Dr. and Mrs. Buettner Bring Their Grandchildren to Visit Camp ASCCA
Camp ASCCA was happy to have some very special visitors come visit camp, and eat lunch yesterday. Mrs. Buettner, a Camp ASCCA Board Member and member of the Tuscaloosa Morning Rotary Club, came to visit and she brought her husband, Dr. Louis Buettner and their two grandchildren Hayden and Jacob.
…Camp ASCCA gives children and adults with disabilities self-esteem…
Dr. and Mrs. Buettner have visited camp many times before but they had never had the opportunity to come to camp when campers were here enjoying all of the activities. They wanted to bring their grandchildren along to show them what is done here at camp and maybe encourage them to one day come back and help out. I think camp left an impression on them because Hayden said he would like to come back one day and Jacob enjoyed the interaction that the campers have with their counselors.
The Buettners visited our campers at horseback, tubing, and the treehouse. They were impressed with all of the activities and Dr. Buettner was even impressed with our wonderful counselors and staff members. Mrs. Buettner feels “Camp ASCCA gives children and adults with disabilities self-esteem and makes them realize possibilities they may have never dreamed about.”
Mrs. Buettner also said she is happy to see camp with campers here and to see that all of the brochures she has seen about camp are more than true. She told me that her visit yesterday “emphasized what I have always been told about how good our counselors are and how well the campers enjoy camp.” Dr. Buettner was happy to meet the campers and said “the campers can make you feel like Camp ASCCA is the most worthwhile thing you will ever support.”
Camp would like to thank Dr. and Mrs. Buettner for all of their support and would also like to thank them for coming to visit and bringing Jacob and Hayden. Check the blog later on in the week to learn about the donation that Mrs. Buettner made when she came to camp!
You can watch the Buettner’s talk about camp by clicking on the video below!
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Meet New Counselor Samantha Trahan
I have the privilege of living in Chickasaw cabin with some awesome campers and counselors. One of these counselors in Samantha Trahan, who is at Camp ASCCA for the first time. Samantha is from Lake Charles, Louisiana and she attends University of Louisiana Lafayette.
…Her favorite activity at camp is the pool, because she can interact with campers while they swim…
Samantha is a kinesiology/sports medicine and recreation management major. She expressed her desire to become certified in therapeutic recreation to one of her college teachers who then told her about Camp ASCCA. This teacher worked at camp and she told samantha it was the perfect place to learn about therapeutic recreation.
Samantha told me her favorite activity at Camp ASCCA is the swimming pool, because she can interact with campers while they swim. She even told me a story about how she helped a camper swim for the first time on her own!
Samantha likes Camp ASCCA because “the campers are on the same playing field, they can be who they are and not feel ashamed of that.” Samantha has made friends with campers and other counselors and if she gets another opportunity she is going to come back to camp.
Click on the video below to see picture of Samantha in the swimming pool with some of her campers from this week and to hear her talk about Camp ASCCA!
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Teen Week and Sports Camp ASCCA Achievement Awards:: Monday
Today was the first day of activities for Camp ASCCA teen week and sports camp. After lunch the program staff recognized the campers who did
exceptionally well at their morning activities by handing out the Camp ASCCA Achievement Awards.
The first award of the week went to Ashley Glaze for horseback. Laura Lee Hughes won the tubing award, she held her hands up the whole tube ride and had so much fun.
Corey gave the award for sports and games to Manny Awotona because he was an All-Star at hockey and soccer. Josh Cusick won the music award, he was the most excited Nikki has ever seen anyone about music.
Gary Hayes received the demo farm award because of his enthusiasm for petting the 
animals. Sarah Hataway won the treehouse award and James Seidl won the archery award for hitting the bullseye on his very first shot.
We are very proud of all of our campers and their accomplishments today at morning activities. keep checking the blog for the rest of the weeks Camp ASCCA Achievement Award winners!
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Splishin’ and a Splashin’
Teen Week kicked off last night Camp ASCCA style with a luau pool party. Most campers decided to swim and socialize in the pool while a few decided to sit out and enjoy the fresh fruit that was served.
Jorja, Lindsey, and Lalane were the lifeguards and they did an awesome job of making sure everyone was safe and following the rules of the pool.
All of the counselors and program staff joined in and were helping with transfers, swimming with campers, and making sure everyone was having a good time.
