LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (December 16, 2025)—The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas (MFA) will offer United Methodists statewide an opportunity for reduced rates to attend Camp Tanako, Ozark Mission Project (OMP), and Mount Eagle Retreat Center in the 2026 calendar year.
“We are grateful to be able to provide attendee support for three cherished organizations in the coming year,” said the Rev. J. Wayne Clark, president and CEO of MFA. “This commitment is personal for many of our staff, board members, and friends of the Foundation, who have meaningful camping and serving experiences they hold dear as crucial to their own faith development.”
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 household 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 increase access to the spiritual experiences that Camp Tanako, OMP, and Mount Eagle all offer,” Yokem said. “These scholarship dollars will be allocated based on a combination of financial need and availability of funds. Partnering with these three organizations makes it possible for more people to have transformational growth that intensifies their faith community’s importance in their lives.”
How to Apply
Ozark Mission Project accepts registrations connected with group participation, so youth and their families for whom the cost of participating in OMP would present a financial hardship should talk with their United Methodist youth ministry leader to learn more about the most effective way to benefit from one of the OMP scholarships. In addition to assisting individuals, the Foundation is encouraging participation from congregations by offering up to $3,000 to each new participating church and up to $1,500 for second-year participating churches. Find details about these scholarships at www.ozarkmissionproject.org/scholarships.
“Hands-on mission work has the power to transform a young person’s spiritual journey in exponential ways,” said Ozark Mission Project Interim Executive Director Jules Anderson. “Faithfully answering the call to love our neighbors as ourselves is a profound faith experience that we believe all youth should have access to. We are so grateful for the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas’ generous support of such opportunities through these scholarships that promote access for all youth and churches.”
Prospective campers wishing to go to Camp Tanako and whose finances present an obstacle to attending this summer may apply for 50% tuition 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 page.
“Summer camp can make a real difference in a child’s faith journey,” said Camp Tanako Interim Director Matthew Gwinner. “The majority of our campers receive some sort of scholarship, either from a local church, an individual, or an organization like the Methodist Foundation of Arkansas, and the Foundation’s dedication to making camp experiences possible for young people has a significant impact on Tanako and on all who come here.”
Mount Eagle Retreat Center will be using its MFA funds in a slightly different way: Every United Methodist group that hasn’t visited Mount Eagle since January of 2020 is eligible to have most lodging expenses covered for their next visit. For details, email
“We are so grateful for the Foundation’s generosity, and we want to leverage it to ensure our United Methodist churches and small groups across the state understand the value of the amazing resource they have in Mount Eagle,” said Mount Eagle Executive Director Daniel Hiatt. “We never want cost to be a barrier for a group that wants to spend time connecting with God through the beauty of Creation, which is on such vibrant display here for all to enjoy.”
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 $260 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.
