Jackson’s Gap Camp ASCCA Celebrates Elks Day

by Mitch Sneed
Original story here at alexcityoutlook.com

Approximately 50 members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks from throughout Alabama were on hand Tuesday to celebrate Elks Day at Camp ASCCA in Jackson’s Gap.

Camp ASCCA provides a variety of camping experiences for adults and children with disabilities.

The Elks, many accompanied by their wives, were treated to tours of the facility before joining approximately 100 campers and several Camp ASCCA staff and volunteers for lunch in the camp’s dining room.

In all, Elks from nine different lodges – Alexander City, Anniston, Auburn-Opelika, Bessemer, Cahaba Valley, Calera, Dothan, Mobile and Huntsville – were represented.

“Camp ASCCA is our major project,” said Mike Thrasher of Bessemer, the state president of the Elks. “Each state has to have a major project and Camp ASCCA is the one we’ve chosen.”

Each year, Thrasher said, the Elks make a $50,000 donation to the camp, most of which, according to Dana Rickman, director of marketing and communications for the camp, is directed toward capital projects.

“The Elks have been involved with Camp ASCCA since 2008,” said Allison Wetherbee, community relations director for the camp. “The first project they were involved with was renovating the main office building. Since that time, they have been involved with many different projects and several different activities.”

The camp’s administration building carries the group’s name, called The Alabama Elks Administration Building. Most recently the group helped finance the renovation of a combination arts and crafts building and storm shelter.

For the last two years, the Elks have also sponsored the camp’s Christmas weekend, traditionally held two weeks before Christmas.

The Elks visited Camp ASCCA on what is one of the camp’s busiest weeks of the year with both its teenage and sports camps in full swing.

“Our camps are broken down by age group rather than disability,” said Wetherbee. “Simultaneously with the teenage camp, we have sports camp. That’s a combination of able-bodied and special needs campers that participate in the sports opportunities we provide, such as basketball, tennis, sit-skiing and scuba diving. This is a busy time.

“We have 80-100 campers per week. Summer is our busiest season, but we are a year-round camp.”

Wetherbee herself is a former camper at Camp ASCCA. She came to the facility as a camper for 10 years, from 1978 to 1988. In November 2007, she had a chance to join the camp’s staff.

“It definitely gives me a unique perspective,” Wetherbee said.

Throughout the United States, more than 850,000 Elks making up 2,000 lodges are providing charitable services that help build stronger communities through programs that help children grow up healthy and drug-free, by undertaking projects that address unmet needs and by honoring the service and sacrifice of our veterans.

Camp ASCCA is designed to help eligible individuals with disabilities and/or health impairments achieve equality, dignity, and maximum independence through a safe and quality program of camping, therapeutic recreation, and education in a year-round barrier-free environment.