There was even music for the campers to swim and dance along to. The entrance to the pool was decorated to go along with the Hawaiian theme and some people even wore leis. 
Campers had fun swimming and dancing to the music that was playing and there was plenty excitement about the week ahead.
Last nights pool party was a great start to Camp ASCCA 2007 Teen Week! Here are two pictures from the pool party and be sure to check flickr later on in the week for more pictures!
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Laura Lee Comes to Camp ASCCA For the Twelfth Year
S unday afternoon was check-in for Camp ASCCA teen week and sports camp. I got the chance to talk with Laura Lee, who is here at Camp ASCCA for her twelfth summer.
…”She loves to just come and be with other kids who have the same challenges she has, and the same abilities she has”…
Laura Lee started coming to camp when she was seven years old, she found out about Camp ASCCA from her physical therapist. She keeps coming back to camp because she says it is fun and she likes all of the activities, counselors and staff members. Laura Lee said she has made many friends at Camp ASCCA and she keeps in touch with them during the year through email and the phone. Laura Lee also said her favorite activity at camp is tubing because she likes to go fast!
I was also able to talk to Laura Lee’s dad, Bruce. He told me during Laura Lee’s first year at camp they were apprehensive about leaving her but ever since bringing Laura Lee to Camp ASCCA has been their top priority of the summer. He believes that coming to Camp ASCCA is important because of the bonding time the campers get with counselors and fellow campers. He said Laura Lee “loves to just come and be with other kids with the same challenges she has and the same abilities she has, it is just a very great experience for her.”
Laura Lee is also very excited about the prom this week. She told me that Camp ASCCA prom is more fun that her high school prom! Laura Lee even brought her prom dress that she wore her senior year. We are looking forward to a great week with Laura Lee and our other awesome campers!
Click on the video below to watch Laura Lee and her dad talk about camp!
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Frank and Debbie Harkins Visit Camp ASCCA
Camp ASCCA had some very special visitors for lunch yesterday, Frank and Debbie Harkins. Mr. Harkins is the Administrator of Goodwill-Easter Seals of the Gulf-Coast, Inc; he is also a member of the Mobile Rotary Club.
… “we all have certain limitations, camp brings out the abilites and not the limitations…
The Mobile Rotary Club’s Rotary Children’s Foundation is the sponsor of this weeks Camp Mobile Rotary, held annually at Camp ASCCA. Mr. Harkins and his wife Debbie came for lunch and then took a tour of some of our newly renovated buildings here at camp. They do not get to come visit camp every year so they really look forward to when they do get to come and see all of the campers having a good time.
Camp Mobile Rotary started over 25 years ago with about only 20 campers and now around 100 campers come every year. Mr. Harkins compares camp to a family vacation that “everybody remembers and looks forward to.” Mrs. Harkins told me about how the second the campers come home they are already talking about, and looking forward to next years camp!
When I asked Mr. Harkins about camp he told me, “I think camp helps all of us see that people can do more than we even think people can do.” He thinks camp is important because the campers get to try things they normally would not have the opportunity to do. Mr. Harkins believes “we have all been given certain gifts, talents and abilities and we all have certain limitations, but camp brings out the abilities and not the limitations.”
Camp ASCCA is very thankful to Mr. and Mrs. Harkins, Goodwill Easter Seals, Mobile Rotary Club and all of the other very special people who make Camp ASCCA possible.
Click on the video below to listen to Mr. and Mrs. Harkins talk about camp and to see pictures of some campers from this weeks Camp Mobile Rotary.
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Meet First Time Camper Michelle McMaken
I went with group nine yesterday during their morning activities to the demo farm and horseback riding. I had the chance to sit down and talk with Michelle McMaken, a first time camper at Camp ASCCA, and one of her group counselors Jessica Guthrie. Michelle and Jessica have formed a friendship at camp and they can usually be found together during group time.
…”Michelle hops right in, and joins everybody else and seems to have a really good  time”…
Michelle was so enthusiastic about meeting all of our animals here at camp, especially the horses. When it was her groups time to go to horseback she was the first one with a helmet and belt on, and the first one to saddle up and ride around the ring. she was having so much fun she smiled the whole time and even managed to give Jessica, who was walking beside her, a couple high fives.
