Parent Resources

Most common restrictions and allergies can be accommodated with advance notice, noted on your camper’s health form.

We do accommodate staff members and campers with service animals. Please note that we do not allow pets or emotional support animals at camp.

Ferncliff strives to create a fully inclusive culture and environment that values equality and fosters respect for all people. Ferncliff welcomes all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Read our full LGBTQ Statement of Inclusivity

We want every camper to have a fun, rewarding experience at Ferncliff and for campers with special needs, that starts with a conversation. Our Program Director personally meets with parents of campers who may have special requests or needs, to work out what will help your family feel confident and prepared making sure we have the right environment, staff, and activities in place to meet your child’s needs and keep them safe. If your camper has special needs, please reach out to us before registering. Ruth Arnold, our Camp Director, would be happy to assist.

You may submit one friend’s name each way when you register. To help every camper build new friendships, we don’t place larger existing friend groups together in the same cabin or group.

As part of registering your camper through our online portal, you and your camper will review and agree to our Camper Behavior Covenant. Here’s what it covers:

At Ferncliff, we welcome our campers into a life of caring for Creation, others, and themselves. We want every camper in our programs to have the best camp experience possible, full of fun, learning, and growth.

To ensure that we maintain a relationally safe environment and each camper is free to experience camp life to its fullest, we will not tolerate any behavior that takes that opportunity away from other campers. We will address all incidents such as bullying and irresponsible behavior, and will train staff to recognize and respond to such behavior.

Understanding that camp is for ALL campers, any behavior deemed by camp to be outside of the covenant below, or otherwise unmanageable, may result in any or all of the following:

– A meeting with the group counselor, coordinator, or program director to discuss the behavior

– A phone call home to the parent or guardian

– Being sent home from the camp session

As a camper, I will:

– Know and follow the rules of camp

– Show respect to other campers, and try to be a friend to all. Show respect to camp staff, and cooperate fully with their instructions

– Understand that for my safety and the safety of others, I’ll always stay with my group and/or in a group of three, where one of those three is a staff member

– Communicate in a camp-appropriate manner — no foul language or gestures, no topics that aren’t camp/age-appropriate, and no raising my voice at others in anger. Unwelcome teasing or other unkind behavior isn’t allowed

– Refrain from deliberately causing physical harm to other campers or staff — pushing, kicking, hitting, or fighting are not acceptable

– Respect the property of others and camp — no stealing, property damage, graffiti, or vandalism. I’ll only enter the cabins and buildings I’m directed to enter

– Remember that physical displays of affection or of a romantic nature aren’t appropriate at camp

– Be fully responsible for my actions, understanding that irresponsible behavior will result in disciplinary conversations and possibly being sent home

– Have lots of FUN, learn, grow, and have a GREAT time!

I’ll do my part to help make camp fun for everyone. If I encounter others who aren’t following this covenant, I’ll share that with my counselor or coordinator.

As part of registration in our online portal, you’ll complete a health form covering allergies, medications, immunizations, and any conditions we should know about — including whether your camper carries an EpiPen and any dietary restrictions we should plan for.

If your camper needs medical attention while at camp, here’s how we handle it:

Minor injuries and illnesses — things a nurse or staff member can treat, that don’t keep your camper from participating in most activities (a scraped knee, an upset stomach) — won’t require a phone call. You’ll hear about it when you pick up your camper (or at the end of the week, for Overnight Camp).

Moderate injuries and illnesses — treatable by our nurse or staff, but that might keep your camper from participating in most activities (not eating meals, not sleeping) — will require a phone call to you.

Major injuries and illnesses — anything our nurse or staff can’t treat (a broken bone, a fever of 100.4° or higher) — will require a phone call to you and for your camper to leave camp.

Ferncliff always offers our three-tier pricing system, every session, every year — so there’s a price that works for every family. Tier 1 is the true cost of camp. Tier 2 is a partially subsidized rate. Tier 3 is a fully subsidized rate, set for families who just need a little help.

Choose whichever tier suits your family best — there’s no income verification, no forms to complete, and no need to explain your choice. No matter which tier you choose, your camper gets the exact same experience.

Beyond the tiers, Ferncliff also has some limited campership funds reserved to help families who need additional financial assistance. Many Presbyterian churches also provide assistance for children and youth to attend programs — ask your pastor if your church has a discount code for camps!

Financial aid applications are part of the standard camp registration process.

A $50 non-refundable deposit is due at registration. Balance is due two weeks prior to your camper’s session.

Refunds may be given up to 15 days prior to the start of camp, minus the $50 non-refundable deposit fee. No refunds will be given within 15 days of the start of camp, as staffing is determined by the number of participants.

• Final balance due two weeks before session.
• Families may pay in installments via online account.

Campers are responsible for their belongings. We urge campers not to pack irreplaceable items. Items left behind are held for two weeks before being donated. Ferncliff is not responsible for lost or damaged items.

If a session is full, you’ll be added to a waitlist and notified automatically by email as soon as a spot opens — you’ll have 48 hours to register before the spot is offered to the next family.

Photo access through the camp app

• Photos are uploaded at least daily during camp sessions.
• Photo access is included for all families.
• You’ll find photos in the same Ferncliff Camp app we use for one-way email. Search for “Ferncliff App” in your app store; the app has our logo on it.
• If you have trouble with the app, please use the help option inside the app. We don’t manage the app ourselves.

Photo recognition add-on

Families can purchase an optional add-on through the app. It uses photo recognition to alert you when your child appears in an uploaded photo.

What to expect from photos

We work hard to photograph every camper group throughout the week, during a variety of activities. It’s important to us that you can see the fun your camper is having. That said:

• Photos are taken by dedicated media staff, not counselors.
• Media staff can’t be everywhere at once.
• Campers are constantly rotating through activities across a large property.
• We can’t guarantee that every camper will appear in photos each day.

Our goal is to capture the full camp experience through groups, activities and special moments, while keeping campers safe and the program flowing.