Camp ASCCA Blog

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.

On May 15^th, seventh and eighth grade students from Loachapoka High School visited Camp ASCCA for a day away from the classroom doing outdoor activities like archery, boat rides, water slide, and cargo net. The students were split into four groups and sent with the specialist at each activity. With very few clouds in the sky, students and teachers were encouraged to keep covered with sunscreen and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

This week, we were joined by students from Lee-Scott Academy in Auburn for a three-day environmental science camp. Students arrived Wednesday morning at approximately 10:00 a.m. with their teachers and parents along for the week. Before activities could begin the group went through orientation with Outdoor Education Director Cody Graham and enjoyed lunch. In the dining hall, there is a specific focus on recycling and valuing our resources during the Environmental Science Camp, so each meal is served on special plates that can be reused for each meal.

On Thursday, Social Media Specialist Kasey Langley visited the Greenville Rotary Club after the club extended an invitation to Camp for their weekly meeting. This week, the current president, Charles Haigler, and the president elect, Tori Norris, presented all of the 2016/2017 rotary projects with their donations. The Greenville Rotary Club has been donating to camp for many years, and Camp ASCCA was one of several groups that received support again this year.

On Tuesday, we were joined by five classes of kindergartners from Dadeville Elementary School who were looking forward to the best field trip of the year. The activities on the schedule for the day included splash pad, waterslide, panning for gold and shaved ice, a Dunn Center tour, and putt-putt. Teachers, students, and parents arrived at Camp by 9:00 a.m. and spent the entire day having fun in the sun. Some of the activities were shadier than others, but the ASCCA staff made sure to have everyone apply sunscreen and drink plenty of water as the days are warming up heading into summer.

On Friday, May 5^th, families arrived for a weekend of activities and family fun that was completely sensory friendly for children with autism. Many of the families attending have been coming for several years, but this year we also had a few new families attend. Most of the families were from the Huntsville area and were participating in the program, Making Connections, that is a networking group of the Autism Society of Alabama. It is a great opportunity for parents and children to interact with families that are similar to theirs and enjoy a weekend with an overload of fun.

We have great news! Today, Camp ASCCA received a generous donation of $4,000 from Pilot International. The Alabama Pilots have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Camp ASCCA over the years, and we cannot thank them enough for their continued support. They have helped fund many of our activities such as our putt-putt golf course, pontoon boat, boat renovations, and much more.

On Tuesday, May 2^nd, members of the Camp ASCCA staff traveled to Enterprise to receive a special donation from the Jerry B. Brunson Enterprise Rotary Club Foundation, Inc. The foundation held its annual Allocations Luncheon at the Enterprise Country Club and invited all of this year’s recipients to join.

As we approach the summer sessions, we have several groups visiting us this month for everything from science camps, adventure workshops, and much more. We cannot wait to have everyone joining us this summer, and the next few weeks are a great opportunity for us to reach the community and other organizations across the Southeast. We have big plans for this summer, so stay tuned for more updates. In the meantime, check out this month’s schedule below.

Jim Dodwell serves as the 2nd Vice President for the local Lake Martin Area United Way and also works with the organization Hammers of Hope that serves elderly people and individuals with disabilities by offering construction services by way of donated materials. Jim regularly works as a residential and commercial contractor, and when they have left over materials, they work quickly as Hammers Of Hope to help make repairs for those in need with donated labor and as much of the materials as possible.