I asked Jessica how she and Michelle became friends and she told me it is because they are in the same group. Jessica said on the first day Michelle “just came to me and clung to me for the past two days so, we’ve just been really good friends ever since.” Jessica also said when it comes to all of the camp activities Michelle “hops right in, and joins everybody else and seems to have a really good time and get a lot out of it.”
I asked Michelle if she wanted to come back to camp and she said she did because of her friend and of course, the horses. Michelle is also excited about hanging out with Jessica and all of her other friends at the dance tonight.
Click on the video below to see Michelle and Jessica talk about camp and watch Michelle ride the horse and pet the animals.
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Week Two Campers Show Off Their Talent
C
…Mary Johnston showed everyone how she could do the worm,it was a huge crowd pleaser…
ampers at Camp ASCCA sure do know how to turn a gloomy, rainy night into a night of fun and excitement. Mobile Rotary campers did not let the rain get in the way of their singing and dancing in the week two talent show.
Many campers chose to show off their vocal chords and sing along with their favorite song. A couple of participants had a crush come up on stage and they sang their song to them.
Daniel Kilpatrick and Sandy Moore brought their guitars from home to play for everyone. Daniel played and sang along with the music at the same time! Freddie Varnes brought his monkey puppet and performed a ventriloquist act that had everyone laughing.
Some campers chose to give us a preview of thursday night, they got up on stage and boogied down. Mary Johnston showed everyone how she could do the worm, and it was a huge crowd pleaser.
And no talent show would be complete with out The King, himself. Chad Phelps was Elvis for the night, complete with leisure suit and all! Our friends from Alexander City Methodist Church were in the audience cheering on everyone too!
Click on the video below to see Elvis and some of the other acts from the Mobile Rotary talent show!
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Camp Mobile Rotary:: Wednesday’s ASCCA Achievement Awards
We got some more well needed rain at camp today and had to cut our second activity rotation a little short, but our campers did not let the rain stop them from making some great accomplishments. The program staff handed out the third set of ASCCA Achievement Awards today and everyone was very
deserving.
Corey handed out the sports and games award to Taylor Arrington who, not only was a good hockey player, but he helped the other campers get water and helped Corey put up the hockey sticks. Bruce Whitfield received the riflery award because he hit the bullseye three times and was the most excited camper Andrew has ever seen at riflery.
Lalane gave the tubing award to Cindy Poruba because Cindy was smiling so much on the tube she made Lalane smile. The zipline award went to Reginald Ester because he went to zipline during free choice yesterday and was too timid and he went back today and went down the zipline. Susan Felton won the award for the pool for her enthusiasm and impressive swimming skills.
Kara gave Sharon Towers the nature awards for her participation in every nature activity. Dewey O’Neil won the music award for being excited the whole time during music.
Patricia Houston answered every animal trivia question so she got the demo farm award. Reginald Johnson received the horseback awards for making up a horse rap while riding around the ring.
Camp Mobile Rotary has been great, and so have their many achievements!
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Camp ASCCA Goes Bananas
I went to my first Camp ASCCA banana olympics last night and it sure was something to cheer about. During banana olympics each cabin gets two bananas to name, dress, and decorate. Then the bananas go compete in each of the four events.
…The banana that makes it to the end in the best shape is declared the winner…
The events consist of discus throw, zipline, long jump, and basketball. For discus throw contestants tape their banana to a frisbee and throw it as far as they can without hurting the banana.
At the zipline campers create a harness for their banana using only two pipe cleaners. Each banana is then given a half of a plastic easter egg for a helmet, and then sent down a string which serves as the zip line. Most of the bananas that I watched hit the ground before they saw the end of the zipline, I sure am glad we do not use pipe cleaner harnesses for our Camp ASCCA zipline!
For long jump campers stand at a distance facing each other and one throws the banana while the other catches it, hopefully! At basketball the bananas are thrown through a basketball hoop while campers hold a sheet under the hoop hoping to catch the banana after it goes through the hoop. Campers can get one, two, or three points depending on how far away they stand from the hoop.
At the end of the olympics each banana is shot from a slingshot in hopes it will be caught by its campers in the outfield. The banana that makes it to the end, if it makes it at all, in the best shape is declared the winner of the Camp ASCCA Banana Olympics.
Because all of these events can be dangerous for a banana Camp ASCCA has trained medical staff on hand to help pull the bananas through any injury they may face. Last night Kara and Corey were the paramedics and they did save some banana splits!
