TAJAR BLOG

The Merrie-Woode Values: Our History

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 02:11:46 GMT

Our History: Our goal is to create a future based on the best of the past, including

honoring those who have loved it and given it their best.

At Camp Merrie-Woode, we are incredibly proud of our history. For 108 summers, we have welcomed girls and young women to the mountains of Western North Carolina to explore the wilderness, challenge themselves through outdoor adventure, strengthen their character, and make lifelong friendships. Over the course of these summers, many willing and capable leaders have stepped forward to guide the campers in their development and inspire them to become the best version of themselves. Others have devoted countless hours to establish the Merrie-Woode Foundation, ensuring that Camp will remain the beautiful sanctuary it has always been. Each in their own way has fulfilled Dammie’s Day’s vision, as she expressed it in the Merrie-Woode Plaque:

It is because there is a kindred spirit in you that you have recognized what Merrie-Woode stands for. God has given us a place of rarest beauty and since I first beheld it, I have tried to match His gift as best I could with permeating love and honesty. It is a composite thing made of all those who through the years, have loved it and given it their best.

Camp’s enduring strength comes from the many people who have placed their talents and faith in the service of Merrie-Woode. Many stories captured in Merrie-Woode’s Centennial Book, Camp Merrie-Woode: One Hundred Years of Following the Gleam , detail the devoted alumnae and staff who contributed to Camp’s development. Over the course of several years leading up to the Centennial, a team of dedicated individuals, led by alumna Dorothy Moss Williams, pieced together letters, photographs, interview transcripts, and other archival records to create a narrative that accurately captured Camp’s history. Thanks to their efforts, we can all be inspired by tales, some of which were not widely known, about Camp’s first one hundred years.

Most Merrie-Woode campers know the name Dammie Day through excerpts of her writings read at Opening and Closing Campfires. Not all are as well-acquainted with the traditions that she created, such as changing the name from Lake Fairfield Camp to Camp Merrie-Woode in 1922. Dammie was also responsible for introducing British lore to Camp, including Follow the Gleam and the many references to Arthurian legends. Dammie saw Merrie-Woode in a greater context than just a summer camp; she wanted Merrie-Woode girls to see themselves as members of a global community. To that end, she placed colorful cut-outs of children from all around the world in their national costumes, interspersed with Merrie-Woode campers in their uniforms, along the porches of the two-story Tajar building that she had constructed in the 1930s.

When Dammie was ready to retire in the early 1950s, she could not have identified better successors than Augusta and Fritz Orr. Fritz, Sr. was a passionate outdoorsman and led Merrie-Woode campers on many exciting adventures, including a favorite Backpacking-Canoeing-Horseback Riding. The outdoor adventures continued when Fritz Orr, Jr. and his wife, Dottie, became Merrie-Woode’s Directors after Fritz, Sr.’s passing in 1968. Apart from his many contributions to Camp, Fritz, Jr. advocated for protection of the Chattooga River. Together with fellow Camp staff member and future Director, Hugh Caldwell, Fritz, Jr. guided two Georgia governors, Lestor Maddox and Jimmy Carter, on separate trips down the Chattooga, making such an impression that in 1974, the Chattooga River became the first river east of the Mississippi to receive protection as a Wild and Scenic River.

The legacy of Dammie Day, the Orrs, and Hugh Caldwell continue to influence Camp in the present day. While Hugh was best known for his brilliant paddling skills and hilarious pranks, he especially loved classical music. Hugh created a fund in his will to provide Merrie-Woode campers with the opportunity to hear chamber music each summer at Camp. Now known as the Hugh Caldwell Chamber Music Endowment, Hugh’s gift funds a chamber music performance for each of our three sessions every summer.

Today’s campers are living out traditions that have endured decades beyond the lives of those who established them. In this way, we are creating a future based on the best of the past, while honoring those who have loved Merrie-Woode and given it their best. We remember those who came before us at Merrie-Woode and consider how we can honor their legacy in our current camp experience. These ideals are best expressed in a favorite campfire song, In Years To Come , originally created for the 1951 Banquet:

In years to come, our hearts will turn, back to Merrie-Woode.

Our eyes will shine, our hearts will yearn, remembering Merrie-Woode.

And all through life we’ll find a way for nobler work and higher play,

because God led our feet one day, back to Merrie-Woode .

Chug-a-wump,

Robin & Frost

June 4th

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 01:31:10 GMT

We are already having a blast this session! The campers are settling in so nicely and really getting into the groove of Camp life. After a chilly first few days, the sun has come out, and we are soaking up every second of it under Old Bald!

Following Opening Campfire, we headed into two all-time favorite Evening Programs: Deck the Counselor and Auction. Deck the Counselor is one of the best ways for cabins to bond early on into the session. Each cabin comes together to create a skit, dance, or performance, all packed with creativity, inside jokes, and plenty of laughs that show off their cabin spirit. Auction is always a highlight! Every cabin starts with $1000 in Merrie-Woode dollars and bids on highly sought-after prizes, like front row for movie night or the chance to wear pajamas to breakfast. But not all prizes are known when they’re bidding; a handful of them are mysteries that only get revealed after they’ve been 'purhased' (like the lovely task of washing all the camp dogs!). When multiple cabins go all-in on the same item, things get intense, and counselors go up on stage for a very serious game of rock, paper, scissors while their cabins cheer them on.

This first week has been packed with fun, new friendships, and plenty of opportunities for campers to get comfortable with their cabinmates and the routine of Camp. As soon as campers arrive, the spirit of Merrie-Woode comes right back to life and everything just feels complete. We couldn’t be happier to be here together!

Chug-a-wump,

Robin & Frost

Summer Has Arrived!

