Ferncliff Camp

What Ferncliff Camp does

Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center is a 501(c)(3)-style non-profit camp, retreat, and outreach organization headquartered on a 1,200-acre property at 1720 Ferncliff Road in Little Rock, Arkansas, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) and operating for 75+ years. The organization operates four interlocking business lines: (1) Camp programs — overnight camp, day camp, specialty camps, discovery camps, and family camps for children and youth entering 1st through 12th grades, registered through the CampBrain/UltraCamp platform; (2) Nature School — Arkansas' first Nature Preschool (established 2016, 50-student enrollment) using the forest kindergarten model with children outdoors 75% of the day, complemented by Forest Kindergarten, Wildcraft Homeschool Day Program, WILD Passport Training, and LearnCliff; (3) Rentals and hospitality — Brown Center (36 hotel-style rooms), Retreat House (25 guests), Belden Pond Cabins, Williams Lodge, meeting rooms, 208-seat dining hall, outdoor pavilions, and aquatic facilities with pool rentals; and (4) Outreach — a 10,000 sq ft Disaster Assistance Center operated under covenant partnerships with Church World Service and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Sharing the Goods product redistribution program via Good360, Mission Teams, Farmstead, Rise Against Hunger, the Over The Hill Gang volunteer construction crew, Camp Noah trauma-informed programming, and a launching Sleep In Heavenly Peace bed-building chapter.

The underlying operational platform combines a 1,200-acre physical campus (lake, pool, dining facilities, lodging, DAC warehouse with box truck fleet) with a multi-channel marketing and distribution stack: DonorPerfect for donation processing, HubSpot Payments for transactions, SignUpGenius for event registration, UltraCamp/CampBrain for camp enrollment, EventGroove Fundraising for the Hike-A-Thon, Airbnb for Retreat House distribution, and Good360 for product inflow. Revenue mechanics are diversified across program fees (camp tuition, preschool tuition, lodging rentals, pool rentals, grief retreats at $265–$349 per attendee, pool parties at $200 flat/$8 per guest), donations (website portal, Friends of Ferncliff sustainer program at $50+ semi-annual, planned giving, tribute donations, Transform Capital Campaign), grant funding (GoodUse $60K matching, CDP Midwest Early Recovery Fund), and transaction fees on Sharing the Goods at approximately 10% of retail. The customer base spans individual families, preschool and homeschool families, churches and faith organizations, mission and service groups, grief support seekers, and disaster-affected communities across Central Arkansas, with a volunteer ecosystem (Over The Hill Gang, Young Adult Volunteers, Residential Volunteers, AmeriCorps VISTA, mission teams) supplying thousands of labor-hours annually.

Governance is via a board of directors with no parent company or external equity; leadership includes Executive Director Joel Gill, Associate Director/Director of Camp Noah Emily Hooker, Director of Mission and Outreach Emily, Chaplain and Camp Director Jocelyn Wildhack, Nature Preschool Director Rachel Parker, Lead Teacher Jenny Higgins, YAV Site Coordinator Ann Owen, and Chef John Spears. The organization holds American Camp Association accreditation and has received multiple sustainability recognitions including Little Rock's Greenest Non-profit (2014), the Interfaith Power and Light National Award for Energy Efficiency (2015), and the Presbyterians for Earth Care Sustainability Award.

Name

Ferncliff Camp

Legal name

Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center

Website

https://ferncliff.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ferncliff Camp is a non-profit Presbyterian-affiliated camp, conference, and outreach center on a 1,200-acre campus in Little Rock, Arkansas, serving families, churches, and disaster-affected communities through overnight/day camps, Arkansas' first Nature Preschool, lodging and meeting rentals, and a 10,000 sq ft Disaster Assistance Center with Good360 product redistribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Recreation and Camp Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Eco/Nature-Based Campgrounds (Sustainable/Off-Grid) (THAMAJAK), Outdoor / Nature-Based Nursery & Forest Playgroups (EDACACAH)

