Anyone who knows me knows how much I care about summer camp. I believe wholeheartedly in the importance of camp in a child’s life. A week of camp helps campers develop interpersonal and social skills, make new friends, try new things in a safe environment where it’s okay to fail, figure out their strengths and gifts, learn to live in close proximity with new people, experience the great outdoors, learn about their faith, gain independence, and on and on and on. I completely love my job and I know how important it is.

I’m particularly passionate about creating opportunities for more children to be able to experience camp. I believe camp is for everyone. Every child can benefit from a week of camp, and it’s so disappointing to me that not every child can manage to come. As I continue to work at Ferncliff, I want to keep identifying the barriers that keep kids from attending camp and work on bringing those barriers down.

For the past several years Ferncliff has hosted outreach camps camps that serve a specific, often vulnerable or underserved population. We have partnerships with Vera Lloyd Family Services, Our House, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and the Alex Blackwood Foundation For Hope. These outreach camps are an important part of Ferncliff’s ministry to reach children who may not otherwise have the opportunity to attend camp.

For campers who may not be able to attend camp for financial reasons, we have instituted a few ideas to help lower the cost of camp. All of our camps are on a tiered pricing system, where families can choose the tier payment that is most comfortable for their income; all campers get the same experience regardless of what they pay. We also have a scholarship program to alleviate some of the cost of camp for low-income or single parent households.

This week we are having a raffle promoted through our social media pages. Anyone who registers for any camp program now through March 15th will be eligible to win an additional camp registration for free. That registration can be used for the same camper, a sibling, or even gifted to another camper who might be attending camp for the very first time. Anything to get more campers to Ferncliff!

Have any ideas to get more kids to camp? I’d love to hear them!

-Emily