Hemophilia 101
When I looked at my schedule last week and saw that Camp Clot-Not was coming, I didn’t know what to expect.
In my mind, I always thought that people with hemophilia had to be really careful because they couldn’t get scrapes or bruises. All I knew is the hemophilia does not let the blood clot.
So, in my attempt to learn everything I can about the camps that are here this week, I went to the lodge where the Camp Clot-Not staff and campers are living this week. There I met Dana Abrims and Mary Kathrine Noah, two members of the volunteer staff.
They answered all of my questions and were very helpful in clearing up any misconceptions I had about hemophilia.
The podcast below is of that conversation:Â talking about hemophilia, the disease, how you get it, etc.
The podcast is 8:12 long and 7.51 MB.
Meet Miss. Ericka Ross
As part of my internship, we go to all the activities with campers. That’s how I get to know the campers because activities and meal time is where I get to have some interaction. It is in activities that I pick out what campers I want to talk to.
As we were playing the longest game of frisbee golf known to Camp ASCCA, I walked with Michelle Keener and one of her campers, Ericka.
Frisbee golf didn’t interest Ericka, but we walked along with the rest of the Camp Clot-Not group, cheering on those whose were playing.
I talked to Ericka and Michelle about what was going on and what she thought of camp so far.
The video below is 3.08 MB and 2:22 long.
Alabama Power Visits (Part 2)
In all four people talked to us about coming to ASCCA from Alabama Power Company.
Every person who came went on a tour of our campus, allowing them to see camp in action. Letting them see that because of Alabama Power kids who can’t just go to any camp, can here and get to do things some people never get to experience, like going down a zipline.
The other three people who talked to us were David Black, Jill Worthy and Tim Elliott. In the video below, they had some wonderful things to say about camp. The video is 2.63 MB and 2:08 long.
When all else fails, sing!
It’s a camp thing. When there’s a couple minutes of free time between activities or down time after a meal singing will occur.
While I was at tubing today this was demonstrated. Only two people can go tubing at a time so there is a lot of down time for the other waiting campers. So what did we do? We sang!
I got video of the Wombats singing while at tubing. The video is 3.12 MB and 2:22 long.
So many guests in one day…
On top of the guests from Alabama Power, we had a guest speaker today as well.
Jennifer Chandler, an Olympic swimmer, came and spoke to the campers from Camp WheezeAway after lunch.
I also interviewed Jennifer about coming to ASCCA. The video below is of my interview with her and a little bit of the speech she gave. The video is 8.81 MB 5:34 long.
Alabama Power Visits ASCCA (Part 1)
Here at ASCCA we are used to having guests, but today people from Alabama Power had lunch with us.
We owe Alabama Power everything. If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t be here. In 1985, Alabama Power donated the 230 acres Camp ASCCA now occupies. Since that time we’ve updated the camp and are currently trying to renovate it. Check out our progess on Project Renew.
Today we had four members from Alabama Power. One of them, Al Brown, is the Manager of Operations and Maintenance at the plant in Gadsden, Ala.
The video below is Mr. Brown discussing what he thinks of Camp ASCCA and what’s currently going on with Alabama Power’s service organization, that he is president of. The video is 4.10 MB and 2:57 long.
How WheezeAway began:
While I was mingling with the Camp WheezeAway folks, I met two ladies who were part of starting Camp WeezeAway and knew the lady who came up with the idea of a camp for kids with asthma.
Brenda Basnight and Donna Rodgers, volunteer nurses this week have been with Camp WheezeAway since it began and were part of the creation.
I spoke with them about how the camp started, the woman who started it and why and how it’s still going on today.
The video below is 12.7 MB and 7:16 long.
Camp Clot-Not counselor: Hilary Dollar
With three groups of different kinds of campers, the counselors have been
split up into those groups.
One of the girls assigned to campers in Camp Clot-Not. Her campers are four boys, Dawson Findley, Nathan Moates, Nathan Griggs and Matthew Watts.
Yesterday I interviewed one of her campers, Matthew, and today I talked to Hilary about being a counselor with Camp Clot-not.
The podcast below is 1.71 MB and 1:53 long.
Meet C.I.T, Adam Holmes
Throughout the summer we have many staff members who are
not old enough to be a counselor. But around here we need all the help we can get, so they become a C.I.T (counselor in training). They are paired with a counselor and learn the ropes so that when they are old enough, they can come work as a counselor.
This week we have a new face, but he’s not new to camp. His name is Adam Holmes and although this is his first time at camp this summer, he has been coming for many years.
Earlier this summer he was in Arizona on a mission trip, but is here with us now for a week or two, “just trying to help out.”
I talked to Adam about why he comes every summer. The podcast below is 1.70 MB and 1:52 long.
Meet Camp WheezeAway Director, Connie Sullivan
Because the campers at Camp WheezeAway do have asthma, meds are particulary important.
Every counselor takes their campers to get their meds twice a day. Being in the heath hut that often makes it hard to not notice all the volunteer medical staff and the people in charge.
Today I met with the head of Camp WheezeAway, Connie Sullivan. Connie told me that each child comes free of charge to camp. The fees for each child are raised through fundraisers (anything from carwashes to bake sales) held by WheezeAway volunteers and are donated by corporate sponsors. After factoring in the t-shirts and camp fees, each child costs between $600-$700. In the past they’ve had about 100 campers, but due to a shortage in funding they could only raise enough money for 80 campers.
I interviewed Connie and asked her what this week is all about and the pros of sending your child here. The video is 6.97 MB and 4:03 long.
From Redstick: KJ Winston
KJ sits next to me everyday, breakfast, lunch and dinner. And
despite the weather the past couple of days, he’s been excited about everything here at camp.
I talked to KJ about what he did today. The podcast is 1.86 MB and 2:02 long.