Keywords

• Summer camp programs
• Nature-based preschool
• Retreat venue rentals
• Disaster relief logistics
• Faith-based camping

Headquarters

HQ city

Little Rock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Camp Programs: Revenue from day camp, overnight camp, specialty camps, discovery camps, and family camp registrations. Registration fees for summer programs and year-round camp experiences for children and youth entering 1st-12th grades.
2. Facility Rentals: Revenue from lodging accommodations (Brown Center with 36 hotel-style rooms, Retreat House with 25-person capacity), meeting rooms, outdoor pavilions, and pool rentals. Includes youth retreats, conference bookings, and event venue rentals.
3. Nature Preschool Tuition: Tuition revenue from nature preschool program serving preschool-aged children, including Forest Kindergarten class for 4-5 year olds. MWF and T/TH class options available.
4. Donations and Giving Programs: Donations through website portal, Friends of Ferncliff sustainer program (semi-annual contributions of minimum $50), planned giving, tribute donations, and Transform Capital Campaign. Volunteer support providing thousands of hours of service annually.
5. Sharing the Goods Program: Product redistribution program distributing donated products to nonprofits and churches at minimal handling fees (approximately 10% of retail). Ferncliff receives truckloads from Good360 partners and redistributes through member network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ferncliff operates a camp, conference, and nature education campus on 1,200 acres in Little Rock, Arkansas, selling summer camp registrations (overnight, day, specialty, discovery, family), nature preschool and homeschool programs, lodging and meeting space rentals, and outreach services including a Disaster Assistance Center and Sharing the Goods product redistribution. Customers are primarily families, children and youth, churches, and faith-based organizations in Central Arkansas and the surrounding region.

Product overview

Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center is a multi-faceted camp and retreat facility offering overnight and day camp programs for various age groups, nature-based education through its Arkansas-first Nature Preschool and homeschool programs, conference and event facilities including lodging (Brown Center with 36 rooms, Retreat House for 25 guests, cabins, and lodges), meeting spaces, outdoor pavilions, and aquatic facilities. The organization operates extensive outreach programs including a 10,000 sq. ft. Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) in partnership with Church World Service and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Sharing The Goods product redistribution program, Mission Teams, Farmstead, and the Over The Hill Gang volunteer construction program. Additional programs include specialty camps, family camps, youth retreats, Camp Noah trauma support, and the upcoming Sleep In Heavenly Peace bed-building chapter. Ferncliff's Nature School includes the Nature Preschool, Forest Kindergarten, Wildcraft Homeschool Program, WILD Passport Training, Hike-A-Thon, and LearnCliff virtual learning support. The organization holds ACA accreditation and multiple environmental awards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nature Preschool: Arkansas's first nature preschool following the forest kindergarten model where children spend 75% of their day outdoors immersed in natural environment.
• Disaster Assistance Center (DAC)
• Sharing the Goods
• Camp Noah

