Program staff training is well underway and everyone is hard at work, learning the ins and outs of their various activities. As staff members break off into their respective groups throughout the day, each of them is learning proper protocol to ensure the fun and safety for all our campers when participating in each activity. They have a lot to cover in the coming days and the weather’s been a little muggy, but each staff member is still finding ways to have fun in spite of.

About Me!

Hey there, Camp ASCCA fam! My name is Jasmine Reed and I am one of the PR interns for camp, this summer. I was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama and graduated from Spain Park High School (Go Jags!). I am currently a senior at Auburn University, majoring in public relations with a minor in marketing. My career interests include social media management, event planning and digital media analysis.

It is safe to say the summer is on its way. Program staff training for Summer 2017 has officially begun, and members of this year’s adventure, aquatics and farm staffs arrived this morning for the summer of a lifetime. As Camp Director Matt Rickman says, “This will be the greatest summer of your life.” The first meeting of the day was held in Davis Cabin where the program staff will be housed over the next five weeks. Camp Director Matt Rickman and fellow full-time staff members met with the summer’s program staff for introductions, and Matt went over ASCCA policies and procedures with the staff.

It was a chilly morning when everyone woke up today for another day of the Hall Foundation Camp, so the ASCCA staff made a few adjustments to the activity schedule to adjust to the weather. Instead of the usual morning rotations, campers and volunteers trekked around the campus to different “Free Choice” activities.

On Tuesday, May 23^rd, campers and volunteers arrived for the week’s Hall Foundation Camp. Each year, the Hall Foundation helps support a group of individuals with special needs to attend Camp ASCCA for a week. This year, the campers have been introduced to new activities like shaved ice at the OutPost and the new Panning for Gold program. The campers and volunteers have traveled from parts of Florida and Alabama to experience a week they will never forget.

In preparation for the week’s adventures, Dr. Mike Hall arrived on Monday with a few of his students from the University of North Alabama, to discuss the week’s schedule for the Charles and Isabel Hall Foundation Camp and hear from several speakers who provide different perspectives on living with disabilities. Dr. Hall incorporates camp into his curriculum for his Recreation for Special Populations class, and different students visit Camp every spring to volunteer and learn about everything that is offered for children and adults with disabilities at ASCCA.

On Friday, people from around the country traveled to Camp for the Shepherd Center’s annual Adventure Skills Workshop. Shepherd Center is located in Atlanta, Georgia and “is a private, not-for-profit hospital specializing in medical treatment, research and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injury, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, spine and chronic pain, and other neuromuscular conditions.”

You’ve seen the new OutPost, and now it’s time to share with you the big event we have planned for this summer!

The OutPost was designed with big events in mind, and on July 18th, the OutPost will be the location for the inaugural ASCCApalooza, a music festival for campers and staff to experience and enjoy. The festival lineup is made up of artists from Birmingham’s Nashville Bound – An Academy of Music, Inc. This year’s artists include “The Voice” contestant Charity Bowden, Jackson Capps, and the recent Alabama opener for Bon Jovi, Sweet Tea Trio.

Since 1991, the Alabama State Association of Emblem Clubs has been a major supporter of Camp ASCCA. In celebration of their 26^th anniversary of supporting Camp, the organization presented a donation of $1,500 to go towards the ASCCA Campership Fund. Over the years, the ASAEC has also donated bed linens, pillows, formal gowns, and many other items that the campers and staff needed to have the full camp experience.

Over the past several months, we have shared with you updates on a new activity area that our team has been working hard on. Now known as the OutPost, the newest outdoor area will be a great location for everyone to hang out with friends, enjoy shaved ice, jam to good music, and much more. Since September, boards were being put in place, decorations were being hung, and the anticipation was growing for our staff because we know how exciting this area will be for our campers this summer.

Today, Administrator John Stephenson and Director of Marketing/Communications Dana Rickman traveled to Montgomery for the River Region United Way annual meeting. The day included a guest speaker, an awards presentation, and a special ribbon cutting of the United Way’s new office location. The River Region United Way announced their relocation last year, and thanks to the help of Regions Bank, they were able to purchase the building and will save more than $100,000 on lease payments over the next five years.

When it came to dropping their son off at Camp ASCCA for the first time, Donna and Dean Barten were hesitant because it would be the first time their son, Jacob, had been away from them for five days. The family was first introduced to Camp ASCCA at a weekend camp through Making Connections, and despite the motivating words from family and friends, it still was not easy for the family dropping him off for the first time.