Ferncliff camp to dedicate 1,200-straw-bale Eco Center

Ferncliff Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center will dedicate a straw bale building during an open house 1-4 p.m. today. The dedication will begin at 2 p.m. Tours of the building will be offered, as well as refreshments.

Ferncliff, located off Kanis Road seven miles west of the Little Rock city limits, is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. but is open to all. In addition to a summer camp, the site is also open all year as a conference center.

Construction of the straw bale building began in April. Known as the Eco Center, the 5,300-square-foot building includes six bedrooms with space for 24 guests. The building also includes meeting space to accommodate 100.

In an effort to be eco-friendly, the building includes 1,200 straw bales in the walls. Other eco-friendly touches include radiant heating in the floor, solar panels to produce electricity, water saving fixtures, LED lighting and recycled flooring made from discarded materials. One room has a floor made of used conveyor belts cut into tiles. Another has papier mache “stones,” while another is made from thousands of beer bottles. Dubbed the“Beer Bottle Bottom” room, the floor features upside down bottles inserted into sand and mortar.

Ferncliff Camp is on Ferncliff Road, a half-mile south of its intersection with Kanis Road at Ferndale. Information is available online at ferncliff. org and photos of the construction are featured on the camp’s Facebook page.

Religion, Pages 13 on 03/29/2014

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