Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center

Transcription

1 Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center 1720 Ferncliff Road Joel Gill, Associate Director C.A.M.P. Information Packet We are pleased you are considering or have chosen Ferncliff s Central Arkansas Mission Program. While this document may not answer all your questions, it should give most of the information needed for your decisions and planning. Ferncliff s Central Arkansas Mission Program or C.A.M.P., gives teams a variety of outreach experiences while based at 1200 acre camp known for its commitment to mission, sustainability and creative programming. Ferncliff is home to the 10,000 sq. ft. Disaster Assistance Center, the PC (USA) National Volunteer Call Center, and Solar School where laypeople come to learn how to install solar energy systems in low income communities. Full week program Generally, Mission Teams will arrive Sunday evening (around 5pm) and depart Friday morning (around 10am). Monday is reserved for groups to work in the DAC. This work involves inspecting and re-boxing Church World Service disaster kits so they can be shipped to communities recovering from disasters. Tuesday Friday groups can select and make reservations to work full or partial days at some of the agencies listed later in this document. A typical week might look like: Sunday Arrive 4 pm Monday Ferncliff s DAC and solar vehicle tour of Ferncliff Camp Tuesday Jackson House Soup Kitchen 9:30 1:30 then Hot Springs National Park Wednesday Arkansas Food Bank Network or Little Rock Compassion Center Thursday Habitat Restore in the morning and Heifer Ranch field trip in the afternoon Friday Depart by noon Weekend Program Generally, families or groups will arrive Friday evening (around 4pm) and depart Sunday morning (at noon). Friday evening consists of a camp tour along with a welcome/orientation. Saturday is reserved for working in the DAC and the garden. DAC work involves inspecting and re-boxing Church World Service disaster kits so they can

2 be shipped to communities recovering from disasters. Optional Saturday programs include Stop Hunger Now meal packaging and swimming at the pool. A typical weekend might look like: Friday- Welcome/Orientation Saturday- DAC work/garden work, Stop Hunger Now, swimming Sunday- Leave by noon Group Size and Composition The full week program and facilities are designed best for groups between 10 and 24 people. For youth groups many service agencies require that 9 th grade and above work best with adult to youth ratio of 1:7. If you have youth under 9 th grade please check with your scheduled service agencies regarding their minimum age requirements. Intergenerational groups are welcome. If your group is larger than 24, we may be able to accommodate you by housing some in our nearby Eco Center. The weekend program and facilities are designed best for families or groups between 10 and 24 people. Intergenerational groups are welcome. If your group is larger than 24, we may be able to accommodate you by housing some in our nearby Eco Center. Dates Most groups come between the first week of June through the first week of August. This is when we reserve our retreat house for mission teams. We are also open to hosting groups that are looking at doing mission work on a spring break trip, winter break and other times during the year if the retreat house if available. Full week groups usually arrive Sunday afternoon/evening and leave Friday morning. Weekend groups usually arrive Friday afternoon and leave Sunday morning. Groups can arrive later or leave earlier, but the rates will remain the same. Lodging The Ferncliff retreat house has 5 bedrooms, 24 beds (most are bunks), 3.5 baths, full kitchen, large dining area, washer/dryer, charcoal grill, large yard and basketball pad. The kitchen has pots, pans, plates, stove, refrigerator, silverware, dishwasher, microwave, coffeemaker, serving table. The house has wireless internet. Many of our mission teams have considered Ferncliff to have the best mission trip housing they have ever had. Photos can be viewed at: If the retreat house in unavailable an alternative place to stay is the Ferncliff Eco Center. The Eco Center has 6 bedrooms (each with a unique floor made from recovered materials) 6.5 bathrooms, a kitchen, 24 single beds and a meeting place for over 100 people. This building has several green features which make it very unique. These include solar panel electricity, wood fire furnace that pumps water for heat, and an insulated white metal roof that keeps the building cool in the summer and warm in the winter. This building offers any group a unique green experience.

