Camp ASCCA Blog

Hi Camp ASCCA! My name is Karla Silva and I am one of the new PR interns for Camp ASCCA this summer. I was born in Morelia, Mexico, but I was raised in Mobile, Alabama. I am a communication major with a concentration in strategic communication and a minor in marketing at the University of South Alabama. I am expecting graduation this December. I am the Vice President of Public Relations for the Delta Sigma Chapter of Kappa Delta, a student athletic marketer for my university, the Intern Communications Coordinator for the South Alabama Region of the Alabama Kidney Foundation, and one of the Dollar General Bowl public relations/marketing interns.

I’m twenty years old, originally from Dadeville, Alabama, and currently a junior at Columbia College Chicago where I study filmmaking (or Cinema Arts + Sciences, the fancier name). As a filmmaker, I’m always looking for new opportunities to take my craft to the next level. Whether it be creating narrative films, documentary work, or even promotional material, I’m always searching for new ways to use my talents.

“When you meet one person with autism, you’ve done just that. You’ve met one person with autism,” is a statement the 2017 ASCCA Summer Staff heard from several speakers this morning. Each person visited Camp today to speak about autism and what it might look like for the counselors this summer. The staff is expected to understand that no two people with autism are the same. The autism spectrum is so wide that it is rare for there to be campers each summer with similar behaviors.

We conclude our Adventure Program Staff spotlights with Jared Montague. Some of you may recognize Jared from a video we did earlier this summer, discussing what it’s like being on Program Staff. In case you missed it, he is from Charlotte, North Carolina and this is his first ASCCA summer! He heard about Camp from his uncle who was also a part of our Program Staff years ago.

In honor of Throwback Thursday we’re spotlighting ASCCA veteran, Victoria Dean. Victoria is our 2017 Sports and Games Director and this her fifth ASCCA summer. Throughout her time at Camp, she’s held several positions on Program Staff and even served as a Head Counselor. However, she admits that Program Staff is her favorite!

Throughout the year, we are supported by a variety of organizations from around the state. This morning, Director of Marketing and Communications Dana Rickman visited the Tuscaloosa Morning Rotary Club Foundation after receiving an invitation from past Camp ASCCA Board Member Georgia Buettner who is a Rotarian in Tuscaloosa. Dana is pictured above with Foundation Chair Michael Ford.

Next on the Adventure Program Staff to be introduced is Ashley Bowen. Ashley is from Oxford, Alabama and this is her third ASCCA summer. Similar to some of our other Program Staff members, Ashley previously worked as a Camp Counselor, but this year she wanted to try something different.

For 10 years, Owen Thome has been coming to ASCCA through the Camp Seale Harris camps we host every summer. Similar to the way ASCCA camps are set up, Camp Seale Harris have week long sessions, including a Family Weekend. These weeks are jam packed with fun and designed for children and teens with diabetes. During this year’s sessions, Owen worked as a Camp Counselor. But this time, he stayed behind to be a part of our Adventure Program Staff for his first official ASCCA summer!

Today is officially the first day of summer, and we have a surprise for you! It’s time for a new release of the Camp ASCCA Good Times newsletter, and the Summer 2017 edition is full of great news and happy smiles. This summer’s newsletter includes everything you will need this summer including a calendar of events, Donor Spotlight, ASCCA on the Road updates, and much more!

We continue Adventure Program Staff introductions with Beau Castor. Beau is from Lutz, Florida and this is his second summer working on Adventure. During his first ASCCA summer he worked as a counselor, then decided he wanted to know what made Adventure Program the best one around!

This week we are joined by the Hope Heals Camp, formerly known as Rooftop Friends Alabama Family Retreat. According to hopehealscamp.org, the mission of the camp is to create “a week-long experience in Alabama for individuals and families with disabilities that marks the beginning of a lasting community grown from the disabilities in us all.” The camp received its name change after Katherine and Jay Wolf visited the Rooftop Friends Retreat to share their story of overcoming unexpected obstacles and living with hope. The couple was inspired by the people at their camp and felt as though “these were our people.” They soon combined forces with Rooftop Friends and renamed the week to Hope Heals Camp.

On Monday, Camp representatives were invited to attend the meeting of the Phenix City Rotary Club and give a presentation on the programs we offer and the people we serve. Social Media Specialist Kasey Langley and PR Intern Jasmine Reed made the trip to Phenix City and were welcomed by many smiling Rotary members who were excited to hear about all of the new happenings at Camp.