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Community shelter group Camp Esri seeks support; county staffers connect fundraiser and grant help
Summary
Tim Zia, community corrections director, briefed commissioners on Camp Esri, a faith‑based residential camp serving children exposed to trauma; commissioners and staff discussed local fundraising and plans to pursue grant support for road improvements and a lodge on the property.
Tim Zia, director of community corrections, briefed the Berkeley County Commission on Camp Esri, a faith‑based residential camp on Panther Lane that provides week‑long programs for children referred primarily by law enforcement.
Zia described Camp Esri as a small program that runs single‑sex week‑long camps for 9–12 year‑olds with a high volunteer‑to‑child ratio and faith‑based programming. “I think there's extraordinary value in what they're doing at this camp,” Zia said after touring the property. He said the camp limits each session to about 10 children with at least one adult volunteer per child, operates with donated volunteer labor, and relies on networked law‑enforcement referrals from nearby Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Zia said the camp’s operator, Damon Albert, purchased the property roughly five years ago, lives on site, and has built a bunkhouse, pavilion and trails. Zia described activities, on‑site lodging and a lodge concept that would allow the camp to host trainings or conferences to generate long‑term revenue. He told the commission that the roadway (Panther Lane) back to the site is in poor condition and estimated a relatively modest cost to improve it.
County staff and community partners are coordinating local support: Zia said the Steely Foundation and a Bunker Hill restaurant (owner Brandon DeHaven) planned a fundraiser where proceeds from hot‑dog sales would be matched by the foundation; the restaurant’s goal was $10,000. Zia also said he intends to assist with a grant application to the West Virginia First Foundation to fund a road improvement and other needs.
Commissioners asked how children are referred and whether judicial referrals occur; Zia said referrals are primarily through law enforcement and that the program is still building relationships with other local agencies. No formal county action was required or taken; commissioners thanked Zia and encouraged public support for the fundraiser and outreach to the camp.
