Hello Again

A Page From Greg’s Sketchbook…

A sketch of Camp Albemarele from the master planning process

Camp Albemarle is the third master planning partnership between Lloyd Griffith and Greg Copeland. They worked together at Camp Becket in the 1980s and Camp Sea Gull from 1994 to 2002. After Lloyd and his wife Cille retired from their roles as directors of Sea Gull and Seafarer, Lloyd transitioned to the ministry at the First Presbyterian Church in New Bern, North Carolina. Having left one of the largest YMCA camps in the United States, they were able to successfully translate their experience to this small site along the bay. As this camp is in touch with the sea, Greg and Lloyd both see much potential and many possibilities in Camp Albemarle.

Established in 1953, Camp Albemarle is a year-round mission-driven center dedicated to serving children, youth, families, and adults of all faiths and denominations. Their mission is to provide safe, fun and meaningful activities that allow campers, families and adult guests to build relationships with peers, staff, and God. With 61 years of service, Camp Albemarle has reached 40,000 campers. With 700 connections to Christ each summer, Camp Albemarle is connecting in a big way. They are blessed with a wonderful site on the sea, which serves as the basis for their distinctive ministry.

Camp Albemarle is located on 29 acres on Bogue Sound, in Newport, North Carolina and is bordered by Highway 24 to the North. Two vacant parcels border the east (8.6 acres) and west (7.2 acres ) sides of the property, both consisting of heavily wooded areas with dense understory plants. The southern boundary includes over 1,125 linear feet of shoreline and the views across the sound extend 2.5 miles to Indian Beach and Emerald Isle.

Camp Albemarle includes 21 buildings used for operations, staff housing, camper housing, and programming. The pier, which should have been the original focal point of the camp, was severely damaged by hurricanes and needed to be totally rebuilt. The Master Plan proposes replacing several buildings in order to meet the development objectives. It is understood that although changes of this magnitude would be difficult, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to build facilities that will match the natural glory of the site and fulfill the mission of Camp Albemarle.

The key to the success of the Master Plan is the development and celebration of the waterfront. The most unique aspect of this site is the water. Salt-water based camps are rare throughout the country, making Camp Albemarle a very attractive site on a national level. It is essential that the waterfront program reflects this significance. This translates into the designing for a state-of-the-art pier, a diverse boating program, opportunities for fishing, aquatic studies, and travel across the sound to the many public resources on the islands. The plan maintains the natural beauty and spiritual significance of the Vesper Dell, the camp's outdoor chapel. 

The Master Plan is arranged so that the camper housing is in a continuously linear form, giving each cabin a prime view of the waterfront. Four other areas, also centered on the waterfront, have been further developed within the Master Plan, including a day camp area, land-based activities area, the waterfront area, and facility-based activities.

Camp Albemarle pier

The new pier was completed in 2009. The first element of the Adventure Course and Alpine Tower was added in 2012. The camp also has an extensive and technical tree-climbing program with 3,000 tree climbs per summer. Albemarle is currently working on developing the Day Camp Area.

Tips from Greg’s Sketchbook:

1. Put your best foot forward. In this case, that means using the water as a central focus for the camp’s Master Plan. 

2. It’s about relationships. When Greg first worked with Lloyd of on the Master Plan for Camp Becket, he had no idea that they would collaborate twice more.

3. Develop Potential. Lloyd and Greg could see the potential of “a camp in touch with the sea."

"We Need To Talk"

The Start of a Great Relationship…

A Page from Greg's Sketchbook

Domokur Architects has over 40 years of camp experience, with creative lead Greg Copeland leading the charge.  With years of experience and great relationships with camps across the country, we could all learn a thing or two from Greg!  I had the privilege of hearing about one particular encounter between Greg and Len McCandliss, former CEO of Sierra Health Foundation, that happened in March of 1999. The story goes something like this...

They were both attending the ACA West Conference and Len actually approached Greg -- he said, “We need to talk.”  His plan was to create a special needs camp on the land he had purchased near Nevada City, California, and he requested Greg’s evaluation of the site.  After carefully examining the area, Greg was extremely concerned about Len wanting to building on a wetland, as well as the fact that there was limited development space.

In February of 2000, Len contacted Greg once more and told him about another piece of land that he had purchased near Portola, California.  Len wanted another evaluation.  Despite the unfortunate condition of the last site, Greg thought that this site was promising.  He felt the 466 acres of land was beautiful and perfectly suited for a camp.  Greg only had one wistful comment: “I wish you could buy the adjoining land next to the area that we had identified as the best location for the camp.”  When Len asked why, Greg suggested that he would mirror the plan so that the dining hall overlooked the meadow.  Len’s reply was, “Well, you better get started!”  That moment marked the beginning of a new friendship.  With the master plan complete in 2001, and design work complete in 2002 by a local architecture firm, Grizzly Creek Ranch was able to officially open in 2003.

Since opening, Grizzly Creek Ranch has had the privilege of working with nonprofit organizations serving diverse populations, such as students, teachers, people with special needs, and children considered at risk for a variety of social and economic reasons.  In 2010, the Sierra Health Foundation partnered with Sierra Nevada Journeys to create year round outdoor education opportunities. This camp focuses on providing a unique camp experience while encouragement, support, and growth are highlighted.  It is a place where kids with special needs can just be kids -- a place where they can create their own everlasting memories.

Grizzly Creek Ranch Master Plan

Tips From Greg's Sketchbook:

1. It's about building relationships.  Master planning takes time.

2. Have the courage to reevaluate.  In 1999 Len had already purchased the land in Nevada City. Little did he know the success he would experience in 2003, nearly two hours away in Portola.

3. Be flexible in design. The original plan did not consider the adjacent land. Once the additional property was acquired, the plan was mirrored, resulting in a beautifully situated dining hall overlooking the meadow.