On this page you will find the newest information about Camp Merrie-Woode® and the Camp Merrie-Woode® Web site. For previous news items check the links to your right.

December 31, 2007
Announcing the winners of our First Annual CRAZY CAMP PHOTO CONTEST!……

CAROLINE REEVES

Congratulations, Caroline! Your photo made all of us in the office laugh whole-heartedly!

Second Place: Ella Janvier
Third Place: Shelby Lopez

Your prizes will be mailed to the three of you this week!

CRAZY CAMP PHOTO CONTEST!…

To the right in rotation are some of the photos that won an honorable mention.

We hope everyone enjoys them! The honorable mention photographers were Abigail Panitz, Caroline Reeves (again), Parker Chambers, Perry Ellis, Stuart Bowers, and Kelsie Dodson.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

December 25, 2007
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Merrie-Woode staff and their families gathered at the Dunn’s for their annual holiday celebration. It was also a celebration of Julie’s time at Merrie-Woode. Many old friends and former employees came to wish her the best as she prepares to move to the Atlanta area with her husband Casey. Julie and Casey are looking forward to welcoming their baby in May. Emily Griggs recently returned from her mission work in South Africa and shared her photos and experiences with the group. It was a terrific evening and reminded us all how blessed we are to have Merrie-Woode and so many wonderful people in our lives. We wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a Joyful New Year!

December 6, 2007
Announcing the First Annual (and possibly the last)
CRAZY CAMP PHOTO CONTEST!
It's a cold, windy day here in the mountains as we found ourselves going through funny photos of camp. Then we had a thought…

Yes, we are announcing our very first "Crazy Camp Photo Contest"! Here is how it works…you send us your very favorite goofy camp picture of this past summer. It can be of anything from silliness in the cabin to ridiculous costumes at evening programs. Be sure to include your name and the names of everyone seen in the picture. Email all entries to Lindsay@merriewoode.com by January 4, 2008. Only one entry per contestant! Winners will be announced in January right here on the "What's New" page and, along with seeing their photo posted on the web site, will receive a prize in the mail! So go dig through all those crazy camp pictures and pick the best one to send us! In the meantime, here are some of our favorite pictures here in the office for you to enjoy.

December 1, 2007
2008 CAMPER LISTS ARE POSTED
(Password protected, email lindsay@merriewoode.com or phyllis@merriewoode.com for access.)

The camper lists for the summer of 2008 are posted on the web site! Go check it out to see all your camp friends and cabin mates who will be returning this year! Only six more months until camp!

In image rotation: June Session Archery Class | Main Session Musical Group | August Session Campers with their Sock Monkeys

November 20, 2007
New and Improved Newsletter

You will notice that the latest newsletter was printed in color and on a high quality paper. We plan to continue to prepare our newsletters in this way. The pictures are much more clear and the newsletter is easier and more enjoyable to read. As a bonus, we will begin to post our newsletters on our web site. We hope you enjoy it and we hope that you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

November 6, 2007
Check out the new Weaving Hut!

The new Weaving Hut is well underway! Travis and the guys have been busy this fall. The new and improved Weaving Hut will have more storage, more deck space to observe the beautiful view, and a small deck down below for campers to sit outside while sanding and painting their stools and chairs.

The new building will be a welcome addition for next summer!

October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween !Well, it's Halloween and the camp dogs are ready to go trick-or-treating! Denice and Julie worked very patiently to dress Gracie, Scout and Belle up in their new costumes today, while the dogs were as cooperative and responsive as ever. Gracie decided to go out as a hula girl while Scout dressed as a pirate. And as for Belle…well, to no one's surprise, Belle was much more interested in eating her Dracula costume than wearing it. But all three girls are excited about Halloween and ready to go wait for that Great Pumpkin to make his appearance at Merrie-Woode this year!

October 11, 2007
Welcome Back Phyllis!