I hope you like this video I made of the Camp ASCCA Week One Banana Olympics.
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Today’s ASCCA Achievers
This morning was another morning at Camp ASCCA filled with fun activities. Each group participated in two activities before gathering in the dining hall for a yummy lunch of tacos.
After lunch the program staff handed out the second set of ASCCA
Achievement Awards for the week. Ricky Passmore won the award for horseback and riflery. He was timid about getting on the horse at first but after he did he loved it, and he hit the bullseye in riflery.
Freddie Varnes then won the demo farm award for drawing the perfect picture of his counselor, Barclay, as a dog. Chad Phelps won the music award for his participation in musical chairs.
Rachel Huff received the tubing award because she held her hands up and screamed during the whole ride. Reginald Ester and Barbie Oliver both won a nature award because they were so interested in making paper and they helped Kara out a whole lot.
Lauren gave Linda turner the zipline award, Linda let everyone take a turn before she did
and while she was waiting she cheered and encouraged everyone. Linda also thanked the program staff after zipline was over. Trish Bosarge won the sports and games award for her great smile and participation in hockey today.
Heather gave Ann Martin the pool award because Ann practiced very hard and passed her swim test and then stayed at the pool to swim.
Congratulations to all of today’s ASCCA Achievement Award winners.
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Jessica Thornton Returns to Camp for the Tenth Time
I have the privilege of living in Chickasaw cabin with a lot of amazing campers, counselors and one really awesome CIT. Jessica Thornton is returning to camp this summer for her tenth year, the past nine as a camper and this year as a CIT. CIT stands for counselor in training and this is exactly what Jessica is.
…there is a lot of people here you can relate to and they give you hope that you can believe in yourself…
 Jessica found out about camp when she was five from Children’s Rehabilitation Services. When she was eleven months old her left leg was amputated and she has been wearing a prosthesis since the age of two. She feels this helps her relate to her campers more because she can understand how they feel.
As a CIT Jessica helps the campers get dressed, brush their teeth, and find their groups for programs. She also helps the counselors wherever, and whenever they need it.
She has always wanted to be a counselor at Camp ASCCA because she wants to be a role model like her counselors were to her. One of her counselors, Amber Cotney, is in our cabin also. Jessica is happy because she says Amber is like her aunt, she looks out for her. Jessica wants to one day be able to have this relationship with her own campers.
When I asked Jessica about Camp ASCCA she said “nothing can replace camp because it is amazing, there is a lot of people here you can relate to and they give you hope that you can believe in yourself.” Jessica plans to keep coming back to Camp ASCCA for as long as she can and I know camp will be lucky to have her!
Click on the video below to see Jessica talk about camp and watch her help one of our campers at Jessica’s favorite Camp ASCCA activity, zip line!
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Camp ASCCA’s Got the Right Moves
Last week was an awesome first week of camp and it ended with lots of fun on the dance floor. Thursday night Camp ASCCA held the very first Camp ASCCA dance of the summer and it was fun for everyone.
I visited the cabins before the dance and everyone was taking extra time getting ready by making sure they looked, and smelled good!
After dinner and the awards banquet everyone took a break while the program staff set up for the dance. Then everyone put on their dancing shoes and boogied down!
Nathan Waters and Nathan McNair were the disc jockeys for the night and they tried their best to entertain everyone with their music selection. There was a mixture of country, eighties, rap, and love songs! I was so impressed with everyones dancing and singing abilities!
The night ended with everyone huddled around the big screen to watch the week one slide show that Cathy and I created. All in all it was the perfect ending to the perfect week at Camp ASCCA!
I hope you like these pictures of some of our campers and counselors dancing during the dance.
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Thank You Kiwanis Club of Huntsville
Without its many generous sponsors Camp ASCCA would not be possible. One group who has been sponsoring campers at Camp ASCCA for the past 30 years is the Kiwanis Club of Huntsville. I got to talk with two of its members, Buddy Burkette and Stu Stewart, on Friday as they came to pick up two of our campers and make a donation to camp.
…”I love it, I hate to miss it but we have to give the other folks a little chance too, because it is so much fun”…
The Kiwanis Club of Huntsville began sponsoring children at Camp ASCCA after one of its members had a child who was a camper here. Camp ASCCA left such a lasting impression on his child the member spoke to the group and they decided sponsoring campers was something they would like to do.