Products and services

• Overnight Camp Traditional week-long overnight camp programs for various age groups, offering outdoor activities, faith-based programming, and community building experiences at Ferncliff's 1,200-acre campus.
• Day Camp Day camp programs available during summer months, allowing campers to participate in activities and camp experiences without overnight stays.
• Specialty Camps Specialized camp programs focusing on specific themes or activities for campers seeking targeted skill development or focused experiences.
• Discovery Camps Exploratory camp programs designed to introduce campers to new activities, nature experiences, and personal growth opportunities.
• Family Camps Camp programs designed for families to experience together, offering shared outdoor activities and bonding opportunities in a faith-based environment.
• Brown Center Lodging Hotel-style accommodations with 36 rooms (most featuring two double beds, private bathrooms with showers, desks with lake views, and WiFi); six rooms are handicap-accessible.
• Retreat House Lodging facility accommodating 25 guests with five bedrooms, three full baths, one half bath, full-service kitchen, large dining room (13 x 35), two living areas, washer/dryer, and WiFi; also listed on Airbnb.
• Belden Pond Cabins Cabin accommodations located near Belden Pond, offering rustic lodging options for groups and families.
• Williams Lodge Lodge facility available for group accommodations and retreats at Ferncliff.
• Meeting Rooms Conference and meeting spaces available for rental, including the CAB Multi-Use Space, suitable for groups and organizations hosting events.
• Youth Retreats Retreat programs specifically designed for youth groups, offering structured activities, spiritual development, and team-building experiences.
• Outdoor Pavilions Open-air pavilion spaces available for outdoor events, gatherings, and activities throughout Ferncliff's grounds.
• Pool Rental Exclusive two-hour pool rentals for groups of twenty, with lifeguard included; $200 flat rate or $8 per guest, available mid-May to mid-September. Pool features beach entry, mushroom waterfall, basketball hoop, splash pad, and pavilion with grill.
• Nature Preschool Arkansas's first nature preschool following the forest kindergarten model, where children spend 75% of the day outdoors immersed in natural environment using emergent curriculum. Established in 2016 with current enrollment of 50 students; includes Forest Kindergarten class for 4-5 year olds with 1:6 teacher-to-student ratio and MWF and T/TH class options.
• Wildcraft Homeschool Day Program Nature-based educational program for homeschool families offering outdoor learning experiences aligned with curriculum needs.
• Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) 10,000 sq ft warehouse facility operated through covenant partnership with Church World Service and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Provides emergency clean-up buckets, hygiene kits, blankets, and supplies for disaster relief efforts across the region, supported by a box truck fleet for collection and distribution.
• Mission Teams Program Outreach program offering teams a variety of service experiences on-site at Ferncliff or in Central Arkansas, working on disaster relief and community service projects.
• Sharing the Goods Product redistribution program operating from the DAC warehouse through partnership with Good360, distributing donated products from companies including Home Depot, Walmart, Amazon, Tempur-Sealy, Grainger, and Ferguson to nonprofits and churches at minimal handling fees of approximately 10% of retail.
• Rise Against Hunger Meal packaging program where volunteers assemble meals for distribution to those in need, hosted at Ferncliff.
• Farmstead Agricultural program at Ferncliff focusing on sustainable farming practices, food production, and farm-based education.
• Residential Volunteer Program Year-long residential volunteer program recruiting highly-motivated individuals to live full-time at Ferncliff, assisting with the Disaster Assistance Center, Sharing the Goods, hospitality, events, maintenance, and Nature Preschool support.
• Camp Noah Trauma-informed day camp program for elementary school children affected by disasters, offered in partnership with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota; hosted at Ferncliff after the 2023 Arkansas tornadoes.
• Sleep In Heavenly Peace (Little Rock Chapter) Bed-building program launching Fall 2024 in partnership with Ozark Mission Project to provide safe sleeping arrangements for children in need across the Little Rock metro area, where approximately 22,000 children lack beds.
• Navigating Your Grief Retreat Multi-day grief retreat hosted at Ferncliff in partnership with Faith & Grief Ministries, combining Ferncliff lodging and meals with Faith & Grief's grief support curriculum and facilitators. Pricing: $349 single occupancy or $265 double occupancy per person, includes hotel room lodging and all meals.
• Center for Healing and Restoration Program providing trauma support and healing services for individuals and communities affected by disasters.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3% of children in Arkansas (approximately 91,000) sleep on floor or couches; Ferncliff launching Sleep In Heavenly Peace chapter to provide beds
