Thomas Franks was raised on Ferncliff. Attending his first overnight camp at just six years old, Thomas hardly remembers a time when Ferncliff wasn’t a part of his life. Every summer he looked forward to his adventures outdoors at Ferncliff. “I loved my counselors and fellow campers, playing capture the chicken, and doing energizers,” said Thomas.

By the time he was a teen, his love for Ferncliff inspired him to become a Counselor-In-Training (CIT). “One summer I spent seven weeks at Ferncliff,” Thomas remembers fondly. “What I love most about Ferncliff is the personal connections with counselors, the people. The people make Ferncliff, Ferncliff.” 

Now as a young professional and college graduate (Sewanee ‘23), Thomas looks back on his years at Ferncliff as the place where his love for nature and the environment was truly cultivated. “Summers at Ferncliff led me to my work today in the Forest Carbon market and to pursue a masters in environmental resiliency.” 

“I’ve been to a lot of gorgeous places throughout the country and the world and I’ve gotten to see wonderful places and awesome creatures but I think the natural spaces near us are the most important because they affect our water quality, air quality and our quality of life. Ferncliff is ten minutes from my house. One of my favorite places is ten minutes from where I live.”

Thomas’ favorite spot at Ferncliff is the Akin trail. The trail starts on the northern side of Mark Mountain, climbs to the ridge and then runs across it and then back down by the pool and splash pad. For his Eagle Scout project, Thomas and his fellow scouts built a 9 hole disc golf course in the Outback area of Ferncliff that is still in use today. 

Summers at Ferncliff gave Thomas the opportunity to explore the great outdoors in a way that he wouldn’t otherwise be afforded during the summer as a youth. “If you’re giving to Ferncliff, whether it be your time, energy, or money, you’re giving kids the opportunity to be themselves outside and the ability to interact with other kids being themselves too,” said Thomas.