Mr. Burkette has been bringing campers to Camp ASCCA for the past 15 years; he says camp “just seems to get better every year.” They said the campers talk about camp all the way here and the whole way home. When they get to Alexander City the campers begin to recognize how close they are and get even more excited.
Mr. Stewart has come to Camp 3 or 4 times. When asked about coming to camp he said “I love it, I hate to miss it but we have to give the other folks a little chance too, because it is so much fun.”
They love bringing kids to Camp ASCCA because they feel it is a good outlet and it is just like any other camp, but they one thing they love the most is to see the smiles on the campers faces. Camp ASCCA is very thankful for the support of the Kiwanis Club of Huntsville and all of the many other groups who make camp possible.
You can watch the video below to hear the men talk about their experiences with Camp ASCCA and see photos of the campers they sponsored this year, Britnee and Monique!
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
1995 Program Staff Member Pays a Visit To Camp ASCCA
Camp ASCCA is such a fun and exciting place that it usually ends up leaving a lasting impression on its staff members. One of these staff members, Amy Fletcher Alford, loves her memories of the summer she spent here so much that she brought her two girls here last week to show them around.
…”it was awesome, I loved every minute of it”…
Amy is from Prattville, AL, and she was a member of the Program Staff in 1995. Her job here at Camp ASCCA was to run the Demo Farm. Like so many of our other staff members, she found out about Camp ASCCA from a trip she took here for college credit. She loved Camp so much that she and a friend decided to work here.
The demo farm position was the last vacant program staff position, and Amy was a huge animal lover. She was perfect for the job. It looks like her love for animals has been passed on to her two daughters, Whiddon and Clark, because when I asked them their favorite part of camp, they named some of our animals.
Amy likes to come back to camp because of the many memories she has here and to see how much it has grown. When asked about her summer here Amy said “it was awesome, I loved every minute of it.”
She loved it so much she encourages all of the teachers she works with to tell their students about Camp ASCCA. Amy even has hopes that her two daughters will come and work at camp one day. She wants them to experience the great times she had at Camp ASCCA.
You can click on the video below to see Amy talk about camp and meet Whiddon and Clark!
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Happy Birthday America, From Camp ASCCA
I have celebrated 20 Fourth of July’s in my lifetime and my very first Fourth of
July at Camp ASCCA was by far the best one. Camp ASCCA sure knows how to wish America Happy Birthday. The carnival was so much fun but the evening social and fireworks proved to be a grand finale.
Everyone gathered at the amphitheater for popsicles and juicy watermelon that was picked just hours before from our Camp ASCCA farm.
While we waited patiently for the sun to set the campers enjoyed entertainment from their fellow campers, counselors, and program staff. Madison and Ansley Hendrix sang “The Star Spangled Banner” and “You’re A Grand Old Flag.” Ramsey Wilder sang along with Celine Dion to “God Bless America.”
The program staff and counselors then led everyone in the chicken dance, the peanut butter and jelly song, the banana song, and a lot of other Camp ASCCA favorites.
Finally when the sky went dark Geni Payne and some of our other staff put on the Camp ASCCA fireworks show. They shot the fireworks from the big island in the middle of the lake, it was the perfect view. All of the campers enjoyed watching the colorful fireworks they cheered and clapped the whole time.
It was the perfect ending to a Fourth of July full of fun at Camp ASCCA. We hope everyone else had a wonderful day like we enjoyed!
Above to the right is a picture of Keon Lewis enjoying watermelon with Mollie and to the left is Madison and Ansley Hendrix singing. More photos of the fireworks show will be up on Flickr very soon!
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Wednesday’s Achievers
Wednesday was another fun day full of action packed activities at Camp
ASCCA. At lunch we continued the tradition and handed out more awards to our Camp ASCCA achievers.
The first award went out to Logan Dubose for Demo Farm. Lacee gave Logan the award because he had the best impression of a chicken, I got to hear it and believe me it sounded just like one! The tubing award was given to Alexis Butler because she laughed and had a blast the whole time!
…the music award was given to Hannah Moon who had so much fun she danced to the music…
Then Devin Richardson was awarded the sports and games award for being an all-star at volleyball and helping everyone out. John Oken received the nature award because he had extra enthusiasm and even taught his leader some things about nature.