3 Things to do at Ferncliff Ferncliff will have summer camp or other programs going on, but groups can schedule use of Ferncliff camp facilities/equipment around the camp schedule. Options include: Chapel Hiking Labyrinth Sand volleyball Shady Chute (120 foot slide) Solar vehicle tour of Ferncliff Sports equipment like Frisbees, balls, etc. Stop Hunger Now (for an additional fee groups can schedule a night to participate in packaging meals; for details see below) Swimming* (group needs to have a lifeguard or schedule one with Ferncliff) Taking part in camp evening activities (i.e. joining in capture the flag, etc.,) when it fits. *Note on swimming: Swimming can be accommodated most evenings between 5:30pm and 7:30pm ($150 rental for 2 hours. Ferncliff will schedule lifeguards.) Stop Hunger Now Stop Hunger Now gets food and life-saving aid to the world s most vulnerable people, and works to end global hunger in our lifetime. They work with volunteer groups to package and ship meals to feed people in need. Ferncliff gives groups the option to add a Stop Hunger Now night to their stay. This night would consist of packaging the meal components to be sent to people in need. Each group would need to bring funds to cover the cost of purchasing and shipping the meals, which comes to $667 for 2000 meals or 3 meals for $1. Groups must commit to packaging at least 2000 meals in order to be eligible for Stop Hunger Now. Your Responsibilities Reserve your dates and return your signed contract with deposit to Ferncliff For full week groups: schedule your week with the mission agencies you select Work with Ferncliff on the camp-related activities you might want in the evenings Provide the overall leadership for your group.

4 Costs Full Week Program $109 per person per week ($1150 minimum; not prorated for shortened weeks) Costs related to preparing your own meals at the house Any fees associated with education/recreation options off site that you select and these would be paid directly to those agencies (like the cost of a tour at Heifer). Non-refundable deposit due with contract and reminder can be paid when you arrive at camp. The deposit equals 30% of estimated total fees. Ex: 16 people x $109 = $1744 total $1680 x.30 = $ Deposit We welcome groups to bring a donation with them to purchase disaster kit supplies Optional: $150 for 2 hours of pool rental with lifeguards. Optional: $667 for a packaging night with Stop Hunger Now Weekend Program $65 per person per week ($650 minimum; not prorated for shortened trips) Costs related to preparing your own meals at the house Any fees associated with education/recreation options off site that you select and these would be paid directly to those agencies (like the cost of a tour at Heifer). Non-refundable deposit due with contract and reminder can be paid when you arrive at camp. The deposit equals 30% of estimated total fees. Ex: 16 people x $65 = $1040 total $1040 x.30 = $312 Deposit We welcome groups to bring a donation with them to purchase disaster kit supplies Optional: $150 for 2 hours of pool rental with lifeguards. Optional: $667 for a packaging night with Stop Hunger Now (2000 meals) Cancellation Policy Cancellations made 90 days to 60 days prior to the scheduled event are subject to payment of 45 % of the original estimate. Cancellations made 60 days or less prior to the scheduled event are subject to payment of 60% of the original estimate.

5 Mission Opportunities Arkansas Food Bank Network Monday thru Friday: 9am-12pm, 1pm-4pm Ages with 1 adult/5 youth Ages with 1 adult/10 youth The Arkansas Food Bank Network is a large, hunger relief warehouse that acquires and distributes, through local and national partnerships, large quantities of food and other resources to hungry people. Up to 30 people can come and help sort, box and stack food to get it ready for delivery to Arkansas food pantries, shelters, school feeding programs and soup kitchens. Generally the work involves sorting and organizing the food donations. Half days or full days possible. If eating there, take sack lunch. Groups can split up and go to multiple service opportunities. They will send you a group confirmation form and waivers you will need to fill out and bring with you. Polly Deems pdeems@arkansasfoodbank.org (501) W 65th Street Little Rock, AR Website: Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light Ages 13 and up The Arkansas Affiliate of Interfaith Power and Light is established by individuals and participating congregations who share a concern for the earth s environment from a unique, nonpartisan, theological perspective. Work would be centered around the Promise Garden (on the corner of 12th and Peyton St). Small groups, no more than 6. Groups can also volunteer at the Stevens Elementary School garden. The land for the garden was recently donated, so the garden is still being developed, which means plenty of volunteering opportunities! Hours vary based on the work needing to be completed, but mornings are typically preferred. Scharmel Roussel arkansasipl@gmail.com (501) Website: Habitat for Humanity ReStore in North Little Rock Monday thru Saturday: 9am-5pm Ages 14 and up The Habitat ReStore sells new and used building supplies and home furnishings. Most items in the ReStore are donated or salvaged from deconstruction sites and proceeds help fund future Habitat homes. Last year the efforts of the Habitat ReStore kept 260 tons of

