Historic Lodge Exterior ($200,000)
Lodge Rooms (2 of 4 available) ($25,000 per room)
Lodge Room (1 of 1 available) ($50,000)
Staff House (1 of 2 available) ($50,000)
Cabins (8 of 18 available) ($25,000 per cabin)
Research Pond (1 of 1 available) ($50,000)
Trails (10 available) ($25,000 per trail)
Classroom Building (1 of 1 available) ($100,000)

For questions or to discuss naming opportunities, contact Jonathan Hernandez, the college’s assistant director of philanthropy, at jherna34@ncsu.edu or 984-209-6234.