Becca Chapman won the zip line award, she was afraid at first but she got all the way to the top by herself. Emily Grant smiled the whole time at horseback and did so well she was awarded the horseback award. The music award went to Hannah Moon who had so much fun she danced to the music!
Here is a picture of Devin Richardson with his award and Hannah Moon getting her music award from Nichole.
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
It’s Showtime
T
he stars were out Tuesday night at Camp ASCCA as everyone gathered in the chapel for the very first Camp ASCCA talent show of the summer.
Everyone has been so excited for the talent show all week long. I visited the cabins Tuesday afternoon during free time and they were full of music as everyone was practicing and making everything perfect for the big night.
…Summer Jones played her recorder and Madison and Ansley Hendrix played a tune on the piano…
While a lot of campers chose to sing to a favorite song there was a variety of different acts. Summer Jones played her recorder and Madison and Ansley Hendrix played a tune on the piano.
Fini Giattina brought her ballet slippers and costume and twirled away on the stage. Kyler Thorton made everyone laugh with his joke about the impatient cow.
Three campers decided to sing their favorite Disney songs. Jessica Hauswirth sang a song from The Lion King while Ramsey Wilder and Laura Ducie sang “A Whole New World” from Aladdin.
It was an amazing night filled with amazing talent. You can watch the video below to see a glimpse of each talent I mentioned above and many more!
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Arts and Crafts is Fun for Everyone
Arts and crafts was one of the choices for yesterday afternoon’s free choice
activity sessions. I decided to stop by and see what was going on, and the arts and crafts room was filled with a lot of busy campers.
We have a lot of creative campers at Camp ASCCA and they were using their imagination to make some cool crafts. Some of the things I saw were: caterpillars, bracelets, pictures, bird feeders, key chains and notes.
While some campers decided to make things for themselves, to remember camp by, others saw it as an opportunity to make something for that special someone. With the Camp ASCCA dance approaching many campers were making gifts to give to their dates 
or notes for the love note box.
The arts and crafts room is such a fun place to be. With the bright walls and all of the cool art supplies I can see why everyone loves arts and crafts!
I hope you enjoy these pictures of some our campers and their counselors making crafts with beads!
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Amazing ASCCA Achievements
This morning our campers had two activity periods where they got to
participate in two of our many activities here at camp. There were so many great accomplishments and we recognized them again today at lunch with the ASCCA Achievement Awards.
Lacee handed out the first award to Kaleb Brown. Kaleb won the award for demo farm because he enjoyed it so much. Next, Kara handed out the award for nature. This award went to Andrew Shelby because he brought some of his own nature items and made a presentation to the group!
Ryan Minton then received the zip line award for going down the zip line for the very first time and loving it. Laura Ducie accepted the award for her great spirit and enthusiasm at horseback.
Corey gave the award for sports and games to Michael Brown because he played volleyball the whole time and was encouraging others. Blayne Gibbs and Katie Farley both received the tubing award. They both enjoyed it so much and did so well, they even liked going over the waves!
Phillip Modesitt got the award for riflery because it was his first time and he hit the bulls eye. The music award went to Fred Johnston who participated the whole time and requested a lot of songs.
Above is Kaleb Brown with his counselor Stuart and Katie Farley receiving her award from Lindsey!
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Camille Karst Loves Her First Week at Camp ASCCA
Camille Karst is one of our new staff members at Camp ASCCA. She is spending her first week here at camp as a counselor. Camille is from Prattville, AL and she currently attends Samford University as a nursing student.
…the campers “are going to experience camp the way it should be experienced”…
She decided she had to come spend the summer here at camp after Kara Graves, nature program staff member, shared with her pictures of her experiences at camp. Kara and Camille both lived in the same dorm and Camille is looking forward to being able to share her own pictures with the rest of their friends.
Camille feels that her time spend at Camp ASCCA may have some influence on what type of nursing she would like to pursue. And besides having fun, she says it is giving her hands on experience for the job field.
Camille likes the way the staff here at Camp ASCCA gets the campers involved in every activity. She loves how the campers here have no limitations and if they want to do something the staff will find a way for them to do it. Camille says Camp ASCCA is important because the campers “are going to experience camp the way it should be experienced.”
