As a child Phoebe loved to explore nature. “I’ve always been a kid that picked up bugs, sticks and things.  I am just connected with the world in that way.” said Phoebe, a longtime Ferncliff camper.  

Nancy, Phoebe’s biological grandmother and adopted mother, attributes Phoebe’s love of nature to her late husband Dan Curtis, who they affectionately called “Blah.”  

“Blah was from West Virginia and was a member of lots of nature clubs and was especially interested in mushrooms,” shared Nancy.

Raised by Nancy and Dan, Phoebe developed a deep love for animals and the natural world. However, her early childhood was marked by instability, as she was removed from her biological parents’ care due to issues with addiction when she was a toddler. It was Nancy and Dan who provided Phoebe with stability and love, offering her a nurturing environment where she could grow up.

During her elementary years Phoebe attended school, but was a little bit different from the other children. “Everyone at school called me Junie B. Jones because I always got into trouble. First, they put me in the hallway, then they moved me to the principal’s office, and finally, they put me in the copy room so I couldn’t talk to anyone,” scoffed Phoebe.

“Phoebe will talk your ear off,” added Nancy with a smirk.

Phoebe learned about Ferncliff through her church, Trinity Presbyterian in Little Rock. Nancy admits she was a little nervous when dropping Phoebe off at camp for the first time, but Phoebe quickly found her place.  

“I found my group of people. From the get-go I enjoyed camp and have been convincing people to come ever since. Some campers are similar and some are different but we are all a little weird in our own way. If you are a little different in some places, you fit in here.” 

Phoebe’s deep connection to Ferncliff goes beyond the fun and friendships formed during her time at camp. Ferncliff’s approach to faith and spirituality has also played a significant role in her personal growth.  

“When it comes to my faith, I’ve never felt super connected in a church building. At Ferncliff, I feel more connected and have my own time and space to explore and question. They help you explore what being a Christian is all about but you don’t feel unaccepted or judged.”

Nancy says that Phoebe has always been someone who needs to learn things for herself and that she gets that from her grandfather Dan too.

At around the age of fourteen Phoebe began experiencing severe anxiety. One day she was at a grocery store and she just froze and couldn’t move. They eventually were able to get her home.  Soon after that incident Phoebe was in an elevator and froze up again. After visiting with doctors they realized it wasn’t simply anxiety causing her inability to move but Phoebe was also experiencing drops in her blood pressure.  

“Those drops can give you anxiety or anxiety can cause blood pressure drops and vice versa.” explained Phoebe. Nancy and Phoebe learned that her condition could be treated with a service dog as the dog can be trained to alert to small changes in heart rate and blood pressure. This seemed like a good solution to explore for them since Phoebe loves animals.  Soon Phoebe got Titan, a trained golden retriever. 

“When he senses it he will jump on me and let me know that I need to sit down.”

When the summer came around Phoebe was hoping Titan could come along with her to camp. Although Ferncliff had never had a camper bring a service animal before, the staff worked with Nancy and Phoebe to set the guidelines for Titan joining Phoebe.

Phoebe and Titan have been coming to camp for the last three summers now.  Phoebe thinks that Titan likes coming to Ferncliff and has fun doing all the activities.   

“He brings more luggage than I do! He loves jumping off the boat into Belden Pond but sometimes he is shy going to the bathroom.”  

The other campers are often curious about Titan too. 

“Last year I had a kid that was following me around all week,” explained Phoebe. “I wanted to make sure that the camper saw me and wanted to talk to me and not just the dog so we started talking and I was able to tell them about Titan and service dogs and what they do.” Phoebe is proud to make headway for acceptance for others with disabilities.  

When asked about Ferncliff’s impact on Phoebe, Nancy said, “It has made her a whole different person. Ferncliff has given her new experiences of being with other people.  Phoebe is a little different and she doesn’t just take what you say to be the truth just because you said it, she needs to ruminate on it.”  

Ferncliff offered Phoebe a non-judgmental natural environment where she could explore her beliefs and questions freely. Phoebe also found purpose in sharing her love for Ferncliff with others. And outside of Ferncliff, Phoebe continues to explore her interests with enthusiasm and determination and dreams of becoming a veterinarian one day.

As Phoebe approaches adulthood, the lessons and memories she has gathered at Ferncliff will undoubtedly shape her future. Whether she pursues a career in veterinary medicine or follows another path, one thing remains clear: Ferncliff will always hold a special place in Phoebe’s heart as the place where she found her voice, her purpose, and her people.   

Because of your generosity, Ferncliff provides life-changing experiences like the ones given to Phoebe.  Thank you for your gifts supporting Ferncliff, this ministry we all share.