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| Dan, Molly, and I (The Little Rock YAVs) |
We are definitely in the woods. There are lots of tress: sweet gum, black gum, pin oak, other oaks, mimosa, maples. Lots of insects, insects that bite. Chiggers, ticks, mosquitoes-all have already bitten me in places I wish they hadn't. I need to watch out for the snakes and spiders. There are several venomous varieties I'm not familiar with.
This camp does a lot. Where should I start? The beginning of this webinar explains a lot about Ferncliff in their emphasis on caring for God's creation and God's people.
Lets start with summer camp at Ferncliff:
During the summer they do all kinds of theme camps for kids in late elementary to high school including family camp (kids bring their parents to avoid homesickness), Night owl, yoga camp, weird science, forest and stream, day camps and much more. They have training camps for kids seeking to be councelors. Here's a video from last summer.
In the adventure section of camp there are tree houses and log cabins for folks to sleep in if they are too scared to camp outside. There is a working vegetable garden with goats, and chickens. Molly's Job is to get the garden scaled up. The largest straw bale-insulated building in the country is also there-I'll be working with some energy projects there. I imagine kids get an amazing experience trekking through that side of camp. I know I did!
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| Tree Houses with a fire pole exit |
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| The Eco-Center (my main workplace for the year) |
Ferncliff offers transportation to the day camps and "Camp to you" where staff visits your church or school for a day of camp activities. Learn more about specific camps at http://www.ferncliff.org/programs/summer-camp/.
My favorite are Ferncliff's special outreach camps:
Camp Alex- for children and youth affected by suicide. (Given my hesitancy to do another YAV year because I wanted some time to be with family after Gus' suicide I felt it a sign from above this camp shared my name.)
Aim-Hi- for hearing impaired youth
Our House- day programs for youth participating in Our House summer programs
Camp Noah-for children affected by recent tornadoes
Family Matters- for siblings separated by foster care (in partnership with First Pres Ft. Smith, DHS and Ferncliff)
They also host school groups affected by voilence and school shootings. The Labyrinth in front of the chapel was built by students from Jonesboro Westside, Columbine, Paducah, Bosnia and several other sites affected by school violence. There are rocks from all these places. It is powerful being in that space.
One small part of the year is for the three of us to explore how camp can be used as a tool for churches to engage the world in mission. From what I see just moving in, Ferncliff does an excellent job reaching out to kids if it's exposing them to nature for the first time, being the first place they can pet a goat, and pick fresh mint, or see a straw bale house. Or maybe it's providing a scenic environment surrounded by other kids suffering from a similar hardship as they are and fostering a sacred space for healing. I ask myself how can I serve the world with what I have, and I think I will learn a lot from this place this year.
What camps did you go to as a kid? What is one adventure or healing moment you had? leave a comment below.
May all the camps we visit bring adventure, healing, and the Love of God to all who enter.
Thanks for reading about my YAV year. Please consider supporting me this year by praying for me, sharing this blog with others, or sending money to support the program to cover my living expenses. I still need to raise about $2,000. A gift of any size, large or small will be greatly appreciated. If you'd like to give, please make checks payable to Ferncliff with "YAV Alex" in the memo line and mail to:
Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center
1720 Ferncliff Road
Little Rock, AR 72223
This is also my mailing address for the year.
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