GENERAL INFORMATION
The Camp Family | Activities | Daily Schedule | Line Duty | Time Off
Uniforms | Wages | Curfew  | Drugs and Alcohol  | Health | Smoking
Travel (for Staff) | What to Bring (for Staff) |Recommendation (for staff)

The Camp Family   

Most staff members live in rustic cabins with electricity with four to six campers. These cabins share clean, modern bathhouses directly behind the cabin line. The oldest campers live on "the hill" in cabins with eight to ten campers and built-in bathrooms. The mountaineering staff and some of the adult staff leaders live in private housing or cabins.

All on duty counselors are required to attend meals which are served family style in the dining hall. Salad bars are available at lunch and dinner, with fresh fruit at breakfast. Meals are an important time to build camraderie and friendships with campers and fellow staff members.
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Activities

Campers choose up to eight activities from the following: archery, arts & crafts, canoeing, ceramics, climbing, dance, drama, kayaking, land sports, mountaineering, nature, photography, riding (Hunt Seat),swimming, sailing, tennis, tumbling, weaving, and woodworking.

We encourage counselors with unique experience to offer workshops in other interest areas such as aerobics, jewelry making, sign language or basketry.
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Daily Schedule

Merrie-Woode has a fairly structured daily schedule, although there is free time built in to each day. During the activity periods, staff members teach in their assigned activity areas; campers follow their prescribed schedule which they choose at the start of camp.

Inspection, rest hour, free time, and bed time are important cabin times. This is when cabin staff are expected to check in with their campers and provide leadership.

At Merrie-Woode we seek a balance between busy activities and free time to talk and build friendships. We want counselors who enjoy spending their free time out and about with campers, playing tether ball, soccer or just visiting. Building friendships is at the heart of each day.
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Line Duty

Three nights a week, each staff member is required to stay on her cabin line after taps to supervise the cabin groups and cover for staff who may be on a day off or out of camp on a trip.
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Time Off

We encourage staff to take advantage of their time off for recreation and rejuvenation. Except for the first and last week of a camp session, each counselor has a full thirty hour period off each week.

On Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, a staff member may leave camp at 5:30 pm and return the following night by 12:00 midnight. Special leave can be arranged at the beginning of the summer, before sessions start, with approval of the directors. One other scheduled night per week, called "short night" from 5:45 to 7:45 pm will be allowed for each staff member. Other than designated leave times, counselors are on duty at all times.
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Uniforms

For convenience and as part of our commitment to a non-competitive community, all campers and counselors wear uniforms. For staff, the uniform is a forest green polo shirt (provided by the camp) and khaki shorts (provided by the counselor to insure proper fit). On Sundays, the entire community wears white shorts and white polo style shirts (provided by the counselor).
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Wages

The summer salary is based on age, prior experience, qualifications, and certifications. All staff wages include room, board, and laundry. Wages are paid at the end of the contracted term, but weekly advances may be drawn upon request.
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Curfew

Curfew is 12:00 midnight for all staff who are spending the night at camp. As a matter of safety, all staff will check in with the senior staff member on duty.
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Drugs and Alcohol

These items have NO place at camp. Possession or use on camp property by anyone will be grounds for dismissal. Possession or use of illicit drugs at any time will be grounds for immediate dismissal. Counselors under 21 will sign a contract agreeing not to purchase, possess or consume alcoholic beverages on or off duty in accordance with state or federal law. Those over 21 will sign a contract that they will not consume or purchase with/for those under 21.
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Health

Merrie-Woode's infirmary is well-equipped with a full time RN and visiting doctors who are guests of camp for a week at a time.

Every staff member must have a physical examination by a physician within 12 months of arrival at camp. In the event that a contract is offered, it would be considered invalid if a physician determined the applicant to be physically unable to perform the job ahead. The signed health form must be returned before a staff member can begin her duties.
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Smoking

For your own health and the health of others, we do not allow smoking or the use of tobacco products by counselors anywhere on the camp property.

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