Residential Volunteer

Position: Residential Volunteer

Position Overview: A residential volunteer assists with a variety of year-round programming, including projects and tasks related to Ferncliff’s disaster assistance center, Sharing the Goods program, the farmstead, retreat and mission groups, the nature preschool, and general site maintenance and operations.

Lodging – on-site housing is provided
Hours – ~40 hours/week – fluctuates seasonally
Service commitment – one year

Site Description: Ferncliff Camp & Conference Center sits on 1,200 acres just a few miles west of Little Rock, Arkansas. It is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) but welcomes guests and campers of any and all faith traditions, including those with none. Ferncliff serves as a summer camp and retreat center for local organizations and churches, but its capacity and proximity to an airport allows Ferncliff to host regional and national gatherings as well. An emphasis on outreach, eco-sustainability, and creative collaboration has been responsible for Ferncliff’s significant growth over the past 20 years. It has moved beyond the traditional role of camp and conference centers to add a large-scale Disaster Assistance Center (DAC), Good360 Sharing the Goods program, Nature Preschool, Forest Church and other year-round events, and various other programs.

Program Goals: Residential Volunteers will assist with camp, conference, outreach, and other projects while building Ferncliff’s capacity for impact. Volunteers will live on site, practice simple living, learn about Ferncliff’s varied ministries and programs, and participate in ongoing self-reflection and community building. Residential Volunteers commit a year of service to achieving Ferncliff’s mission: as an expression of God’s love, we welcome people into a life of caring for Creation, others, and themselves.

Supervisory Staff: All questions and concerns related to work will be handled by the Associate Director. The AD will manage and coordinate overall work in all departments; department heads will direct Residential Volunteers for daily tasks and duties when assigned to those areas.

All questions and concerns related to community, housing, health, and personal well-being will be handled by the Mission and Program Coordinator.

Position Perks:

Housing in Creekside house – single or double occupancy bedroom, single or double occupancy bathroom, shared kitchen and living room.
Living stipend and food allowance, to be paid biweekly.
Meals in the dining hall in the summer months and when hosting a group that has contracted food service.
10 days PTO (dates to be negotiated in advance when possible)
Attending mid-year retreats and other potential continuing education opportunities
Guided inter- and intra-personal development, discernment, and processing
Work-related mileage reimbursement when traveling for Ferncliff work.
On-site training
First Aid/CPR/AED and lifeguard certifications
Access to Ferncliff bikes, carts, vehicles, and equipment (must have valid driver’s license to drive vehicles.)
On-site WiFi
On-site laundry facilities

Perks may vary according to the individual’s sponsoring agency/organization, preferences, and the service commitment length.

Position Responsibilities:

Duties may include any of the items listed below but will vary according to each volunteer’s skills, interests, and service dates. A weekly default schedule will be decided during the onsite orientation.

Assist with summer camps (overnight and day) from May-August. The schedule will likely be more than 40 hours/week depending on the tasks assigned on a particular week. Duties may include acting as a counselor for a small group, or a leadership staff position assisting with camp activities and operations. A Residential Volunteer may also assist with Winter Camp or Spring Break Day Camp.
Host mission teams and groups in the Disaster Assistance Center, providing and facilitating service opportunities in conjunction with Church World Service and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. This generally entails assisting with kit-building or inspection and processing incoming kit donations.
Assist agencies and organizations during Sharing the Goods shopping hours which occur once a week, 9:00-3:00, on Tuesdays. Work with Sharing the Goods will also include processing incoming goods, taking inventory of goods, and organizing the space.
Host retreat and conference groups on weekends and occasional evening, being on-call or assisting in hospitality departments like food service or housekeeping.
Work with the maintenance team on routine tasks, seasonal projects, and new initiatives which support daily operations and improve our facilities.
Assist the Nature Preschool program on an as-needed basis, facilitating outdoor learning and providing support to Nature Preschool teachers.
Care for the farmstead and lead activities related to guest groups, campers, or service teams. Horticultural tasks include prepping beds, planting, weeding, pruning, and harvesting. Animal care includes daily feeding of the donkeys, goats, sheep, and chickens.

Position Requirements:

18 years or older at the start date of service
Belief in Jesus Christ and conviction in Christian theology
Ability to understand, relate, and communicate well with children and adults
Desire and capacity to learn on-the-job
Participation in required trainings and orientations
Ability to pass background checks and screenings
Flexibility to work approximately 40 hours per week including days, evenings, and weekends as needed in a variety of departments
Ability to work an 8-hour day that includes standing, walking, and/or physical work and with minimal supervision
Physical ability to walk the trails and roads around Ferncliff’s site
Ability to work in an outdoor environment year-round
Ability to live in community with up to four housemates
Up-to-date immunizations (preferred)
Valid driver’s license (preferred)
Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds (preferred)
International applicants – Must have a valid US visa for the dates of service and the ability to travel to our site. Ferncliff will provide a letter of invitation and/or coordinate with your sponsoring agency as needed.

To apply, send your resume, availability, and contact information for three references to Emily at emily@ferncliff.org. Email or call Emily at 501-821-3063 for more information.