Camp Harrison: Visionaries Open New YMCA Retreat in Wilkes County

On a sunny afternoon in May 2003, Asheville native Franklin Graham stood in an open-air chapel that had been named after his parents just several years prior, speaking to a crowd of nearly 300. On this day he came not to preach, but rather to mark the dedication of the Herring Ridge - a new 1,348-acre recreational retreat located in Wilkes County, just south of Wilkesboro, and founded by the YMCA of Greater Charlotte. A crowd of over 300 YMCA staff, dignitaries and volunteers from around the region gathered in the quiet shadows of the chapel to witness the monumental ceremony.

Amidst the backdrop of the site’s 130-acre lake, lush woods and rolling hillsides, attendees reflected on the 16-year journey that had brought them to this day, as they marked the site’s official opening. The sacrifices and work of so many would be realized that summer, as Camp Harrison ushered in its first season, welcoming hundreds of youth from across the Southeast. Described by Graham as a place where individuals could come to “build leadership skills, grow confidence and forge lifelong friendships,” the opening of the Herring Ridge site and its new co-ed resident camp mark a significant milestone in the association’s 130-year history.

A Vision is Born

In 1988, the late CEO of the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, Harry Brace, along with the board of directors for Camp Thunderbird, crafted a vision to develop a new YMCA recreational retreat that would serve families across the state and the region.

The leaders and their predecessors had witnessed decades of success from Camp Thunderbird, the association’s youth resident camp in Lake Wylie, South Carolina, which had been drawing campers from across the country since 1936. A success that was evident by the multitude of inspiring stories from youth who had conquered tribulations or uncovered skills they never knew possible to possess.

Having personally witnessed the powerful impact that a camp could have on the lives of these children, the leaders wanted to expand upon this resource, and conceived a new place that would serve as a retreat for both youth and adults, to help them grow in spirit, mind and body. With a vision born, Richard Vinroot, who was then serving as president of the YMCA of Greater Charlotte Metropolitan Board of Directors, appointed a committee comprised of leading area citizens, YMCA board members, staff, and volunteers to further explore the prospect of a new recreational retreat.

The committee delved into hours of tireless research with their sights set on the first major task – to outline basic program concepts and select a venue that would lend itself to their goals. Envisioning a retreat with activities that were different yet complementary to those at Camp Thunderbird, members agreed they needed a large setting rich in natural resources, but also easily accessible from Charlotte and other areas throughout the region. They called upon the additional expertise of camping consultants and visited existing camps across the country to help define the possibilities.

Defining their Vision

Steele Dewey III, current chair of the Herring Ridge Board of Directors, who also served on the original camping committee, recalls their findings clearly.

“Following two years of intense research, we determined our focus would be on residential and adventure camping for youth and families with an emphasis on environmental education. With Camp Thunderbird’s programs solely designed for youth and less environmentally focused, we determined that we needed a site with at least 1,000 acres that had an existing lake or at least had the ability to incorporate a lake.”

In August of 1990, members met with Paul Broyhill, visiting his family’s 3,500-acre site located off Highway 18 just south of Wilkesboro. The committee left the meeting encouraged by the property’s expansive and diverse terrain - a quiet retreat in the foothills of the mountains that was just a two-hour drive from Charlotte. Comparing other sites in the Carolinas to the Broyhill tract over the next several years, the committee concluded that the Broyhill site would best serve their vision, and in 1994 closed on the land.

Changing Landscape:

85-year old Reverend Montreat Howell, who has lived in the area all of his life, fondly recalls living and working for 10 years on what is now the Herring Ridge site, spending his days as a sharecropper on the Broyhill Farm. He reflected on the changing landscape in a recent visit to Herring Ridge.

“The area has changed quite a bit. My house (which has been gone for many years) used to be on the edge of what is now Lake Broyhill, and I recall raising wheat and corn on the hill where the chapel now stands. It is neat to think back, but I also think this is the most wonderful thing coming to the community. I am so glad to see the land being used for this purpose.”

The site has seen some of its most significant changes in the past five years, with the 130-acre lake incorporated and new facilities constructed, which were made possible by a major fundraising campaign launched by the Herring Ridge Board in 1996. Because of the board’s efforts and the generous gifts from Leonard and Rose Herring, Frank and Jan Harrison, the Broyhill family, as well as numerous corporations and foundations throughout the region, Herring Ridge will serve as one of the top YMCA recreational facilities in the Southeast.

Maintaining over 1,300 acres of its natural resources, the site today features a number of new facilities, including six duplex log cabins, an 8,700-square-foot dining hall, a health center and a challenge course with two climbing walls and side-by-side zip lines. The facilities will be used by youth at Camp Harrison, for family camping and other scheduled group retreats throughout the year.

“The site enhances the true beauty and quality of life available in Wilkes County,” said Linda Cheek, president of the Wilkes County Chamber of Commerce. “We look forward to the families and individuals that will come to take part in this unique adventure.”

Kick-off to Camp

In October 2003, Trueman Hoffmeister accepted the position as director of Camp Harrison at Herring Ridge, moving from Granby, Colorado, where he had served as director for Camp Chief Ouray, a 95 year-old YMCA affiliated co-ed resident camp located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Utilizing his expertise with camps that have expansive and varied terrain, Hoffmeister and his staff planned a diverse program schedule that incorporated a host of challenging activities focusing on the surrounding land and environment.

This past summer, girls and boys ages 7-16 attending Camp Harrison had the chance to build their skills and confidence levels through water activities such as kayaking, swimming and sailing. Hiking expeditions, rock climbing, challenge course work and environmental studies showed them how to appreciate their surroundings and the importance of teamwork. The youth also participated in daily devotionals, arts and crafts, drama, and sports such as soccer and touch football.

Sarah Brace, granddaughter of former YMCA CEO Harry Brace, who was one of the key visionaries for the project, was among the first campers to the site. Some of the things the 11-year old says she enjoyed the most were the water activities, the soccer, and just making lots of friends.

When asked about some of the things she took away from the camping experience, Sarah replied, “I learned that it is okay to be away from your home – you don’t have to be sad because you are away from your family. Camp means you are never bored and you make new friends that make you happy,” she said.

When asked what she thought her grandfather would say if he was here to see her at Herring Ridge, she said “I think it would definitely make him happy. He would enjoy Camp Harrison.”

While camp ended this past August, the Herring Ridge site is still brimming with activity. The site hosted family camping this past Labor Day weekend, and has booked a number of group retreats and other events.

Certainly, Harry’s work and that of all of those who made this project possible will continue to reap its rewards for years to come – a satisfaction that is captured by the smiling face of a child who, like Sarah, has just conquered something they never thought possible.

For more information about Camp Harrison and Herring Ridge, visit www.campharrison.org or call 1-800-514-1417.

by Elizabeth Bennett