Camp ASCCA Journal - Therapeutic Recreation

I have worked primarily in pediatrics during my nursing career in a variety of settings: general peds/chronic & special needs children/nursery/peds & neonatal icu/camp/ school / and pediatric clinic settings/also travel nursing.

I have also been employed as a CPR/safety instructor with the American Red Cross/Clinical director of a nursing agency/ YWCA rape crisis hotline where I counseled sexual assault survivors and supervised volunteers.

My lease was due to expire and I knew I had to move, I had threatened to leave Chicago many times, but always allowed my family to talk me out of it, so I thought this would be the perfect time to go.

I thought of where could I go for a healthier less stressful enviroment - where I could work outdoors. Light bulb went off in my head - camp nurse. I knew it would have to be year-round so I started researching special needs camps on the internet and found three under the American Association of Camp Nurses: Texas, Ireland and Alabama. Texas I ruled out because it was important that I live on-site, and they offered no housing. Ireland was out because I am, after all, an American.

After emailing Matt, I became very excited, because he was offering everything I was looking for. We hit it off on my first telephone interview because of our passion for special needs children. He arranged a second interview with Dorothy due to her nursing background at the camp. We had our third interview with Tom and Matt after they flew my husband and me down to Alabama, where we both felt the magic of Camp ASCCA and realized it would be a good move for us.I have many responsibilties at camp including:

• Health and Safety of campers and staff-24/7
• Supervising our staff of 3 nurses, during summer camp sessions
• Medication/ First Aid adminstration
• Staff education re health-safety, and care of our campers.
• Enforcing polices and procedures as outlined by the American Camp Association
• Particpation in speaking engagements to make the public aware of the work we do here at Camp Assca.

I am very excited to be here, and for the future, I wish to honor and uphold the reputation of Camp ASCCA. I see many creative opportunties here, however, at this time my primary goal is that we run a safe and enjoyable camp.

(Contributed by Pam Williams.) 

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