Like many of us during our teen years, Christine Dove was just trying to figure herself out.   She was active in her church and although she admittedly lacked self confidence at the time, she enjoyed and participated in the performing arts like the choir and theater programs at her school.  During those critical developmental years of self discovery a horrific incident would occur that would interrupt her life. On April 20th, 1999 Christine would become a survivor of a mass school shooting. 

“It was a tremendously difficult time.  After the incident it was hard to function and I had a lot of fear and other emotions I didn’t know how to process.”  

Christine and many of her classmates were dealing with emotions that they couldn’t understand and they needed time and space for their recovery.  Then Christine met survivors from the school shooting in Jonesboro, Arkansas and was invited to attend the healing camps that were taking place at Ferncliff.  She came to that camp and every other healing camp at Ferncliff since. Christine says Ferncliff offered her a safe space to heal and connect with other students who knew exactly what she was going through.

“To know that other young people knew the feelings that I was having, and understood them, was so helpful for me to start moving forward.  They gave us the gift of coming here (Ferncliff) and being able to be young again.  To do those camp things, like make s’mores and sitting around the campfire, it was beautiful.”

Now Christine is a married mother of three kids and enjoys life to the fullest. She has a good career and is still involved in music and theater.  She’s thankful for Ferncliff and how it helped her heal.  This summer Ferncliff opened its doors once again to survivors of school shootings for an opportunity to heal and reflect.  Christine and others reunited for the first time in about 20 years.

“This is a place of healing, rest and reconnection.  Every time I am lucky enough to come back here, I just experience all of those feelings again.  I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I hadn’t come here,”

Ferncliff has been able to offer the healing camps like the ones Christine attended because of the gifts we receive from our donors.  Ferncliff continues to host healing camps and other outreach camps for kids, as well as operate a Disaster Assistance Center, a Nature Preschool and a Center for Healing and Restoration.  Your gifts ensure that Ferncliff remains a safe space for healing and connection for years to come.