Camp Clot-Not’s Matthew Watts
One of the three groups of campers here this week is Camp Clot-Not. Each camper who comes is diagnosed with hemophilia and is between the ages 6-16.
While hanging out in the Camp Clot-Not cabin, I met one of the campers who were new to camp.
One of them was Matthew Watts. I interviewed Matthew and the video is 5.30 MB and 3:07 long. (I plan to interview his counselor, Hilary Dollar, tomorrow so that we can know a little more about Camp Clot-Not.)
The camper I was told I should meet
Yesterday, during check-in, I was wandering through the cabins and was told by one of the counselors that I needed to interview one of his campers.
Though he was biased in thinking that he had the best campers, he said that I really needed to meet one of his campers.
That camper was Moni Butler and it just so happens that I sit at the same table with him every meal. And his counselor was right, he is a great kid.
I interviewed Moni today after lunch. The video is 3.15 MB and 1:56 long.
Asthma Education with Camp Wheeze-Away
Everyday Camp Wheeze-Away cabins rotate going to Asthma Education. Not only do campers get to have fun outdoors and be with many other children who also have asthma, but they learn more about asthma everyday.
Today I went with some of the cabins to an Asthma Education session and below is the video.
The video is 9.77 MB and 5:35 long.
Meet Micah Karnes
While watching campers make their way down the zipline, I sat with Micah
Karnes and talked to him about camp.
Micah is a first time camper and is excited to be here.
The podcast below is of my interview with Micah. It is 1.70 MB and 1:52 long.
Meet returning camper: Leah Glover
As I made my way through the cabins, I saw one of the campers playing with
a deck of cards on her bed.
According to her counselor, Courtney Muncaster, Leah Glover can do card tricks.
I talked to Leah about camp and why she’s come back for the past three years.
The podcast below is of Leah and I. It is :43 long and 666 KB.
Interview with Ray Saunders
Check-in is a rather complex process that involves luggage being dropped off,
nurses being met, counselors showing campers where they will be staying all week, and all the while, the people who are dropping the campers off tag along.
One of many people, who are not relatives, dropping campers off today was Ray Saunders.
I talked to Ray about why he was here bringing campers when none of them belonged to him and what he thinks about Camp ASSCA.
The podcast below is of Ray and I. It is 1.55 MB and 1:42 long.
Interview with Paulina Gentry
Paulina Gentry, sister to Joey Burnham, brought Joey to camp today with her husband.
Joey is a returning camper. I talked to Paulina about her brother and Camp ASCCA.
The video below is 1:49 long and 2.93 MB.
A new week and a camper new to ASCCA
This week we have three different groups here at Camp ASCCA: Camp
Wheeze-Away, Camp Clot-Not and Adult mentally disabled.
There check-ins were all in different places, making an intern’s job a little harder to track people down.
But while I was Marc Roberts lodge, I met a camper who had already gone through check in. Her name is Robin Croxton and she’s never been to camp before and is looking forward to a lot of things here at camp.
The podcast below is of Robin and I. It is 917 KB and 1 minute long.
Vote for Shanae Heard for Prom Queen!
Considering that today is the first real day of camp, people started
looking ahead to the rest of the week, meaning Prom.
Instead of a dance, we have a prom this week. Everybody gets dressed up and we even have a prom king and queen. And today the campaigning began. In the runnings for king (I’ve heard) are Justin Strickland and Matt Shaw and in the runnings for prom queen are Shanae Heard, Coco Macon and Ashley Glaze.
Now, not to be biased, but I met Shanae my first day because she came up to me and asked who I was, and I like assertiveness. So I hung out with her in the cabins.
Today the ladies of Chickasaw cabin (where Shanae resides) went to zipline. While I was there I talked to Shanae about her time here at camp and why she’s been coming for so long.
The podcast below is 1.12 MB and 1:14 long.
Billy Browdy :: Former Counselor and Seasonal Staff
Over the years, ASCCA has had many incarnations of staff positions. The most familiar, and the most important, is the counselor position. It is the foundation of all we do at ASCCA.
Billy Browdy is an example of that special employee. A big, sweet and kind lovable bear of a man, Billy worked at ASCCA in the late 1990’s. Danielle spoke with Billy during the ASCCA 30th Reunion celebration last week. Here is his story.
The video below is 2:00 long.
Joseph Cochran’s favorite camp memory
So many members of this staff have been coming back for years and I love to
hear their stories.
Every week they’ll tell me who is a great camper to interview or that there is a great camper coming next week who has been coming for so many years.
After listening to so many camper’s stories of why they love camp or their favorite thing about camp I started to wonder about the staff. Everybody has at least one memory that they will take with them and think back on and smile.
While talking to Joseph Cochran, one of the head counselors this summer, I asked him what was one of his favorite memories from camp. It took him a while, he said there were so many that it was hard to chose just one. But he eventually narrowed it down to one.
The podcast below is of Joseph telling me his favorite memory. It is :58 long and 901 KB.
The first administrator and nurse at Camp ASCCA
Last week’s reunion turned out to be a bigger success than we imagined. Many of the alumni that visited were from the first summer Camp ASCCA opened.
Two of those visitors were the first administrator and nurse, Bert and Kris Emmons. Robert French interviewed them while I was inside looking at old pictures of the camp before and while it was being built.
The video below is of Bert and Kris and 9:22 long and 16.8 MB.
The one girl at sports camp
As check-in progressed and more and more parents and campers arrived, I
heard someone say something about someone being the only girl at sports camp.
That girl, Jessica Hancock, has been coming to Camp ASCCA’s Sports Camp for three years now and has been and still is the only girl.
I talked to Jessica and her mother about sports camp and how she felt to be the only girl.
The podcast below is :48 long and 752 KB.
