Progress in Stokes County

You will find below, a copy of an article from today's Winston Salem Journal. It concerns Camp Sertoma and some very interesting and dynamic programs that are taking place there. I applaud the partners that are working to improve the lives of Stokes County residents and look forward to their continued success. If we can harness our energies and assets to work towards a common goal, much can be accomplished.


Camp Commotion: 4-H center viewed as way to boost Stokes' economy
By Lisa O'Donnell

JOURNAL REPORTER

The cabins are quiet, the trails are empty and the archery supplies have been packed up, but the Sertoma 4-H Educational Center, a place that most people call Camp Sertoma, continues to buzz with activity.

People with hand tools are building mountain-bike trails in the woods across the road; students are learning about air conditioners in former cabins; and inside the hundred-year-old lodge, members of the camp's staff and others are looking at how the camp can give the Stokes County economy a boost.

In years past, when the school year began, the camp would essentially close down. Keith Russell, the camp's director, wants to change that.

"We want this to be a conference retreat and training center," he said. "That's the end result we're looking for."

When Russell arrived two years ago, the camp was booked for two or three weekend retreats a year. He said he expects about 20 conferences this year and would like to double that number within the next few years. The summer programs will remain the camp's focus.

The folks at StokesCORE, a nonprofit community group devoted to revitalizing the local economy, share that goal. They see the camp as an untapped resource that has the potential to bring in money and put people to work.

"Very few people in the community are involved with Sertoma," said Tony McGee, the executive director of StokesCORE. "We see this as a valuable way of kick-starting the economy."

The camp sits on 900 wooded acres not far from Hanging Rock State Park. More than 100 years ago, tourists flocked here to soak in the mineral springs and kick back at a grand three-story hotel. The hotel still stands and now serves as the camp staff's office. StokesCORE also operates out of the old hotel, though it is independent of the camp.

The property belongs to N.C. State University, which also owns the state's four other 4-H camps. Facilities at Camp Sertoma include 10 cabins, a chapel, recreation hall, computer lab and swimming pool.

In October, the camp will close for several months while $1.6 million in upgrades are made to the kitchen, cabins and other facilities. The state is paying for the project, which is expected to be finished in April.

With the help of StokesCORE, Forsyth Technical Community College recently began offering classes at the camp. Classes, which include HVAC and electrical, are held in old cabins converted into classrooms. In return for using the space, students in those classes will put their new skills to work when renovations begin.

Russell said that the camp will serve as a "hands-on laboratory" for the students.

About 60 people are now taking college classes at the camp.

Sue Marion, the vice president of corporate and community education at Forsyth Tech, said that the classes were chosen with the Stokes County work force in mind.

"We saw this as a great opportunity for us to offer programs, especially the technical skills and trade program, to individuals who want to seek a new career or have been displaced and trying to upgrade their job," Marion said.

Stokes County is in Forsyth Tech's service area, so the college is always looking at ways to better serve the community. More classes are planned at the camp including welding, computer basics, masonry, carpentry and landscaping. Enrichment classes, such as nature photography, are also planned.

"I see a lot of possibilities for Sertoma, which I think is evident by the number of people who have enrolled," Marion said.

Another project involves building single-track mountain-bike trails on some of the property across the road from the main lodge. Workforce Development, a branch of the Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments, is using federal stimulus money to buy equipment and hire people to build the trails.

The trails will be professionally designed using standards set up by the International Mountain Bicycling Association, McGee said.

A crew has been building about 200 yards of trail a day. Eventually, the trail will be between 10 to 12 miles and include old farm roads. In conjunction with the trail building, the camp plans to make improvements to the Moore's Spring campground so that mountain bikers can set up a tent or park a camper.

"That's a regional draw," McGee said about the bike trails. "We see keeping that campground full."

■ Lisa O'Donnell can be reached at 727-7420 or at lodonnell@wsjournal.com. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------