LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (January 6, 2025)—The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas will offer young United Methodists from across the state an opportunity for scholarships to attend programs provided by Camp Tanako and Ozark Mission Project on a first-come, first-serve basis for the 2025 calendar year.
“So many of our staff members, board members, and other friends of the Foundation share meaningful camping and serving experiences as part of their own faith stories,” said the Rev. J. Wayne Clark, president and CEO of MFA. “We are pleased to be able to help make those same types of experiences more accessible for this generation of young people.”
Increasing financial pressures, including inflation, job or wage loss, unexpected expenses, multiple children, and single-income households, combined with the rising costs of providing a quality camping experience, can make it challenging or impossible for a family to cover fees for a child’s multi-day camp or service opportunity, said the Rev. Mackey Yokem, director of leadership ministries for the Foundation.
“The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas wants to ease that burden and provide quality enrichment that we know Camp Tanako and Ozark Mission Project offer,” Yokem said. “Partnering with them makes it possible for more children and youth to have transformational spiritual growth as an extension of their faith community’s involvement in their lives.”
Ozark Mission Project accepts registrations connected with group participation, so youth and their families should contact their United Methodist youth ministry leader and complete the individual application here to learn more about how to benefit from one of the OMP scholarships. In addition to assisting individuals, the Foundation is encouraging first-time participation from congregations who have never sent a group to OMP by offering up to $4,000 to each new participating church. The group scholarship form is available here.
“We are thankful that because of scholarship funds more youth will participate in OMP, which means we can serve more families,” said Ozark Mission Project Executive Director Bailey Faulkner. “We are thankful for each person that makes the time to serve. What they will find is they receive so much more from serving than they ever anticipated.”
Prospective campers apply for the Camp Tanako scholarships by completing the Foundation’s online form at methodistfoundationar.org/camp-scholarship. When an application is approved, the applicant will receive a discount code to use on Camp Tanako’s registration website.
“I believe the experience of summer camp is crucial in a child’s faith formation,” said Camp Tanako Executive Director Kayla Hardage. “Supporting funds make this experience happen for so many kids—about 75% of our campers receive some sort of scholarship, whether it be from a local church, an individual, or institutions like the Methodist Foundation of Arkansas. This investment changes lives.”
About the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas
With a mission to establish and manage charitable funds to strengthen and expand Methodist ministries across Arkansas, the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas manages over $220 million in endowment funds and other charitable assets that benefit local churches and other Methodist ministries. Founded in 1963, the Foundation has grown into one of the largest Methodist foundations in the country, managing more than 800 funds that support Methodist ministries. To learn more, visit methodistfoundationAR.org.
