Friends of ASCCA: Windsor Shares About Security Awareness Month

February is not only the month of love but also Security Awareness Month. Camp ASCCA is very careful with safety and security. To any parent who is nervous about leaving their child for five days, just know that your child will be in safe hands. Counselors and staff regularly ask campers, “Are you good?” and “Are you ok?” For the staff, safety is everything, and they are prepared for anything.

Actually, safety begins before any campers arrive for their sessions. All activities are tested for safety before everyone arrives at Camp ASCCA.

Plus, Camp ASCCA has a week-long staff orientation where the staff members learn first aid and train for different likely scenarios. The program staff, full-time staff, and unit leaders are also trained in CPR. Throughout each session, all campers are under constant supervision by these well-trained staff members. Since cell phones are prohibited, there are no distractions from their full attention.

When you first arrive at camp, two staff members will welcome you and check the temperature of each person in the car. That procedure began with the first session after COVID, and it still continues today.

Also, during check-in, campers get name tags, which they wear every day at camp. Counselors and other staff also wear name tags, so identification is easy. Every camper has a counselor, and campers are escorted to activities by program staff.

Throughout the whole camp, you will notice well-marked gravel paths, and the paved pathways and sidewalks are maintained to keep them smooth. When going from activity to activity, we walk in groups along those paths to stay safe. For outdoor activities like the Zipline, the roots of trees are marked clearly so campers will not trip or fall, and so campers in wheelchairs can go around them.

Before campers engage in any indoor or outdoor activity, program staff go over the rules and procedures to ensure campers’ safety during the activity. For the Zipline, Zip Tower, LPR, and Big Swing you must wear a harness and helmet. For the bungee trampoline, you only have to wear a harness.

In some activities, there is a choice of taking the test. For example, before tubing you are asked to roll over and float on your back. If you pass, you can go on the inflatable raft with another camper and a counselor, if you do not pass you will ride with a lifeguard. Of course, a lifeguard is always on the boat, pulling the inflatable raft, and all campers wear a life jacket no matter what.

The pool activity has a test too. You can take the swim test to see if you can swim by yourself. They ask you to swim from one side of the pool to the other; you swim in the shallow part with a lifeguard by your side the entire time. If you pass, you can swim without a life vest in the pool, and you get a special bracelet to show you passed the test. Of course, during the test as well as any time campers are in the pool, lifeguards are on duty.

Also, on duty and ready to help are the nurses. They are on the grounds 24 hours a day to administer PRN medications as well as provide any treatments or handle any first aid or other emergencies if necessary. Since Alabama in the summertime is extremely hot and humid, campers use sunscreen and are encouraged to drink water a lot!

At camp, there are security measures everywhere, but they do not interfere with the fun we have. Instead, these safety and security procedures help to ensure that we can focus on having fun and making great memories!