More Americorps Reflections

Lucky us, we've been joined for the last couple of months by yet another superb Americorp team. Here's one of the team's members--Jacob--sharing about the team's time with us:


Since coming to Ferncliff Camp, our Americorps NCCC team of nine have enjoyed our stay in the Little Rock area. Working five days a week along side Steve Wilson, the camp’s amazing operations manager, our team has helped fix up the camp for summer campers and other groups who will use the campground around the year.


Americorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is a federally-funded, ten month long program that allows individuals ages 18 to 24 the opportunity to serve with various non-profit organizations throughout the year. Teams of eight to twelve individuals spend one to two months working with that program on a project that that organization has developed. Americorps NCCC has had a relationship with Ferncliff Camp since 1999, and over twenty teams have worked with the camp since then.


In our time at Ferncliff, our team has helped to re-wire three cabins, demolished the chimney and framed part of the roof of Red Oak One, Two, and Dogwood One, as well as helped with landscaping around the cabins. We have also installed new insulation in four cabins and helped organize the storage area in the D.A.C. In the past two weeks we have transformed the area around the cabins, installing barriers to control traffic and creating a parking area in the back, while soiling and planting grass for a recreational area in the front. Lastly, we built a retaining wall and helped with irrigation around the access road and foundation of the cabins.


While were not working at the camp, our team has enjoyed spending time in the Little Rock area. During our leisure time, our team has explored the downtown area, hiked Pinnacle Mountain and have visited the Clinton Library. We have also have completed independent service hours with the Little Rock Animal Village, the Village Commons, and helped at the Lanterns Festival at Wildwood Park.


Perhaps the most enjoyment our team has gotten out of our time here is the opportunity that we have had to get to know the staff and volunteers, as well as about the various programs in which the camp is involved. When we first learned that we would be spending time refurbishing a summer camp, some of our members were skeptical about the value of the project. Such concerns were dismissed as soon as we arrived and we saw how beautiful Ferncliff is and we learned about all the wonderful educational programs that the camp offers to youth who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend camp, as well as the outreach and disaster relief programs. In many ways, Ferncliff Camp shares a great deal in common with Americorps NCCC: both are organizations that seek to educate young people about how to improve the world around us.

Guest Post: Shira of Water 2

First off... let me say water 2 is having a wonderful time at Ferncliff Presbyterian Camp... Being here at Ferncliff is such an eye opener for others and me. Ferncliff has shown me so many things in just a couple a weeks, such as: teamwork, welding, demolishing a cabin, building a deck, salvaging wood, and plenty more. The best lesson that I have learned is to be more grateful and thankful for the things and people around me.


Ferncliff has been, and still is, such a big impact on the community. I have not once heard any bad comments about it. When we first arrived we were greeted by the security officers who just happened to be David Gill’s, our sponsor’s son Joel, Joel’s wife Ashley and cute little daughter named Margie. They were all very nice and welcoming, as were the rest of the staff and residence of Ferncliff... It felt like home. Soon after, we met our work supervisor Steve Wilson. Steve is very nice and easy going. He knows just about anything and every thing when it comes to fixing things and can teach you every thing he knows in under 5 minutes

We took a tour of Ferncliff Presbyterian Camp in a 15-passenger solar cart. Ferncliff is as beautiful as the pictures make it look. It’s a very peaceful and serene environment and there are plenty of things to do on-site. We all have gone on great hikes, bike rides, took a paddle boat on the Ferncliff Lake, bon fires, and we have attempted to fish.

Here at Fern Cliff our objective was to build a deck and fix up things on site. The first thing we did was pre-set the deck and demolished a house, which we did in two weeks. We also salvaged wood for future use and welded things together for the deck. It has been a great experience. I realized how hard it is to be a construction worker. Some of us are doing things we have never seen ourselves doing in a lifetime but we love the feeling we get after each day of work. Water 2 is GETTING THINGS DONE!!!

For my very first spike with Water 2, Ferncliff was the best decision made for us... it has given Water 2 a great chance to get to know one another and the history of greatness.

Ferncliff has a lot of history and has changed a lot of lives. So we are very proud to be apart of the legacy. There have been numerous AmeriCorps teams before us. When you walk the camp you see the marks they have left; and pretty soon you will see water 2 Class 17 2010.

Shira Bradley

AmeriCorps NCCC class 17

Water 2 2010

Rockin' Around the Clock

The annual staff Christmas Party was held last night in the Dining Hall. All present partook heartily in delicious food, holiday gags, and general merriment. Here are a few snapshots I was able to capture.

Katy, Abby, and Hannah

Margie with "Pam Pam"

 

 

The only photo ever taken of Luke McGhee not moving

Shelly and Mark McGhee engaged in dinnertime conversation with Vicki Gill

We're so glad Water 2 was able to join us! Emily and Jeff look glad too.

Chris, Michelle, and Silas at the Gift Exchange

Papi keeping Margie out waaaay past her bedtime

It was truly a joy to celebrate with everyone's families. It reminds us how much Ferncliff staff feels like family, too. Thanks to all who pitched in to make the night such a fun time!

