The Feather Family—Stephen, Lisa, and Caleb—first heard about Camp ASCCA in 2021. As Caleb got older, it became harder to find camps that would accept him as an adult, especially with his trach. A teacher at school mentioned Camp ASCCA, and the Feather Family decided to look into it. The following April, they attended Rookie Weekend for the first time—and they haven’t missed a single weekend since.
Their official ASCCA journey began in 2022, and from the very beginning, they knew something was different. Stephen shares, “The staff was welcoming, understanding, and fully prepared. That weekend gave us peace of mind and confirmed that this is where Caleb belongs.”
Sending Caleb to summer camp wasn’t a brand-new idea—he had attended away camps before—but ASCCA was different. The staff at Camp ASCCA truly knows Caleb. They understand his needs. The Feather Family was amazed by how prepared and flexible the staff were.
Throughout Caleb’s stay at Camp ASCCA, Stephen and Lisa stayed in our Charron Family Cabin at Frith Landing (also known as the parent campground). “It offered a hybrid-camp experience for us—forward-thinking and compassionate,” says Stephen.
On Sunday, the Feather Family stayed close by in the cabin. By Monday, they felt comfortable enough to explore Camp and even go out on the lake. By Tuesday, they had hiked, gone into town for lunch, and fully embraced the experience. Lisa shares, “The comfort and trust we’ve built here allowed that.”
Being able to stay in a cabin on-site made a huge difference for Stephen and Lisa. It calmed any nerves they had. The cabin is accessible, convenient, and had everything they needed. The shower setup, in particular, stood out—easy to get in and out of, which made a big difference when it came to caring for Caleb.
“One of the highlights for me is getting to see the pictures every day. When I’m not able to be with Caleb, those photos let me see his smile, his adventures, and all the fun he’s having,” Lisa says.
“We want Caleb to experience as much life as possible. Of course, we want to protect him from the worst-case scenarios—but we also want him to be free. Camp ASCCA lets us balance both: safety and joy,” Stephen shares.
