Camp ASCCA isn’t just a place; it’s the people who make it feel like home. In this series, we’re shining a spotlight on the staff, past and present, who dedicate their time, energy, and hearts to creating unforgettable experiences for our campers. From heartfelt stories to behind-the-scenes moments, get to know the faces, positions, and journeys that make ASCCA truly special.
If you’ve been around Camp ASCCA for any amount of time, chances are you have seen Dana Rickman giving a tour, at a donor event, or cheering on a camper during one of our biggest fundraisers for the year. She has been part of this place for decades, and in so many ways, Camp has been part of her life just as long.
Dana started at Camp ASCCA in February 1999 as the Director of Public Relations. At the time, her role included photography, marketing, managing summer PR interns, grant writing, fundraising, and donor relations, all alongside the administrator. In 2024, her title shifted to Director of Development, allowing her to focus even more on fundraiser and building relationships with donors and friends of Camp.
Today, Dana works closely with the administrator, Board of Directors, donors, and Camp friends to secure and maintain the financial support that helps Camp ASCCA fulfill its mission. When she reflects on her time here, she says she is often amazed. “Sometimes when I think back to the years I’ve been here, I’m in awe of how many people I’ve been blessed to meet and form relationships with.”
So what has kept her here all these years?
She jokes, “My husband being the Camp Director, lol!” But in all seriousness, Dana has always worked in the nonprofit world. She loves that no two days are the same and that her work is rooted in creativity and relationship building. At ASCCA, both of those things are part of daily life.
When asked what she loves most about working here, her answer is simple and sweet. She loves watching campers and staff grow up. Not just physically, but socially and professionally. Over the years, she has had a front row seat to that growth, and it’s something she never takes for granted.
One story that has stayed with her goes back to 2000. After filming a Camp ASCCA video, the videographer handed a mom extra footage of her daughter tubing on the lake. The mom looked at her and asked, “What’s tubing?” In that moment, Dana realized that if the mom did not know what tubing was, then her daughter, who was attending Camp for the first time, certainly did not either. The joy on that camper’s face as she experienced something brand new was unforgettable. It was a reminder that Camp creates opportunities that many families may not find elsewhere.
Dana believes Camp ASCCA makes a difference by providing access and opportunity that may not always be available in other public spaces. But more than that, she points out the camper counselor relationships that form each summer. Those bonds are real, and they matter.
Camp has also shaped her own life in deeply personal ways. As a mom of two children who grew up at ASCCA and later worked here, she says she could not be more proud. Her children have grown up surrounded by people of different backgrounds, races, abilities, ages, and sexual identities. She believes they are better for it, and that brings her so much joy.
With a degree in Sociology, Dana has always been fascinated by how people and relationships work. Camp has only deepened that interest. From staff and camper connections to relationships with families, donors, and longtime Camp friends, she has seen firsthand how ASCCA brings people together in meaningful ways.
When asked what makes ASCCA feel like family, the answer is easy. It’s the people, the friendships. The fact that this is where she has spent most of her life. Some of her very best friends are here, and she says she has dozens of people she could call anytime for anything.
If she had to describe Camp ASCCA in one word, it would be joy! She says, “That’s what we’re here for!”
One of Dana’s proudest accomplishments over the years would easily be the annual Jingle Jump fundraiser. Since 2015, it has raised more than $540,000 for Camp. That kind of impact doesn’t happen without dedication, heart, and a whole lot of belief in the mission.
Her advice to anyone considering Camp ASCCA is simple. “Try it!” Try sending your child to camp. Try working here for a summer. Try volunteering for a weekend. Try the zipline. Try just visiting for an afternoon just to see what Camp is all about.
According to Dana, and probably anyone who has experienced this place, it’s worth it a million times over.
