In We are so excited to host a summer of fun and meaningful outdoor camp programs this summer! Especially after last year’s Summer of Jubilee, we are thrilled to bring back campers in both our Day Camp and Overnight Camp this summer. We’ve made a lot of adaptations to keep campers safe and healthy this summer, and we’re ready for campers to return!
Our Summer Staff this year are an incredible bunch. They are overflowing with talent, committed to Ferncliff, and filled with a deep love for campers. They have gone through intensive training including First Aid and CPR, all of Ferncliff’s camp activities, health and wellness during a pandemic, and leading campers in daily Bible Exploration. These Summer Staff will serve as Camp Counselors, Hosts for guest groups, Lifeguards, and all the behind-the-scenes that make camp happen! Check out below more about each of the fantastic staff serving at Ferncliff this summer!
Meet our 2021 Summer Staff!
Sydney Chambers
Sydney Chambers is 18 years old and is from Perryville, Arkansas. She is planning on attending the University of Central Arkansas this coming fall, majoring in Chemistry with the career intention of becoming a Pharmacist. Sydney enjoys playing the piano and guitar during her free time. A fun fact about Sydney is that she is left-handed! Only ten percent of the world population is left-handed. Sydney is joining the Summer Staff at Ferncliff and is excited to participate in all of the fun!
Josh Arroyave
Joshua Arroyave is a 22 year old and from Houston, Texas. He is a current student at University of the Ozarks majoring in Health Science and two minors in Business Administration and Spanish. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, kayaking, mountain biking and paintballing. A fun fact about Joshua is that he has multiple collections going on! This summer he is excited to see familiar faces again, meet new campers and have a great summer!
Jean Dodds
Jean Dodds is 20 years old (but has a birthday over the summer!) and is from Enid, Oklahoma. Jean attends college at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma. Her major is health and sports science education and plans to become a physical education teacher and a cross country/track coach. She eventually wants to go back to school to get a Masters in Athletic Training as well. Jean’s hobbies include running – she runs cross country for her school. She also enjoys going hiking, swimming, and hanging out with friends. One interesting fact about Jean is that she has a laugh you won’t ever expect out of her. Jean is excited to meet all the campers and make tons of memories this summer at Ferncliff!
Eli Carpenter
Eli Carpenter is 19 years old and from Little Rock, Arkansas. He attends Arkansas State University where he is studying Exercise Science, and plans to be a chiropractor one day. A few of Eli’s hobbies are fishing, hanging out with friends, and swimming. A fun fact about Eli is that he has caught both a shark and a striped marlin while deep sea fishing. Eli is excited to have the opportunity to show the kids how great God’s creation is and have fun while doing it.
Emily Everts
Emily Everts is 25 years old and originally from Fort Worth, Texas. She majored in Religious Studies and Anthropology at Austin college and is currently pursuing her Master of Divinity at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, Texas. In her spare time, she likes to read, hike, swim, watercolor, and hang with her cats. A fun fact about Emily is that she has been teaching swim lessons for ten years! Emily is excited to be a part of Ferncliff Summer Staff this summer to experience the mission and outreach of all Ferncliff’s summer programs. Emily is most excited about sharing a camp experience not in Texas.
Jakobe’ Durant
Jakobe’ Durant is a 22 year old from Louisiana. Jakobe’ has just graduated from University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas with a major in Spanish and minors in International Business and Environmental Studies. In his spare time he likes to learn new languages and make friendship bracelets! Jakobe’ is most excited to be able to motivate kids and help them find what they love about camp!
Tristan Hilmes
Tristan Hilmes is a 21-year-old from San Angelo, Texas. She is currently attending Baylor University studying nursing and plans to move to the Dallas nursing campus next fall. Tristan enjoys painting and feeding her coffee addiction in her free time. A fun fact about her is that she absolutely hates the ocean and (almost) everything in it. Especially starfish. Tristan is incredibly excited to work at Ferncliff this summer! She can’t wait to make new friends and experience her first summer in Arkansas!
Thomas Pitts
Thomas Pitts is 23 years old and from a variety of places, but Bella Vista is his current home. He is studying Outdoor Recreation and Psychology at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia. In his spare time, he likes to listen to music, go hiking, and play Magic: The Gathering. A fun fact about Thomas is that he hiked half of the Appalachian Trail – over 1,000 miles! Thomas is stoked to help youth grow and discover in a new environment, branching out from his background of 9 years of Boy Scout summer camp staff. He is looking forward to the unique challenges and experiences that camp will provide this year.
Avery Horton
Avery Horton is 17 years old and lives in Little Rock, Arkansas, although he was born in Tallahassee, Florida. He attends Little Rock Central High School, and is a junior. Avery enjoys Computer Science and hopes to go to UC San Diego to further his interest in the field. Avery enjoys playing tennis, playing video games, and making music in his spare time, and hopes to be an established electronic music producer before he goes off to college. A fun fact about Avery is that he loves a challenge, and enjoys being presented with difficult tasks because of the enjoyment he gets from overcoming them. Avery is excited to serve as part of the Ferncliff Summer Staff because he enjoys working with kids, and enjoys the idea of a fulfilling and challenging summer.
