Live in Community. Serve with Purpose. Grow Through Experience.
Ferncliff’s Residential Volunteer Program is a year-long service opportunity for young adults who want to make a difference while gaining hands-on experience in ministry, outdoor education, hospitality, environmental stewardship, and nonprofit leadership.
Located just outside Little Rock, Arkansas, Ferncliff Camp & Conference Center has been welcoming young adults into meaningful service since 1937 through summer staff, internships, volunteer programs, and leadership opportunities. Today’s Residential Volunteer Program continues that tradition by inviting volunteers to live on-site, serve alongside experienced mentors, and become part of a caring community dedicated to serving others and caring for Creation.
Whether you’re taking a gap year, exploring a future career, discerning a call to ministry, or simply looking for a meaningful next step, a residential volunteer year at Ferncliff offers opportunities to learn new skills, build lasting relationships, and contribute to work that has a real impact.
What Is a Residential Volunteer?
Residential Volunteers live at Ferncliff for approximately one year while serving in one or more of our year-round ministries. Each volunteer receives on-site housing, a living stipend, mentorship, and practical experience while becoming an active member of the Ferncliff community.
Volunteer opportunities may include:
- Nature Preschool & Outdoor Education
- Summer Camp Programs
- Retreat & Conference Hospitality
- Mission & Outreach
- Disaster Assistance Center
- Sharing the Goods
- Farmstead & Creation Care
- Facilities & Site Stewardship
Placements are based on Ferncliff’s current needs as well as each volunteer’s interests, experience, and strengths.
Who Should Apply?
We’re looking for people who enjoy working with others, appreciate spending time outdoors, and want to grow through meaningful service. Residential Volunteers come from many different backgrounds, including former campers and counselors, recent college graduates, gap-year students, outdoor educators, and young adults exploring careers in education, nonprofit work, ministry, or environmental stewardship.
A willingness to learn, serve, and live in community is just as important as previous experience.
Interested in becoming a Residential Volunteer?
Complete our Interest Form and we’ll help you explore which opportunity is the best fit for you.
Express Your Interest
Why Ferncliff?
A year at Ferncliff is more than a volunteer position. It’s an opportunity to become part of a community where your work has purpose, your relationships matter, and your contributions make a lasting difference.
Here you’ll gain practical experience, work alongside experienced staff, explore new interests, and help support ministries that welcome thousands of campers, retreat guests, children, volunteers, and community partners each year.
Whether you’re teaching preschoolers in the forest, helping families experience camp, welcoming retreat groups, supporting disaster relief efforts, or caring for the land, you’ll be part of something larger than yourself.
Explore Opportunities
Nature Preschool Residential Volunteer
Help young children discover the outdoors through nature-based education while gaining hands-on experience alongside experienced teachers.
Learn More
Residential Volunteer – Community Ministries
Serve across Ferncliff’s year-round ministries, including camp, hospitality, mission and outreach, disaster assistance, Sharing the Goods, farmstead, facilities, and guest services.