There's been some rearranging in the Camp Merrie-Woode office this fall! Annette Herstek, our administrative assistant of six years, resigned at the end of this past summer. Annette is the proud and devoted mother of Courtney, 14, and Austin, 10, and has decided to leave the office to spend more time at home with the family. While we are all very sad to see Annette leave, we are thrilled to have Phyllis Stiwinter join us.
Many of you will remember Phyllis as she actually held the position of our administrative assistant from 1987 to 2001. Please help us welcome Phyllis back by giving her a friendly hello when you call the camp office this year!

March 20, 2007

The Merrie-Woode Boathouse received a slight face-lift this off season. Our facilities crew built a beautiful new staircase in Hugh's Room leading up to the loft. Beautifully crafted with a hickory banister and posts, and interlocking laurel railings; the staircase is a lovely addition to our boathouse.

March 14 , 2007

From the Mountains to the Big Apple!

The Merrie-Woode staff has been out on the road early in 2007! Jim, Denice, Julie, Natalie Williams, and Lindsay Garner have been hitting the recruiting trail hard with trips to the University of Georgia, Davidson College, Sewanee, University of North Carolina, Wake Forest, Washington and Lee, and many others. It looks like we're shaping up to have a great group of counselors this summer!

Last week Jim and Denice took Bradley to New York City for his spring break. They had a great time bashing around the Big Apple, and even ran into some Merrie-Woode folks there! But after a whirlwind trip filled with sightseeing, shopping, and an evening at the theatre to see Spamalot, they had to confess it was nice to be back home in the Blue Ridge.

February 15, 2007

Camp Merrie-Woode has a new resident!

Julie and Casey have welcomed the recent arrival of a new puppy, Merrie-Woode’s Belle. (But we call her “Belle” for short.) Belle, the cutest little yellow lab, is mischievous and full of energy. She adores her new big sister, Scout, and has spent her first few weeks at camp exploring. She can’t wait for the campers to get here so she has more playmates!

February 7, 2007

Winter Views of Merrie-Woode

If all the snowflakes

Were Hershey bars and milk shakes

Oh, what a snow that would be!

I wouldn’t mind if the sun would never shine

I’d keep on prayin’ for snowflakes all the time

If all the snowflakes

Were Hershey bars and milk shakes

Oh, what a snow that would be!

I’d stand outside with my mouth open wide

That’s the weather for me, oh baby,

If all the snowflakes

Were Hershey bars and milk shakes

Oh, what a snow that would be!

January 15, 2007

We are excited to announce Merrie-Woode’s 2007 Main Session musical, Annie Get Your Gun! Originally opening on Broadway in 1946, the role of Annie Oakley was made famous by Ethel Mermen. Betty Hutton and Howard Keel later starred in the 1950 MGM film version. A Tony Award winning revival of Annie Get Your Gun opened in 1999, starring Bernadette Peters and Tom Wopat, running on Broadway for two and a half years. In its second year, country music star Reba McEntire made her Broadway debut in the title role.

Annie Get Your Gun is based on the life of legendary sharpshooter, Annie Oakley, and her rocky romance with Frank Butler, the lead shooting-ace in Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show. A cast full of hilarious characters, a wonderfully funny script, and a set with enough spectacle to dazzle even Buffalo Bill himself, makes this one of the biggest hits in musical theatre history. With a hit score featuring songs such as There’s No Business Like Show Business, Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly, You Can’t Get a Man With a Gun, I Got the Sun in the Morning, and Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better), this is the classic story of the battle of the sexes! So be sure to pack your cowboy boots and best western shirt in your trunk this year, because Annie Get Your Gun is shooting across the Castle stage this summer! (Past year's shows & pictures)

The Camper Lists for 2007 Have Been Updated! (January 2007)

(Password protected, email Lindsay@merriewoode.com or phyllis@merriewoode.com for access)

Be sure to check out the new camper lists for the 2007 summer! See all your friends and old cabin mates who will be returning this year. Summer is getting closer and closer!

We offer one of the newest additions to the Camp Merrie-Woode® Web site-preparation of an image suitable for a computer monitor's screen saver or wall paper. You can find out on this link. There are instructions for making the image your screensaver or wall paper too on both MAC or PC platform.