Camp ASCCA isn’t just a place; it’s the people who make it feel like home. In this series, we’re shining a spotlight on the staff, past and present, who dedicate their time, energy, and hearts to creating unforgettable experiences for our campers. From heartfelt stories to behind-the-scenes moments, get to know the faces, positions, and journeys that make ASCCA truly special.
If you’ve eaten a hot meal at Camp ASCCA in the past few years, there’s a good chance Jon Dollar had something to do with it. From the kitchen to the archery range and just about everywhere in between, Jon has worn many hats at Camp over the years.
Jon first arrived at Camp ASCCA in 2015 as a summer counselor. Like many staff members, one role quickly turned into several. Over the years, he has served on the program staff in shooting sports and aquatics, as a unit leader, and as the Outdoor Education Specialist, and he is currently serving as the Kitchen Supervisor. Each position has given him a new way to serve campers and experience Camp from a different perspective.
In February 2020, Jon officially joined the full-time staff as the Outdoor Education Director. Then, in January 2022, he took on the role he holds today as Kitchen Supervisor. Now, his focus is on making sure everyone at Camp is taken care of when it comes to one of the most important parts of the day: meals.
“I, along with an amazing kitchen staff, make sure that everyone gets a meal to eat hot and on time,” Jon says. “That includes accommodating participants with food allergies and special diets.”
Food may seem like a simple part of camp, but Jon knows just how important it really is. Camp days are long and full of activity, and a good meal keeps campers ready for whatever comes next.
“I love that I can provide a crucial role to this organization, and no one can say, ‘I’m too hungry to go swimming.”
While his job may keep him busy behind the scenes, Jon says what has kept him at Camp ASCCA all these years is the people.
“It’s the people that drive underneath the Camp ASCCA sign year after year,” he says. “Building on those relationships, even if it’s just a couple of days out of the year, means everything.”
One moment in particular helped remind him why those relationships matter so much.
Jon remembers a day running archery when a camper was trying to use a crossbow. The camper struggled to hold it steady, and even with Jon’s help it took several minutes just to fire a few bolts. None of them came close to the target, and Jon admits he felt a little defeated.
When he walked downrange to collect the bolts and turned around, he saw something he will never forget.
“I saw the biggest smile I’ve ever seen from anyone coming from this camper,” Jon says. “It was then I realized he probably never had an experience like this. The fact that he got to participate and shoot a crossbow genuinely made his day.”
That moment stuck with him because it captured the heart of what Camp ASCCA is all about.
“It dawned on me that this is why we do what we do,” he says. “To create moments for our campers that they cannot get anywhere else.”
Jon says working at Camp ASCCA has also changed the way he sees people. Before working here, he had very little interaction with individuals with disabilities. Now, he cannot imagine life without the relationships he has built.
“Working at ASCCA changed the way I saw them, and I now know that the campers of ASCCA are the coolest people around,” he says.
Those relationships extend to staff as well. Even if Jon only sees some of his closest camp friends a few days each year, the connections remain strong.
When asked to describe Camp ASCCA in one word, Jon chooses exceptional. For him, that word reflects both the campers and the staff who make the experience what it is.
“It starts with the experience and training of the staff,” he says. “They provide great experiences for the campers. The staff wouldn’t be as great as they are if it weren’t for the exceptional campers that they serve.”
During the busy summer season, Jon does not always get to step away from the kitchen. But one weekly tradition he looks forward to is breakfast at the patio.
“It’s one of my favorite routines,” he says. “I’m able to be out of the kitchen for a little while and go where the people are. I love going from table to table and hearing midweek updates from the campers.”
Sometimes those moments even take him back to his summer staff days.
“I sometimes even get to help feed campers, and it brings me back to my summer staff roots.”
Jon says Camp ASCCA has shaped his life in more ways than he ever expected. It even influenced the direction of his college education so that he could continue working in environments like Camp.
Through the years, he has also taken pride in helping improve the dining hall in kitchen spaces, especially rebuilding after the fire. For Jon, creating a space where campers and staff can gather and enjoy meals together is something worth investing in.
When asked what advice he would give to campers, staff, and families, Jon shares a perspective that comes from years of watching people try new things at Camp.
“The greatest feeling you can ever feel is relief,” he says. “Whether that’s relief from conquering your first zip line ride, being relieved that you worked a whole summer and did a great job, relief from having meals come out hot and on time, or being relieved when hearing your child had the best time at camp.”
At Camp ASCCA, those moments of relief often come after trying something new, pushing through a challenge, or simply showing up and being part of the experience. Thanks to people like Jon, there is always a hot meal waiting at the end of the day.
