overnight camp
Entering 1st-3rd Grade
A gentle first taste of overnight camp.
Choose your camp type
Explorers
Love Day Camp and curious about sleeping at camp? Explorers adds a Thursday night in the cabins to your camper’s Day Camp week. They enjoy their usual days, then stay for dinner in the dining hall, an evening activity and worship with the overnight campers. It’s a gentle first step toward Overnight Camp.
Discovery Camp
Three days, two nights (Sunday-Tuesday). The perfect first step into overnight camp for entering 1st-3rd graders. Campers settle into cabin life with new friends, then spend their days swimming, riding the Shady Chute, gathering around campfires, singing in worship, and exploring the Bible outdoors. Caring counselors are with them every step, and a registered nurse is on call around the clock.
2027 1st-3rd grade overnight dates
View our 2027 sessions schedule below. We recommend checking availability before starting your registration.
| Dates | Program | Grades | Availability | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 20-22 | Discovery Camp | 1st-3rd | Filling up | Register, June 20-22 |
| June 21-25 | Explorers Camp | 1st-3rd | Filling up | Register, June 21-25 |
| June 27-29 | Discovery Camp | 1st-3rd | Filling up | Register, June 27-29 |
| June 28-July 2 | Explorers Camp | 1st-3rd | Filling up | Register, June 28-July 2 |
| July 11-13 | Discovery Camp | 1st-3rd | Filling up | Register, July 11-13 |
Availability updated weekly
Why three prices?
Recognizing that families have different abilities to pay, Ferncliff has a voluntary fee program. You choose the price that is most suitable for your family.
No matter what price you choose, the amenities, activities, and camp experience are exactly the same.
Need more support? Scholarships are available.
See All Camp Pricing & Financial Aid
Tier 1
True
The true cost of camp
Tier 2
Partial
Partially subsidized
Tier 3
Fully
Subsidized price
Every camper is welcome here
Whatever their background, beliefs or ability. Our staff are trained to make that true in practice, not just on paper.
Background-screened counselors
Extensively trained staff
First aid & CPR certified
Certified lifeguards
Trained in camper well-being
Nurse on site 24/7
New and updated facilities
Meet our counselors ›
First-time camper resources ›
Welcome & Inclusion ›
An Experience Crafted Just for Your Child
Gentle first overnight experience
Whether they choose our 1-night Explorer camp or our 2-night Discovery camp, giving them an exciting and supportive introduction to cabin life.
Special evening experiences
Campers enjoy evening games, worship, and nighttime fun that aren’t part of regular Day Camp.
Confidence-building
The overnight experience helps campers practice independence and prepares them for future Overnight Camp sessions.
Trusted staff support
Our trained counselors guide campers every step of the way, keeping the experience safe, encouraging, and fun.
Camps designed specifically with your little ones in mind
We design these camps specifically for this age group so that they have the same great experience as older kids with the same fun activities, games, and camp traditions, but at their pace and with their needs in mind.
Balanced and Kid-Friendly
Our dining hall at Ferncliff Commons serves hot breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus daily snacks. We accommodate most dietary restrictions and focus on balanced, kid-friendly meals.
What to Pack
Remember: at camp, you’ll be playing outside in the summer heat — no need to bring your Sunday best!
Clothing
- An outfit for each day
- Underwear and socks
- Pajamas
- Rain jacket or poncho
- Swimsuit
- Water shoes
- Sturdy, close-toed shoes
- Sandals or flip-flops for cabin time or at the pool
- Hat and sunglasses
Miscellaneous
- Sleeping bag, or sheets and a blanket
- Pillow and pillowcase
- Flashlight and batteries
- Refillable water bottle
- Hat and sunglasses
- Camera
- A book, coloring book and crayons, friendship bracelet string, or other quiet activities for rest
Toiletries
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Shampoo, conditioner, soap
- Personal care items (deodorant, lotion, contact solution, etc.)
- Sunscreen
- Bug repellant
- Bath towel and washcloth
- A beach towel to use at the pool
- Any medications you take, in a separate bag to give to the nurse at check-in
Please leave at home:
- Electronic items such as cell phones, iPads, video game players, etc.