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Church World Service (CWS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCovenant partnership for Disaster Assistance Center operations. Ferncliff DAC is operated through partnership with CWS and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Churches and nonprofits request disaster assistance kits through CWS, with Ferncliff maintaining inventory for rapid response.
• Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCovenant partnership for Disaster Assistance Center operations. Joint oversight of 10,000 sq ft DAC facility for disaster relief kit assembly, storage, and distribution.
• Good360coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFerncliff is a Community Redistribution Partner with Good360, receiving truckloads of product donations from companies like Home Depot, Grainger, Ferguson, Tempur-Sealy, Walmart, Amazon for Sharing the Goods program redistribution.
• Gilmont Camp & Conference CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGilmont is a kit depot for CWS/PDA disaster assistance kits. Receives and stores kits from churches and groups, with Ferncliff picking up inventory for distribution. Partnership supported by mission grant from Synod of the Sun.
• First Presbyterian Church Fort WorthminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChildren's choir collected emergency cleanup bucket supplies through 'Storms' musical performance program. Donated items to Ferncliff DAC for disaster relief operations.
• Shannondale Ministries (Missouri Mid-South Conference UCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Sharing the Goods program where MMSUCC receives older warehouse items for distribution through Magic Pavilion serving low-income community near Shannondale.
• Camp Noah (Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide trauma-informed day camp program for elementary children in communities impacted by disasters. Ferncliff hosted Camp Noah for children affected by 2023 Arkansas tornadoes with CDP Midwest Early Recovery Fund support.
• Faith & Grief MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Navigating Your Grief Retreat combining Ferncliff facilities with Faith & Grief's grief support curriculum and facilitators. 501(c)(3) ministry founded in 2011 providing grief workshops and ongoing support resources.
• Ozark Mission Project (OMP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch local chapter of Sleep In Heavenly Peace at Ferncliff, providing beds to children without proper sleeping arrangements in the Little Rock area.
• AmeriCorpsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmeriCorps Vista volunteers participate in DAC operations including kit assembly during retreats and ongoing warehouse support activities.
• Mount Vernon Presbyterian ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated nature after-school program van supporting transportation for students from Robinson, Chenal, and Roberts Elementary schools.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Forest Home: Christian conference center and camp in California combining family/overnight camps, retreat lodging, and faith-based programming on a multi-acre wooded campus — closely mirrors Ferncliff's blended camp/conference center model.
• Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center: Long-running faith-based conference and retreat center offering camp programs, lodging, meeting space, and youth retreats on a large wooded campus — directly comparable to Ferncliff's lodging and retreat mix.
• Camp Champions: Long-established Texas-based family and youth camp with strong summer programming, on-site lodging, and dining amenities comparable to Ferncliff's overnight camp and family camp operations.
• Trout Lodge at YMCA of the Ozarks: Family-focused resort-style camp and conference center in the Missouri Ozarks offering family retreats, youth programs, lodging, and dining — comparable to Ferncliff's family camp and Brown Center/Retreat House offerings.
• Kanakuk Kamps: Faith-based Christian overnight and day camp network serving families and youth across multiple locations, with on-site lodging, family camps, and retreat programming comparable to Ferncliff's core camp operations.
• WinShape Foundation: Faith-based camp, retreat, and conference organization operating multiple sites with overnight camps, family programming, and retreat center lodging — directly comparable multi-program Christian ministry.
• Camp Noah (Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota): Trauma-informed day camp for children impacted by disasters, currently delivered as a Ferncliff partnership after the 2023 Arkansas tornadoes; represents a comparable disaster-response camp program with replicable curriculum.
• Pine Cove: Multi-location Christian camp network in Texas offering overnight camps, day camps, family camps, and retreat center bookings with similar faith-based programming, lodging capacity, and amenities to Ferncliff.
• Lutheridge Ministries: Lutheran-affiliated camp and retreat center providing overnight camps, family camps, retreat lodging, and meeting space — directly comparable in denomination-aligned programming and facility mix.

Emerging players

• Tinkergarten: National nature-based early childhood education provider offering outdoor classes for young children; comparable to Ferncliff's Nature Preschool and Forest Kindergarten on the curriculum/market side, though Tinkergarten operates via distributed leader model rather than a single campus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ferncliffcamp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ferncliff-camp-and-conference-center
• Xx.com/ferncliffcamp

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ferncliff Camp