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Children’s Homes’ Wilderness Camp for Girls on Track

June 05, 2009

Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina (BCH) announced in May 2008 its intentions to expand services in the Moore County area by opening a wilderness camp to help at-risk girls. Today, development efforts are moving forward for Camp Duncan in Aberdeen which is modeled after the nonprofit’s Cameron Boys Camp located in the same county.

“For years we’ve anticipated creating a complement to our highly successful wilderness boys camp,” says BCH President Michael C. Blackwell. “The creation of a girls camp is the fulfillment of a long-held dream.”

To celebrate the achievement, the institution will hold a groundbreaking and picnic event on Saturday, June 13. It is an opportunity for supporters to see the camp property during a day of music and family activities.

BCH has helped boys and their families at Cameron Boys Camp since 1980. Located on 902 forested acres, the Boys Camp serves school-aged boys. Campers live outside year round in a highly structured, wilderness environment. Three staff members called Chiefs supervise each group of ten boys. The goal is to help boys and their families overcome the challenges and obstacles in their lives and reunify the household.

The forthcoming Camp Duncan is named for the late Haskell and Gay Duncan. The Aberdeen residents and longtime BCH supporters made their 576-acre residential property available for a girls camp through their charitable foundation.

“The Duncans saw firsthand how the specialized wilderness services offered at Cameron Boys Camp helped boys overcome immense personal and family challenges,” Blackwell said. “Like many others, they had a desire to see the lives of girls impacted in the same way.”

BCH will utilize the property’s existing facilities, including the Duncan home and two duplexes, for administrative offices, staff quarters, and other camp needs. Work is being done to prepare the facilities and property as churches and volunteers donate their time and resources.

Like Cameron Boys Camp, residential campsites for the different girls groups will be created within the wooded areas. BCH will employ qualified female counselors to serve as Chiefs for the girls. BCH tentatively plans to accept the first group of girls in the fall.

Potential residents for the camp will come from a variety of sources. Children can be referred by the Department of Social Services, Department of Juvenile Justice, the public school system, churches, and individuals. In fact, anyone who sees a need in their community can make a call of referral to BCH. The camp will serve girls in the Moore County area, but because of the unique nature of the wilderness camping service, BCH will accept girls from across the state.

BCH is in the middle of a campaign to raise the funding for start-up and operating costs. The Duncan Foundation awarded an initial $250,000 grant. The foundation has issued a challenge gift that will provide an additional $250,000 once the nonprofit raises $500,000.

“Meeting the funding goals set forth by the Duncan Foundation is vital,” Blackwell said. “Raising this financial support is essential to the completion and opening of Camp Duncan.”

Despite economic challenges, Blackwell is confident that BCH supporters and members of the Moore County community will step-up to meet financial goals.

“I tell people that supporting Camp Duncan is about investing in children’s lives,” Blackwell said. “It’s about helping a child rise above the obstacles she faces and achieving success. Camp Duncan is going to help foster that type of success for years to come.”

Since 1885, Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina has helped children and families. BCH began with one campus, Mills Home in Thomasville, but now provides services in 14 communities across the state.

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