EMAILS & PHOTOS

The weather under Old Bald kept us on our toes today! We started the morning with blue skies and sunshine, and by the afternoon, a thunderstorm had rolled in and completely changed the scene. Luckily, a little rain has never stopped Merrie-Woode campers from having fun. Whether we were soaking up the sunshine or splashing through puddles, spirits stayed high all day long. Some morning highlights included a TON of fun down at the docks, where some of our Starmate Level Boaters put on a synchronized kayaking routine complete with rolls, all set to Gwen Stefani's "The Sweet Escape." Over in Acting, campers got into full costume to perform scenes from The Wizard of Oz. With costumes like that, a photoshoot was obviously necessary to document the occasion!

Another evening of fun at Merrie-Woode! We had a brand-new Evening Program last night: Clue! In a fresh take on the classic boardgame, c ampers were tasked with figuring out which member of Leadership Team had been "murdered," where it happened, and what was used to do it. 

Happy Sunday! We are always looking forward to Sundays at Camp, and it’s easy to see why... they’re so much fun! Between 30 extra minutes of sleep, Chapel, and plenty of time spent with friends, Sundays always feel extra special. We kicked off our Sunday with an exciting Chapel, complete with visitors, a speaker, and even a musical performance! Longtime camper and counselor Susan Edwards Lewis joined us once again, and we are always so happy when she comes to Camp. Susan spoke about the importance of grounding and helped us better understand why Merrie-Woode feels like such a grounding place to so many of us. Drawing from the scripture readings and Dammie’s Prayer, she reflected on the idea of the "freedom of littleness." In the "real world", we can sometimes feel like it is too risky to try new things when we may not have the knowledge or experience to succeed. Susan encouraged us to see the encouragement and sense of belonging that surrounds us at Camp as a gift. Because of that support, we can challenge ourselves to do hard things. There is something incredibly grounding about recognizing that you are one small part of something much bigger than yourself. Whether it's being a member of your cabin, your activity group, or the Merrie-Woode community as a whole, that sense of belonging helps us feel connected, supported, and rooted. It was such a thoughtful message and a wonderful way to begin our Sunday together. Following Susan’s message, we enjoyed a special performance from one of our Guitar classes! The group played and sang Noah Kahan's "Everywhere, Everything," and it was such a fun addition to Chapel. One of our favorite things is getting to watch campers share what they've been working on in their activities, and they did a wonderful job.

Community: Living in a friendly, inclusive, and mutually supportive community makes it possible for girls and young women to grow into their best selves.

Our Main Session feels like it's flying by! We're nearing the halfway point, but our campers are making sure to soak up every second under Old Bald. With activities, table assignments, and so much of Camp life mixing girls from different cabins and age groups, it's always fun when campers get a chance to spend some time with others in their own age group. That's where PYSK comes in! PYSK stands for Page, Yeoman, Squire, and Knight, our four age groups here at Camp. For this Evening Program, campers split up by age group and head off to enjoy activities planned just for them. For this PYSK, our Pages and Yeomen teamed up and gathered around the campfire with BadHair. He shared Jack Tales and Appalachian oral tradition stories, keeping campers entertained from start to finish. We always love when BadHair comes to Camp, and this year was no exception!  Our Squires were treated to a much-anticipated Dock Party! Between the music, floaties, water guns, and plenty of time in the lake, there was no shortage of laughter and fun down at the waterfront.

One of our classic Camp evening programs made its return this we ek: Counselor Hunt! Th e evening starts in Castle, where campers gather to hear the rules while counselors quickly change into all black in hopes of improving their hiding skills. Once the rules are explained, the counselors are given ten minutes to scatter across Camp and find the perfect hiding spot. Then, the hunt begins!  Of course, the challenge doesn't end once a camper spots a counselor. To officially "claim" them, campers have to know the counselor's first and last name, their cabin, and at least one activity they teach. Campers race all over Camp searching everywhere they can think of, while counselors do their best to stay hidden for as long as possible.

Happy Fourth of July! We are so excited to celebrate America's 250th birthday here at Camp. We do things a little differently on the Fourth, and it's always one of our favorite days of the summer. The day starts with campers waking up to patriotic music instead of the usual wake-up bell, with hits like Born in the U.S.A. and Party in the U.S.A. playing across camp. Then, campers gather on the steps of their cabins to watch the annual "invasion." Our wonderful barn staff ride through camp shouting, "The British are coming!" on horses painted to match the red, white, and blue of the day, waving to campers as they kick off the festivities.

Wilderness and the Outdoors: Spending time in undisturbed natural settings helps girls develop a sense of awe for God’s creation, of discovery, and of their own potential.

We have been having the best time beneath Old Bald during Main Session! Our activities are well underway, and our campers are making the most of every moment at Camp. We wanted to give you a glimpse into the day-to-day happenings in some of our activities. In Riding, campers learned all about the important work that happens before getting in the saddle, including grooming, tacking, and preparing their horses for a ride. Over at the tennis courts, campers have been working to pass levels, with many setting their sights on reaching the highest level: Ace! In our visual arts classes, campers are beginning their first projects of the summer. In Stained Glass, campers have been learning the process from start to finish as they plan, design, and begin creating beautiful pieces.