Campers and volunteers arrived on Friday afternoon for what would be an unforgettable weekend full of big catches, gusty winds, and endless entertainment. Each year, we host a weekend of fishing for our campers to attend, and they are able to fish from the ASCCA pond, the ASCCA boat dock, and they even get to make a trip or two out on a fishing boat with our volunteer boaters.
Before the fishing could begin Saturday morning, campers and staff had the opportunity to show their excitement by moving and grooving with their closest friends at the dance on Friday night. Once the dance was complete, campers and ASCCA summer staff members had the opportunity to introduce our new Pi Kappa Phi and local volunteers to “The Goodnight Song” that is sung every night before bed.
Saturday morning arrived quickly, and campers, volunteers, and boaters were excited to get things started after a yummy sausage gravy and biscuit breakfast. The first fishing session of the day came with a bit of a chill and a brisk wind that seemed to keep some fish away, but when the boats arrived back in at the dock for lunch, several campers were sharing about the thrill of catching 12 or more fish (bream, bass, and crappie) out on the windy waters of Lake Martin.
After a time of refueling at lunch and a quick nap, everyone trekked back out across the ASCCA campus for two more fishing sessions Saturday afternoon. The wind continued to pick up as the day progressed, but that did not stop our campers from working hard to make the catch of the day. Around 4:15 p.m., the wind was so strong that the boaters could not leave the dock, so the campers who would miss their boat trip for the day dispersed between the dock and the pond to continue fishing.
By dinner time, everyone was ready for a tasty meal that was focused around the weekend’s fishing theme and included catfish filets. An ASCCA weekend camp would not be complete without a talent show, so once dinner was over, campers and volunteers made their way to the basement of Lions Lodge. This year’s Fun Fish talent show, was full of popular hits from the 80s and beyond. It was an opportunity for campers to bring their favorite fellow camper or volunteer up on stage with them to sing their favorite song.
On Sunday morning, everyone ate the final breakfast of the weekend and then headed to their designated location for the final fishing session. The two-hour session went by quick, but it also resulted in some of the biggest catches of the weekend. Before parents arrived, the Fun Fish 2018 awards were presented to the campers who caught the most fish and to the individuals who had the biggest catch. This year, the third-place award for the most fish caught by someone from the male cabins was Victor Bell, and the third-place winner for the female cabins was Reagan Bush. Second-place went to Justin Harvill and Ashley Spires. Finally, the first-place winners for the most fish caught over the weekend were C.J. McGuire and Patricia Dean. Each winner received their own fishing gear in recognition of their hard work on the waters all weekend long.
Once those awards were presented, Outdoor Education Director Cody Graham had a few more to give. Each year, he also presents an award to the individuals who made the largest catch of the weekend, and this year’s recipients were C.J. McGuire and Katlyn Miller. Many times, there is also a camper who carries an incredible attitude all weekend long and supports his/her fellow campers during each rotation, and this person is often awarded the sportsmanship award. This year’s Best Sportsmanship award recipient was Matthew Davis who greeted Cody with a big hug and happy tears streaming down his face.
After celebrating the weekend of successful fishing, campers and volunteers gathered their bags to prepare for the arrival of parents and guardians, the true sign of the end of an incredible weekend. Check-out began, and campers said their goodbyes to their favorite friends from Fun Fish 2018. Without the volunteer counselors and boaters, the weekend would not have been possible, so to each of you, we say a big “THANK YOU!” It was an unforgettable weekend, and we look forward to future Fun Fish adventures!
To check out more moments from Fun Fish 2018, visit our Flickr page here, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for daily camp updates.
Located in Alabama on Lake Martin, Camp ASCCA offers campers a wide variety of traditional recreational and educational activities with a unique design for accessibility.
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