Camp ASCCA Blog

Mike Hammonds, volunteer at The Alexander City Recycle Center, stopped by yesterday with a generous donation for Camp ASCCA. We are among 15 other organizations

Hi! My name is Elise Quinn, and I am from Birmingham, Alabama. I am a senior at Auburn University pursuing a degree in public relations.

On May 20, the annual Hall Foundation Camp began, and campers, volunteers and teachers arrived for the first week-long camp of the summer. The Hall Foundation makes an annual donation that provides the opportunity for groups from Montgomery, Dothan and Florida to attend Camp ASCCA. We are also joined every year by students from the University of North Alabama who volunteer their time as a part of their studies.

The annual Adventure Skills Workshop was held at Camp ASCCA over the weekend by the Shepherd Center. The event held here every year in May is described on the Center’s website as “a fun-filled spring weekend designed for people with spinal cord injury or disease, acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, post-polio syndrome, Guillain-Barré syndrome, transverse myelitis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).”

On Saturday, Camp ASCCA Administrator John Stephenson and Director of Marketing Dana Rickman traveled to the Rotary 6860 & 6880 Combined District Annual Conference to speak about Camp ASCCA. Organizations from around the region spoke about service projects, and John had the opportunity to discuss Camp and share a video that showcases our activities with the group.

Friday, April 26 was the start of something new at Camp ASCCA. New campers and their parents made the trip to Camp ASCCA for the first ever Rookie Camp weekend to learn about the place so many people call home and the opportunities that are offered here. Each family was also paired with an experienced ASCCA camp counselor for any needed assistance or specific questions.

The annual St. James Science Camp was held last week as fifth grade students from St. James School visited Camp ASCCA for a three-day science camp. Outdoor Education Specialist Cody Graham designed the schedule for the session, and the students were divided into groups of at least ten to rotate from program to program. The goal of the week is for students to gain knowledge about the science in Alabama and enjoy every second of it. The programs offered were Living Streams, Step Out & Fish, Ziptower, Canoeing, Group Elements, Nature Jeopardy, and Forestry.

Last weekend, the Alabama District Pilot International hosted the sixth annual Pilot TBI Camp right here at Camp ASCCA. This weekend camp is held every year in hopes of offering an unforgettable getaway and new opportunities for individuals who are living with a traumatic brain injury. According to the Alabama District website, “PILOT International is a community based volunteer service organization, founded in 1921 in Macon, GA, on the guiding principles of “Friendship and Service” through charitable projects, community service, education and research.”

After a couple months of summer registration, we are very excited about what will be one of the biggest ASCCA summers yet! Almost all sessions are completely full, and we are taking applications for the 2019 Summer Staff. However, before we can get to the summer, we have to enjoy the exciting events that have happened so far this spring and the many more to come. In this season’s edition of the ASCCA Good Times newsletter, you will find an update on our annual Fun Fish Weekend, learn more about a few new additions to Camp and much more.

Campers, staff and volunteers came together on March 22 to enjoy another annual Fun Fish Weekend at Camp ASCCA, but this one had a few exciting surprises that came along with it. Check-in began Friday afternoon at 4 p.m., and campers arrived with suitcases and fishing poles in tow. The campers were greeted by a big group of volunteers made up of past summer staff, local volunteers and members of Auburn’s Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.

Earlier this month, we held a special event at the LPR Zipline for the contributors who made the program possible in 2018 and beyond. Peter Levy, Donald Perkins and Glenn Roswal brought their families to Camp on Saturday, Feb. 16, and some of them even traveled from New Jersey. A few close friends of the families also made the trip including Greg Frith and former ASCCA staff member Jeanette Griffey.