From crisis to community, then back to camp
Camp Grier enables hurricane relief, economic renewal and summer camp
When Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina in September 2024, leaving communities without power, water and access to basic services, Camp Grier in Old Fort, North Carolina stood out — not just for its resilience, but for its rapid, community-centered response. Within days, the camp transformed into a disaster relief hub, offering hot meals, showers, laundry services and shelter to hundreds of residents.
This extraordinary pivot wasn’t a matter of luck — it was the result of a decade-long transformation in Camp Grier’s governance and mission.
From polity to agility
Camp Grier’s ability to respond so nimbly to Hurricane Helene traces back to a pivotal decision in 2013 predicated on the financial necessity of its governing bodies. Originally owned and operated by three presbyteries — Charlotte, Salem and Western North Carolina — the camp was spun off into an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This move, led by a tri-presbytery task force co-chaired by the Rev. Paul Sink, gave Camp Grier the autonomy to act quickly without waiting for multiple mid council approvals.
According to Sink, a Camp Grier board member and outgoing stated clerk of Salem Presbytery, the presbyteries faced shrinking budgets and found it increasingly difficult to maintain responsibility for multiple camp properties. Jason McDougald, who became executive director of Camp Grier in 2013, noted that while the support of three presbyteries had benefits, there were governance challenges — bylaws required all three to vote on capital expenditures over $50,000 or on changes to vision or strategy.
From Presbyterian-owned to community-driven
The camp’s location makes it most accessible to churches in the Presbytery of Western North Carolina, with travel times ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 hours for Salem Presbytery churches and two hours for the Presbytery of Charlotte. As a Presbyterian-founded camp, Grier maintains ties with churches in all three presbyteries that host retreats, send campers and offer scholarships. While Salem and Charlotte presbyteries withdrew budget support within two years of incorporation, the Presbytery of Western North Carolina has continued funding through a designated fund for cabin renovation and scholarships.
PC(USA) ministers like Sink and the Rev. Robert Alexander of Davidson College Presbyterian Church serve as summer camp chaplains, a program coordinated by Jessi Stitt, a member of Black Mountain Presbyterian Church.
Sink said the shift to independent governance proved invaluable during the hurricane. “We would not have been able to make a $50,000 capital purchase in three days if we were still owned by three presbyteries,” he said, referring to the generator that restored water and power to the site. “The flexibility of being a standalone entity with a functioning and invested board gives you the capacity to make bold moves to serve the community.”
A multi-stream revenue model
Independence meant that Camp Grier needed to diversify revenue streams well beyond summer camp and retreats. McDougald envisioned positioning Old Fort as a hub for outdoor recreation by making the camp, which borders Pisgah National Forest, a year-round destination.
Under his leadership, the camp forged key partnerships. The G5 Trail Collective, launched with the U.S. Forest Service, began work on a 42-mile trail expansion in 2021, with support from Dogwood Health Trust. Partnering with People on the Move for Old Fort, a Black-led advocacy group, the project also sought to reconnect the local Black community to the forest through job creation.
To foster equitable economic growth, Grier joined with Eagle Market Street Development Corp., whose first project was a 2,500-square-foot business incubation hub in downtown Old Fort.
The G5 Trail Collective has since attracted millions in grants, especially after Hurricane Helene, as the Forest Service, which lost 10% of its workforce in 2025, now depends heavily on contractors for trail restoration and maintenance in areas damaged by flooding and erosion.
Camp Grier also acquired Tanawha Adventures and Pisgah Productions, race and event production companies that host trail running and mountain biking events that draw hundreds of participants and generate significant income.
A new partnership with McDowell Tech Community College will create student housing and offer training in culinary arts and outdoor maintenance.
McDougald has announced the upcoming Grier Village project — a $15 million development with a new dining hall, student housing and high-end rental cabins. Profits will be reinvested into scholarships, trail upkeep and community programs. The camp also acquired a 250-acre property in Fairview, North Carolina, for youth career exploration programs and day camps.
These ventures will not only sustain the camp financially but also allow it to keep summer camp fees affordable. Grier’s campers represent a diversity of socioeconomic, cultural, and urban or rural backgrounds, thanks to scholarship programs like the one provided by First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. In 2022, Camp Grier awarded 100 scholarships.
Hurricane Helene: a test of mission and structure
When the hurricane hit, Camp Grier’s infrastructure and community ties enabled a swift response. With its own well and water tank, the camp restored water service within two days. A generator from South Carolina powered the site, allowing staff to cook meals, offer showers and host displaced residents and emergency personnel.
Over 60 days, the camp served thousands of meals, provided hundreds of showers and laundry loads and became a lifeline for Old Fort. The camp’s race production arm organized an event that raised nearly $1 million, eventually growing to $1.8 million in relief funds. So far, funds have been distributed to more than 65 families through a community-led review board, with grants supporting everything from mortgage relief to infrastructure repair. As recovery in the area continues, Grier’s Tanawha Adventures has scheduled another event for Dec. 6 to continue to raise awareness and support for the community.
A model for the future
McDougald and the board understood early on that Camp Grier’s well-being was tied to Old Fort’s. “If the camp was going to thrive, Old Fort had to thrive,” Sink said. That philosophy has guided the camp’s expansion into economic development, affordable housing and conservation.
Camp Grier’s story is more than one of survival — it’s a blueprint for how faith-rooted organizations can adapt to meet modern challenges. By embracing entrepreneurial thinking, diversifying income and deepening community ties, Camp Grier has become a hub of resilience, inclusion and innovation.
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