6 materials out of area landfills. The work generally involves stocking or clearing shelves, unloading trucks, painting, etc. Wear clothes that can get dirty. Ginni Bracy (501) ext. 21 (501) (main number) 2657 Pike Ave North Little Rock, AR Website: Little Rock Compassion Center The Compassion Center, Inc., established in October of 1998, is a Christian organization dedicated to expressing the love of God through the ministries of feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In a rough section of town, LR Compassion Center serves the truly needy with beds for up to 200 men and 40 women. They serve three meals a day with breakfast being the largest. Groups are generally divided in two with half working in the kitchen/dining room and half doing maintenance or thrift shop type work. Rev. William Holloway williamholloway@yahoo.com (501) West Roosevelt Road Little Rock, AR Website: Stewpot Located on the second floor of First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock since 1972, Stewpot has served over 1.5 million meals. Their primary mission is to feed the hungry and secondary missions to help clothe the needy and offer free medical services to the sick. Volunteers under 18 need to be accompanied by an adult. (501) (need to update!!) Hot Springs (the two volunteering organizations below are great to pair with the Hot Springs bathhouses) Habitat for Humanity ReStore of Garland County Monday thru Saturday: 9am-5pm Ages 16 and up The Habitat ReStore sells new and used building supplies and home furnishings. Most items in the ReStore are donated or salvaged from deconstruction sites and proceeds help fund future Habitat homes. Last year the efforts of the Habitat ReStore kept 260 tons of materials

7 out of area landfills. The work generally involves stocking or clearing shelves, unloading trucks, painting, etc. Wear clothes that can get dirty. Good for small groups of 5 or less. Larger groups tend to split volunteers between Habitat ReStore and Jackson House. Bill Chann bchann@garlandcountyhabitat.org (501) Malvern Avenue Hot Springs, AR Website: Jackson House Monday thru Saturday 9am-4pm (thrift store volunteering) Monday thru Friday 10am-2pm (sack lunch program) Ages 11 and up Jackson House is an interfaith community crisis center which provides short term emergency assistance for the basic needs food, clothing and shelter, and medicine without regard to race, creed, sex or nationality and without imposing our values or beliefs upon those we serve. As volunteers, you would work in the food pantry, thrift store, or the sack lunch program. Jackson House is particularly good for groups of 15 and smaller. We can host volunteer groups of middle-school age and older. Due to equipment in the kitchen and the thrift shop activities we cannot host younger aged groups. M-F Jackson House gives out lunches to people who come to a pickup window. Suzanne Babbie suzebabbie@suddenlink.net (501) Malvern Avenue Hot Springs, AR Website:

8 Other Things to do Nearby Big Dam Bridge As the first bridge to ever be turned into a dam as well, the Big Dam Bridge connects approximately 17 miles of scenic riverside trails in the cities of Little Rock and North Little Rock, and assists connection of 70,000 acres of various city, county, state and federal park land. bigdambridge@co.pulaski.ar.us (501) Rebsamen Park Road Little Rock, AR Website: Dickey-Stephens Park Dickey-Stephens Park is a baseball park in North Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. The ballpark is primarily used for baseball and serves as the home for the Arkansas Travelers of the Texas League. travs@travs.com (501) (main phone) (501) (ticket office) 400 W. Broadway North Little Rock, AR Website: Heifer International Ranch Heifer Ranch learning center tours are great opportunities for people of any age to get introduced to Heifer s work around the world. Watch a video and witness personal stories of real people overcoming tremendous odds through the assistance of Heifer. Also, visit Heifer animals and learn the 7 M s of livestock valuable benefits that farm animals supply to resource-poor people, such as milk, manure and muscle. Visitors will see the Heifer Global Village as well, a site representing the animals, gardens and homes of several countries in which Heifer works. Call for tour reservations. Cost is around $5 per person depending on time of day and type of tour and must be paid ahead with a credit card. Generally expect this to take a half day for your travel (33 miles from Ferncliff) and tour. reservations@heifer.org (501) Heifer Road Perryville, AR Website: Heifer International Village Heifer Village on the Heifer International Campus in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas, introduces visitors to the possibility of a world free of hunger and poverty. A hands-on, global education facility located behind the Clinton Presidential Library, Heifer Village is

