The Montgomery Advertiser, Guest column
By Allison Wetherbee
Camp ASCCA Easter Seals offers camping opportunities to children and adults with disabilities. ASCCA is an acronym that stands for Alabama’s Special Camp for Children and Adults. Beginning in 1976, Camp ASCCA has been a nationally recognized leader in camping recreation for people with disabilities and is known throughout the world for its superior quality services.
Providing camping experiences for children and adults with disabilities, Camp ASCCA is open year-round. Within its barrier-free environment, Camp ASCCA offers 230 wooded acres in Jackson’s Gap on the shores of beautiful Lake Martin in Alabama. Camp ASCCA serves an average of 7,000 people annually.
The needs of campers with disabilities are cared for by trained staff, and there are many different camping opportunities for all individuals throughout the year. Camp ASCCA is a special place where campers with disabilities have the opportunity to express their individuality and independence within a carefully supervised setting. Their families also are provided with a chance to relax in the knowledge that more than 30 years of experience goes into providing a safe environment where fun can be had by all.
The busiest season for Camp ASCCA is during the summer when an average of 1,200 campers are served. At the beginning of the summer, there is a one week training and orientation for staff members. The week-long Camp ASCCA summer sessions run from June to August.
Throughout the year, Camp ASCCA also has exciting camping opportunities for people with disabilities. Some of these include Deer Hunting Weekends, Christmas Weekend, and Fun Fish Weekend. Camp ASCCA facilities can also host school day camps, environmental camps and retreats.
The emphasis for the camp’s programs is in meeting the needs of each camper and utilizing ability and capability to enable each camper’s participation to their fullest potential. The philosophy of Camp ASCCA is to offer an exciting camp program geared to the age, interest, and ability of our campers. This involves learning new skills, making new friends, and participating in a variety of activities.
The activities enjoyed at Camp ASCCA include swimming, a waterslide, water skiing, tubing, an accessible water playground, canoeing, boating, fishing, arts and crafts, golf, miniature golf, nature appreciation, geocaching, horseback, bocce, riflery, and even high adventure activities such as climbing, the zip-line, and cargo net. In addition to all of this, there are evening programs that include campfires, dances, and talent shows.
There is never a dull moment at Camp ASCCA. Program areas include the demonstration farm, environmental center, adventure area, nature trail, ball field, horseback riding ring, golf driving range, rifle range, lakefront, modern filtered swimming pool, an all-weather pavilion, and much, much more.
The Camp ASCCA Easter Seals Mission is to help eligible individuals with disabilities and/or health impairments achieve equality, dignity, and maximum independence. This is to be accomplished through a safe and quality program of camping, therapeutic recreation, and education in a year-round barrier-free environment. Our goal is to serve those who can derive maximum benefit from the resident camp experience and provide a healthier, happier, longer, and more productive life for children and adults of all abilities.
Camp ASCCA and the River Region United Way have enjoyed long and enduring partnership over the years. Nearly half of the financial aid needed for campers from this area to attend Camp ASCCA is provided by the River Region United Way.
Without this type of ongoing support, Camp ASCCA would not be able to continue the longstanding promise that no camper is turned down due to inability to pay camping fees. We greatly appreciate and thank the River Region United Way for their continued support.
One way you can help support Camp ASCCA is to spread the word about us. Tell everyone you know about this special place and that we can all feel proud that it is located right here in Alabama. And if you know a child or an adult with a disability, please share this information with them. We always welcome new campers.
For more information on Camp ASCCA Easter Seals, please visit our main website: www.campascca.org or join our social network: www.asccafriends.org. Our office can be reached by calling 256- 825-9226 or 1-800-THE CAMP (in Alabama only).
Allison Wetherbee is director of community relations for Easter Seals Camp ASCCA. This is the first in a series of guest columns on United Way agencies.
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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