Belated Welcome to Water 2

Here are the faces and names of the hardworking men and women of AmeriCorps NCCC's Water 2 team, living and working here at Ferncliff right now. We are praying that they find their time here as much of a blessing as we find their presence and their labor!

 

Michelle

Hometown: New Orleans, LA

What are your plans after the NCCC? After NCCC, I plan to pursue nursing school and potentially work at a nonprofit focusing on healthcare.
Fun Fact about yourself: My initials are the same upside down.

 

Shira

Hometown:

Las Vegas, NV

What are your plans after the NCCC?  Go to school.

Fun Fact about yourself: I will try everything at least once. 

Katie

Hometown: Boise ID

What are your plans after the NCCC? 

 I plan to attend college for an undetermined degree and to travel across the U.S. and beyond.

Fun Fact about yourself: I like jumping into lakes of all temperatures and sizes.

Jeff

Hometown: Rockaway, NJ

What are your plans after the NCCC? 

I want to start grad school for Ancient History, be a TL in NCCC, or work for a non-profit.
Fun Fact about yourself: I’ve played trombone for 13 years and I’ve been to Norway.

 

Grace

Hometown: Fullerton, CA

What are your plans after the NCCC? After NCCC I plan on attending college.

Fun Fact about yourself: I am not very graceful.

 

Erik

Hometown: Dayton, OH

What are your plans after the NCCC? I hope to get involved with a non-profit organization and/or work for our government.

Fun Fact about yourself: I have been to Japan and I play a mean guitar.

 Emily

Hometown: Orange County, CA

What are your plans after the NCCC? After NCCC, I will start law school in hopes of becoming a human rights lawyer.

Fun Fact about yourself: I can touch my tongue to my nose.

Dani

Hometown: Seven Valleys, PA

What are your plans after the NCCC? I plan to either go into the Peace Corps or get a job in either disaster relief or archaeology

Fun Fact about yourself: I did an archeological field school in Bermuda during the summer of 2009, so I got to spend 5 weeks in Bermuda digging.

Chris

Hometown: Oak Grove, MN

What are your plans after the NCCC? I am not sure what I want to do after I leave NCCC.
Fun Fact about yourself: I dig stuff up.

Brandon

Hometown: Vinton, IA

What are your plans after the NCCC? I hope to move after the NCCC or go to college.

Fun Fact about yourself: I have approximately 200 pets at my house.

Anna

Hometown: Cranford, NJ

What are your plans after the NCCC? I plan to attend graduate school to study public policy and women's studies.

Fun Fact about yourself: I am a former competitive figure skater and fencer.

Window View

This photo was taken by Linda Brockinton, Queen of Ferncliff food service and champion dulcimer player.

Local Color!

Ever wonder what your favorite place to be in the summer looks like in the Fall (for a few days, at least)?

Summer Retrospective

One of our superb counselors from this past summer, Morgan Gilley, just posted a Note on Facebook, in which she reflects on her time as a part of our summer community. Her words warmed all of our hearts, and we can only hope to have future leaders as adorable, compassionate, and soulful as she is. Counselors like her are the reason our campers love camp! She was kind enough to give us permission to share her words here:

This summer I embarked on a journey that I really didn't know where it would lead me. To my surprise it turned out to be one the hardest; yet, rewarding summers that I think I will ever experience. I worked at Ferncliff a Presbyterian church camp in Little Rock for basically 9 weeks. [...] These 9 weeks were spent with kids from the ages of 7 to 19. [...]I spent everyday for 9 weeks, reading the Bible, praying before every meal, and leading a Bible study for an hour a day. Most of you all are thinking, so whats the big deal? Try doing this in blazing heat and screaming kids, some days you prayed way before your meals just to get you through the day. God tested me in so many ways this summer. Not only did he test me he blessed me with some of the most amazing people I would ever meet. My co-counselors were seriously like family to me. It was so easy to connect with them because we all had the same thing in common. We believed. We didn't care about people judging us. We were just us. I could be my own person. I guess what I'm trying to get at is now that I'm away from camp it sucks. People care waaaaayyyy too much about what others think of them. Just be YOU. God made you that way. Embrace it. If you have a weird looking nose, well darn! I have a crooked toe! It doesn't matter. Love yourself. I hate it when people say "I'm so fat, or I'm ugly." Who cares! Be your own person and not something someone wants you to be. I wish life now could be like camp then. A bunch of kids running around trying to capture the chicken (its a game) without a care in the world. Its hard to explain what this summer was like, but I know my other co-counselors will know. It's something you can't explain, it's something you have to experience. How one summer can finally make you realized nothing in the world matters except God. You can finally be your own person and be comfortable in your own skin. And you can finally embrace life like it was meant to be embraced.

Thanks so much, Morgan, for reminding us what's special about this place. We're so fortunate to have known you, and we hope you'll consider Ferncliff a home away from home!