9 home to interactive exhibits that provide a stimulating and challenging educational experience for people of all ages. Heifer Village youth programs are ideal for schools, congregations, scouts and other youth organizations that want to learn more about other cultures, the issues surrounding hunger and poverty, Heifer s sustainable solutions and what they can do to help. Heifer s World Headquarters conducts tours of the green building each day at 10am and 2pm. There is no cost, but call for a reservation. reservations@heifer.org (501) World Ave Little Rock, AR Website: Hot Springs Bathhouse Row About an hour away from Ferncliff, Hot Springs, Arkansas offers many bathhouses to choose from (see options at Group often choose to pair their trip to Hot Springs with a service opportunity like Habitat for Humanity ReStore of Garland County or Jackson House, listed above. Little Rock Central High School Historic Site Located across the intersection from the school, the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Visitor Center contains interactive exhibits on the 1957 desegregation crisis at Little Rock Central High School with several audio-visual programs (open captioned) that introduce visitors to the multi-layered and complex history of the events at Little Rock Central High School in In addition, the exhibits contain interactive oral history listening stations where visitors can learn about the events from the participants. (501) Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive Little Rock, AR Website: Little Rock Zoo Sunday thru Saturday: 9am-5pm The Little Rock Zoo offers a group rate of $6.00 per person for groups with 15 or more people. Reservations (at least 10 days in advance) are required to receive the group rate. Parking is $3 per car. Buses and group vans park for free. info@littlerockzoo.com (501) Jonesboro Drive Little Rock, AR Website:

10 MacArthur Park and Arkansas Arts Center MacArthur Park is a municipal park operated by Little Rock Parks & Recreation. It includes the Arkansas Arts Center, a multi-purpose court, contemplation garden and AIDs memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, a pavilion and playground, and the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History. Admission to all parts is free with the exception of special ticketed events at the Arts Center. (501) East 9th Street Little Rock, Arkansas Website: Pinnacle Mountain State Park Monday thru Sunday: 8am-5pm (visitor center) Monday thru Sunday: 6:30am - 1 hr. after sunset (picnic areas) Pinnacle Mountain is a day-use park dedicated to environmental education, outdoor recreation, and preservation. Located just west of Little Rock, this natural environment of 2,000 acres was set aside in 1977 as Arkansas's first state park adjoining a major metropolitan area. The park offers a wide variety of hiking trails including the 1 1/2-mile West Summit Trail, 1 1/2-mile East Summit Trail, 2 1/2-mile Base Trail, 2-mile Rocky Valley Trail, and 1mile East Quarry Trail. In addition, the park includes two barrier-free trails. These are the 1/2mile paved Kingfisher Trail and 0.6-mile paved Arkansas Trail in the Arkansas Arboretum. pinnaclemountain@arkansas.com (501) Pinnacle Valley Road Website: The William J. Clinton Presidential Library Monday thru Saturday: 9am - 5pm, Sunday: 1pm - 5pm General admission is free for children 5 and younger, $6.00 for children 6-17, and $10.00 for adults. You will want to allow 2-3 hours to explore the library exhibits. The library provides guided tours (for groups of 19 or smaller) of the permanent exhibits at 9:30am, 11:30am, and 1:30pm. Groups of 20 persons or more with reservations are eligible for a reduced adult-rate admission. To receive a guided tour for a larger group (20 or more) you must make your reservation at least 14 days in advance. Walk-in groups are always welcome on a self-guided basis. To make a reservation or to ask questions please contact the Volunteer and Visitor Services Office at the number listed below. (501) President Clinton Ave. Little Rock, AR Website:

11 Dining Close Quick Bites Bear Creek Country Store Kanis Road (501) You can find a little bit of everything from pizzas and burgers to fried shrimp baskets at this one stop gas and go shop. Domino s Pizza Chenal Parkway #190 Little Rock, AR (501) Casual Big Orange Chenal Parkway (501) Small local place serving fresh local ingredients in gourmet burgers, salads, and shakes at the Promenade at Chenal. El Porton Cantrell Road (501) Good Mexican food made with quality ingredients. Jim's Razorback Pizza Cantrell Road (501) Good local pizza place with several arcade games.

12 Finer Dining Bonefish Grill Cantrell Rd. Little Rock, AR (501) This upscale chain serves a variety of fresh fish, great appetizers, and more. Caper's Cantrell Road Little Rock, Arkansas (501) Lunch and dinner options at this local favorite range from gourmet burgers and salads to upscale Cajun, seafood, and steaks. Yaya's Euro Bistro Chenal Parkway (501) This upscale chain serves innovative dishes for lunch and dinner inspired by a combination of American, French, Italian, and Greek cuisines. Sunday brunch buffet

13 Closest Grocery Stores Kroger Chenal Parkway, Suite B Walmart Supercenter Cantrell Rd Other Links: Arkansas Art Center- Arkansas Skatium-Rolling and Ice Skate rinks- Magic Springs/Crystal Falls Water and Theme Park- Millennium Bowl- nice bowling alley- Promenade Shopping Center- Wild River Country (Arkansas Largest Water Park) -