- Food, snacks, or candy
- Expensive or sentimental items
- Clothes that can’t get dirty
- Pets and animals
- Money and wallets
Real voices
What Families Are Saying
Thousands of families and campers have found something meaningful at Ferncliff. Here are a few of their stories.
Dubois Family
Ferncliff Camper Family
“All year, my cousins and I talk about how excited we are for Ferncliff,” Harlan said. “I make new friends every year, and we have so much fun doing activities.” With Harlan’s Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis, the Dubois family didnt think their summer camp tradition was in the cards. But at Ferncliff, they found partners they could trust. Today, coming to camp has become a family tradition. Harlan and Malcolm are regular overnight campers each summer, and each summer they reunite at Ferncliff with cousins from across the country.
Read Dubois Family’s Full Story →
“I’ve never camped outdoors before. At first I was concerned and not looking forward to it, but then once I was there, I realized I would do it again.”
Camper
Summer 2025
Camper
“Camp is my favorite part of the year!”
Camper
Summer 2025
Camper
“My son didn’t stop talking about all the fun things he did at camp – from pickup to bedtime.”
Camper Parent
Summer 2025
Parent
Questions about camp?
Contact Ruth Arnold, Program Director, at summercamp@ferncliff.org or (501) 821-3063.
FAQ
Explorers is a full week of Day Camp, Monday to Friday, with a Thursday-night overnight in cabins. Discovery Camp is a short overnight camp, Sunday to Tuesday, three days and two nights. Both are a good first step toward a full week of Overnight Camp.
Discovery Camp begins Sunday with check-in from 4:00 to 5:00pm and ends Tuesday at 4:00pm, followed by check-out until 5:00pm. Explorers begins on Monday at the usual Day Camp drop-off time and ends Friday after the Closing Program (4:00pm, about 20 minutes, in the Christian Activity Building), with check-out until 5:00pm. Drop-off and pick-up times are strictly enforced because staff are opening and closing camp sessions.
Campers entering 1st-3rd grade stay exclusively in cabins, with campers of the same gender expression and approximate age. Lodging is assigned by Ferncliff. Our Belden Pond cabins have air conditioning, bunk beds, showers, and stall toilets
We follow American Camp Association ratios. For overnight campers it is 1:6 for ages 6-8 and 1:8 for ages 9-14. During Explorers’ Day Camp days, Day Camp ratios apply: 1:8 for ages 6-8 and 1:10 for ages 9-14. There are two staff members with each cabin group, and campers in a group are about the same age.
Yes. A registered nurse is on call at all times, and all staff are trained and certified in First Aid and CPR. Medications are held and given out by the camp nurse, so pack them separately and hand them to the nurse at check-in.
We have certified lifeguards on duty any time campers are in the water, and each group’s counselors swim with campers the whole time. At the start of camp, lifeguards complete a skills check with each camper and recommend swim areas. Our pool is zero-entry and slopes to five feet deep, and many younger campers spend the whole pool time in the shallow area.
Of course! Campers come from many faith backgrounds, including none. We only ask that all campers take part in the daily Bible studies and worship times that are part of camp.
Yes. During registration you can enter one friend’s name as a buddy request, and the friend can enter your camper’s name. We do not place larger groups together, so no camper is left out of a group of close friends.
Campers love getting mail. You can buy credits in the Ferncliff Camp app to send one-way Bunk Notes, which are printed each morning and delivered after lunch. You can also send regular mail to 1720 Ferncliff Road, Little Rock, AR 72223, and it is delivered after lunch too. Campers do not make phone calls or carry cell phones. If you are concerned about your camper, contact the Camp Office. Small care packages are welcome, but please do not send food, snacks, or candy. We provide snacks several times a day, keep all food out of cabins, and work to be as nut-free as possible. Any food that arrives is held by the director until pick-up. See Camper Parent Resources for the full details.
Ready for your camper’s first night at Ferncliff?
Choose your session and register through the registration portal. We can’t wait to meet your camper.
