Camp ASCCA Blog

On Monday, students from the University of North Alabama arrived for a week of Camp Rocks sponsored by the Hall Foundation. The students are a part of the Recreation for Special Populations class at UNA, and each year, a new group arrives to volunteer for the week serving children and adults with disabilities from parts of Alabama and Florida. The goal is for them to also put into action the many things they have learned over a semester in the recreation class.

Over the weekend, the Shepherd Center hosted the Adventure Skills Workshop that is held here at Camp ASCCA every year in May. As described by the Center’s website, ASW is “a fun-filled spring weekend designed for people with spinal cord injury or disease, acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, post-polio syndrome, Guillain-Barré syndrome, transverse myelitis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).” Participants are given the opportunity to experience programs they’ve always loved in an adaptive environment as well as new activities.

On Saturday, May 12, a special event was held by the Central District Alabama Elks Lodges in support of Camp ASCCA. The Lodges hosted the “Second Chance Prom – Dancing Through the Decades” at the Bessemer Civic Center. It was an opportunity for dancing and fun with friends to some of the many musical hits that have came about over the years. Similar to a high school prom, formal attire was requested, and the evening included a special four-course dinner, live band and a DJ.

On April 24, Director of Marketing/Communications Dana Rickman visited the Enterprise Rotary Club for a special presentation. At the spring meeting, members of the Enterprise

This week, we were joined by sixth grade students from Lee Scott Academy in Auburn for the second science camp of the spring. Several weeks ago, we were visited by a group from St. James School in Montgomery for a similar session. This year’s camp with LSA was a blast and included an educational and fun-packed schedule. The students were split into four groups that they would stick with throughout each program rotation.

Twice a year, we offer weekend camps called Camp FROG to individuals with autism and their families from throughout the state of Alabama through a partnership with the Autism Society of Alabama. Last weekend, the ASA hosted their annual Making Connections weekend here at Camp ASCCA, and many new families were in attendance. It is a weekend designed to be sensory-friendly and full of outdoor-based programs.

During the day on May 4th, students, teachers and parents from Coosa Central Schools visited Camp for a day of fun with students from the special education programs. Aquatics Specialist Heather Chumney designed a schedule full of opportunities to enjoy the ASCCA campus by water, on land and in the air. The weather was perfect and the students arrived with the greatest energy as many of them have been to Camp before.

On Wednesday, kindergarten students from Dadeville Elementary School made the quick trip to Camp ASCCA for a daylong field trip full of fun. Teachers and parents were along for the ride, and many of them jumped in and participated in the activities too. The students were split into five groups based on the class that they are in at school.

Each year, high school students from around South Alabama visit Camp ASCCA in the spring for the annual Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. More than 50 rotary clubs sponsor students from their areas to represent their communities and grow in their leadership abilities as they near high school graduation. Last Thursday afternoon, the students and their leaders arrived for three days of team-building activities, special speakers, and more.

A caravan of buses and cars arrived on Thursday for this year’s day camp with Tallassee Schools. Students from the elementary, middle and high schools traveled with teachers and parents for a day of fun outside of the classroom. Everyone had the opportunity to enjoy a ride on the zip-line, fishing at the pond, and boatrides on Lake Martin. Several students attend Camp ASCCA during the summer too and could not help but share their excitement for what is to come in Summer 2018.