Ella Holyfield
Ella Holyfield is 17 years old and grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. She currently attends high school online at Connections Academy and in her spare time she enjoys painting, making friendship bracelets, reading, and baking. A fun fact about her is that she’s been going to Ferncliff as a camper since she was in first grade. She’s so excited to be a counselor this summer and is ready to help make it the best one yet!
Ellis Isam
Ellis Isam is 19 years old and from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. He went to Broken Arrow High School, and he enjoys painting and spending quality time with his friends and family. A fun fact about Ellis is that during his senior year of high school, he had an internship at the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center. Ellis is very excited to join Ferncliff’s summer staff and make new relationships with staff, as well as bring a loving and fun environment to the campers!
Sydney Langley
Sydney Langley was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is currently studying Journalism and Religious Studies at the University of Oklahoma. Sydney fully believes that she invented the phrase “on point” her freshman year of high school. She is very excited for her second year on Ferncliff’s summer staff.
Amanda Mcfarland
Amanda Mcfarland is 18 years old and from North Little Rock, Arkansas. She just graduated from North Little Rock High School and is going to continue her studies at the University of Arkansas Little Rock. She plans to study geology or sports media. For fun, she likes to create art, go walking, and read. A fun fact about Amanda is that she enjoys drawing odd portraits of people. Amanda is excited to be a part of the summer staff because she loves working outside and finds kids to be happy and exciting. She is very excited to meet new people and make friends.
Christian Kasten
Christian Kasten is a 17-year-old born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is currently a senior at Little Rock Central High. In his spare time, he likes to run, play guitar and piano, and play chess. A fun fact about Christian is that he was a camper at Ferncliff for 10 years! Christian is excited to have fun while exploring the different adventures that this summer throws his way.
Taylor McFelson
Taylor McFelson is 18 years old and from North Little Rock, Arkansas. She has just graduated from North Little Rock High School and will be attending the University of Central Arkansas in the fall majoring in Secondary Education with plans to become a math teacher. Taylor spends most of her free time reading or volunteering at a guinea pig rescue where she got her pets. A fun fact about Taylor is that she has been in her schools Audition-Choirs for the past 5 years. Taylor is really excited to be part of Ferncliff Summer Staff this summer because it is something she has never experienced before and she is always excited to try something new.
Brett Thompson
Brett Thompson is 20 years old and is from Conway, AR. He is studying Innovative Media, which is a fancy way of saying Media, at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, AR. He likes to spend time in the wilderness, play guitar and various other instruments, and collect video games. A fun fact is that he was on the #1 Mock Trial team in the state and went to nationals. Brett is excited to be back on staff at Ferncliff and is ready for the adventure!!
Mireya Puga
Mireya Puga is 18 years old and originally from Edinburg, Texas. She just graduated high school at Edinburg High School and also attained her Associates Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. She plans to attend Texas State and major in Social Work this fall. Mireya’s hobbies are community service and enjoying nature. A fun fact about her is that she enjoys meeting new people. Mireya is extremely delighted to be part of this team and excited to know more about others.
Danitra Sargent
Danitra Sargent is 20 year-old junior pursuing a Biology pre-med major at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas. She was born and raised in Nassau, The Bahamas. She enjoys playing volleyball, drawing, painting, and being a part of various fun outdoor activities including hiking, biking, and camping. She also enjoys working out, participating in yoga, and going to the gym. A fun fact about her is that her father nicknamed her “Peachy”. Danitra is most ecstatic about being able to be a part of the summer staff in order to share her positivity and enthusiasm with both the staff and campers while receiving the opportunity to learn new things and meet new people at Ferncliff.
Libby Cox
Libby Cox is 22 years old and is from DeWitt, Arkansas. She is studying physical education, health and exercise science while pursuing her general studies bachelor’s degree at Arkansas State University. In her spare time she enjoys being active outside by swimming, hiking, and playing with her dog. A fun fact about Libby is that she loves to go “junkin” for unique finds at flea markets and auctions! Libby was a camper at Ferncliff for almost 10 years and is ready to give back to the program as a counselor. She is excited to be a part of the summer staff, to meet new faces, and see how God can change her life this summer!
Avery Steadham
Avery Steadham is 17 and was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She is currently going to Pulaski Technical College in Little Rock for general studies. She hopes to have a future career as a High School Teacher. When Avery has free time, she likes to read, write or play video games. A fun fact about Avery is that she lived in Italy for 4 years when she was growing up! Avery is super excited about working for Ferncliff this summer! She hopes to gain a stronger connection with God, experience working with children, and new friends and experiences!
Taylor Sexton
Taylor Sexton is a 22-year-old graduate of Baylor University with a degree in Corporate Communications. A native of Texarkana, Arkansas, Taylor will be attending Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary starting in the fall of 2021 as part of the Masters of Divinity program. He enjoys reading, writing, singing, and playing instruments. A fun fact about Taylor is that since first coming to Ferncliff in the summer of 2008, he has either attended or worked at camps every year for the past 14 years. In his second summer as a staff member, he hopes to continue to give back to the place that he loves so much.
Justice White
Justice White is 19 years old originally from a small island called New Providence in the Bahamas. She is currently studying Biology and Health Science at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas. In her spare time she likes to focus on her health and spend time with her godsister. A fun fact about Justice is that she does not like vanilla ice cream – except for McDonald’s vanilla soft serve. Justice is excited to be at camp this summer because it is a great way to remain active while having fun!