Click on this video below to see Camille talk about camp, her favorite activity so far, and her awesome campers Alexis and Fini!
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
Camp ASCCA Achievements
We are very proud of all our campers here at Camp ASCCA. One of the things we do to show this is to hand out ASCCA Achievement Awards during lunch everyday. While all of our campers are awesome and do great things at the different programs these awards go to campers who went the extra mile.
The first ASCCA Achievement of the year was handed out to Bill Lacy for horseback riding. He was timid at first about riding, but after getting up on the horse he could not stop yelling “yee haw” and “giddy up.” His enthusiasm for horseback riding earned him an award and the nickname “Wild Bill Lacy.”
Katie Bryant won the award for tubing. At first Katie was not sure about riding on the tube but after she got on it she was having so much fun she yelled louder than anyone else who rode the tube. The music therapy award went to Tiffany Roper who accompanied Monica at every song and played the keyboard.
Fred Johnston received the sports and games award for his participation in volleyball. The nature award went to Chase Sparks who helped out the whole time.
Andrew Loftin, outdoor sports leader, gave Ramsey Wilder the riflery award because she was the only person in her group to hit the bulls eye, and he challenged her to a shoot off and she beat him!
The last award that was handed out was for the zip tower. It was given to Mark Carlo. In the past he just helped out with zip tower because he did not want to do it. This year he talked with his counselor and decided he was going up. He climbed to the top of the tower all by himself and then went across the zip line!
We sure are proud of all our campers and their amazing achievements here at Camp ASCCA!
Above to the right is Ramsey Wilder with her award and to the left is Mark Carlo posing with Nathan Waters after receiving his award!
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
An Interview With Tommy Hallmark
I am very excited about my very first week of Camp ASCCA. I enjoyed handing out t-shirts today and meeting all of the campers. I also enjoyed meeting all of the parents who came to drop their campers off.
…Camp is beautiful and it is a great place for the kids to be outside”…
One parent that took time out of registration to talk to me was Tommy Hallmark from Georgia. He and his wife found out about Camp ASCCA at a fair for children with special needs in Atlanta. This is his daughter, Mackenzie’s third year at camp. Mackenzie has even been on the Disney World trip with Camp ASCCA.
Tommy keeps sending Mackenzie to camp because she loves it so much and because “it is good for her to have time to be alone and to grow up.” He also says that “Mackenzie is a camper at heart.”
When Mackenzie is at home she tells all of her friends about camp and her dad said she wears her camp t-shirts all year long. Tommy thinks Camp ASCCA “is beautiful and it is a great place for the kids to be outside.”
He also likes sending Mackenzie to camp because of the wonderful counselors we have here. He says we have counselors that take care of the campers and put them number one all of the time. And I would say we here at camp would have to agree!
To see Tommy Hallmark talk about camp click on the video below!
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
New Counselors Learn About Horseback and Canoe Transfers
Orientation for the new summer staff is winding down. They had a week
filled with fun and learning. Wednesday they got the opportunity to learn about two of Camp ASCCA’s most popular programs; canoeing and horseback. They learned how to safely transfer campers from a wheelchair to the event and how each program is run.
Horseback riding at Camp ASCCA is always a favorite of the campers. Geni Payne, Outdoor Education Director, taught the counselors how to transfer campers from their wheelchair to the horse safely. They also learned how to ride behind a camper if the camper is not stable enough to hold them self up. Each camper has a rider walking on each side to ensure their safety while on the horse.
Counselors also spent time practicing how to transfer a camper from the shoreline to a canoe. They did not let the low water level bother them as they each took their own turn paddling a canoe so they could learn how to steer and what it was like. They even practiced what to do if a canoe was tipped over, let’s just say they all got a little wet!
One of the ways Camp ASCCA has adapted canoeing, so all campers can participate, is by placing a beanbag chair in the middle of the canoe. Heather White, Aquatics Director, said the beanbag chair is for campers with limited trunk control. Counselors practiced transferring a person into the beanbag chair. The chair holds the camper up and lets them enjoy canoeing while their counselors paddle.
Camp ASCCA is very grateful for these counselors, if it were not for them and their training our campers would not be able to experience the things they can here at Camp ASCCA. We love our new summer staff and cannot wait for the first session of camp next week!
Above to the right is a picture of horseback training and to the left is canoeing.
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA and join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