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 01:11:08 GMT

Merrie-Woode's 108th summer has begun!

Opening Day can feel like a whirlwind, and our June session campers embraced every moment with joy and excitement! It was an amazing start to our summer, full of smiling faces, eager anticipation, and the sparks of unforgettable experiences. Campers had a jam-packed schedule, including activity sign-ups and swim evaluations, and they dove right in (literally and figuratively!). We wrapped up our first day together by gathering for our Opening Campfire, a special time filled with songs, laughter, and reflections on the spirit of Merrie-Woode.

As we officially kick off our 108th summer, we are filled with gratitude and pride in the traditions that continue to bring us together year after year. There is something truly magical about watching returning campers reunite with longtime friends, picking up right where they left off, and seeing new campers form friendships that will last far beyond these three weeks. The cabin bonds, shared adventures, and simple everyday moments, like our first dinner in the Dining Hall, are already making this summer one to remember.

Chug-a-wump,

Robin & Frost

The Merrie-Woode Values: Friendship

Sun, 24 May 2026 19:15:23 GMT

Friendship: We believe in the lifelong friendships formed at Camp, built through shared adventures and traditions that stay with campers for years to come.

We wanted to begin our values blog with one of the most cherished things we gain at Camp: friendship. Above all the adventures, traditions, and activities that campers experience at Merrie-Woode, it is the deep connections formed here that keep them coming back year after year. From campers to staff, these meaningful connections grow stronger each summer, creating a sense of belonging that feels like home.

Our Summer 2026 staff has started arriving for Pre-Orientation this past week! Seeing new and returning staff connect and fo ster an atmosphere of warmth and excitement is a meaningful reminder of what makes Camp so special. On Opening Day, we frequently see campers shouting with joy as they hug their friends again after a year apart—and we see that same excitement when counselors arrive for Orientati on and reunite with one another.

From the moment a girl arrives at Merrie-Woode, so much of what we do centers on connecting with others and forming friendships. Each morning at the end of Castle, as the campers are heading to their activities, we sing:

Make new friends, but keep the old,

One is silver, and the other’s gold.

A circle is round, it never ends,

That’s how long I want to be your friend.

With these familiar words, we remind ourselves each day of the importance of friendship, both new and old. At Camp, we encourage sustaining old friendships w hile welcoming opportu nities to make new ones.

There are endless opportunities to make new friends at Camp. For the younger girls, small cabin groups provide a chance to get to know others through daily interactions, such as cleaning the cabin for inspection, playing tetherball on the Front Line, or taking part in a card game during Rest Hour. During the first few days of Camp, cabinmates participate in Evening Program activities designed to build relationships, like Deck the Counselor and The Great Race. In our larger Hill Cabins, older campers expand friend groups to include girls they may not have gotten to know as well during their younger years. They connect over their dedication to the skills progression programs or bond when taking an out-of-camp trip together.

Friendships formed over multiple summers, living in close quarters, while engaging in challenging outdoor adventures, become tremendously strong. Some lifelong Merrie-Woode friends have held reunions at Camp every year for decades. From the “Silver Haired Jocks” to the “Ladies of the Lake,” these groups of Merrie-Woode alumnae prove that Camp friendships stand the test of time.

This summer, in cabins up and down the line, the seeds of friendships like these will take root. Many of these friendships will become some of the most significant relationships of these girls’ lives: future college classmates, bridesmaids, godmothers of their children, and supportive friends who will see them through even the most challenging times in the future. We look forward to seeing these new friendships grow over the course of the summer.

Chug-a-wump,

Robin & Frost

Camp Is Just Around The Corner

Wed, 13 May 2026 19:48:13 GMT

Summer is quickly approaching

Boo-Whoop! Camp is just around the corner! With summer quickly approaching, we are so excited to kick off Merrie-Woode’s 108th season and welcome our campers to our Place of Rarest Beauty. As campers experience new challenges and adventures at Merrie-Woode, we will keep families connected with daily photographs and frequent posts on the Tajar Blog, sharing more about the “Why” behind our many activities and traditions.

We are intentionally starting this year’s blog posts with Merrie-Woode’s Mission and Values. They are at the heart of who we are and why we do what we do at Camp. Everything we do at Merrie-Woode relates back to the Mission in some way. It is so important that our entire community knows the fundamentals of the Mission Statement.

Merrie-Woode is a sanctuary of rarest beauty which inspires a lasting awareness of God’s presence. The Mission of Camp Merrie-Woode is to use that setting to nurture the physical, intellectual and spiritual growth of girls and young women through traditional camp activities and outdoor adventures. In this friendly, non-competitive community of simplified living, each individual is valued for who she is and who she will become.

While camp days are full of challenges, new friendships, learning new skills, and reaching higher levels of proficiency, the campers’ spiritual growth is often the most impactful part of the Merrie-Woode experience. On the final Sunday of each session, the entire Camp comes together to watch our oldest campers perform Follow the Gleam, a play about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest in search of the Holy Grail. Each knight returns and reports to King Arthur about the outcome of his search. Through their stories, the campers learn that the Holy Grail is only revealed to those who live lives of unselfish service. Each camper and counselor processes out of Chapel carrying a single candle that she then floats out onto Lake Fairfield, signifying the Spirit of Merrie-Woode that she will carry back into the world.

This idea of carrying the Merrie-Woode spirit back into the world is further emphasized at the end of our Closing Campfire. On our final evening together, as we stand around the swim dock before singing Taps, we listen to the words of Dammie’s Prayer:

God of the Hills, grant me Thy strength to go back into the cities without faltering, strength to help my neighbor who has no hills to remember.

God of the Lake, grant me Thy peace and Thy restfulness. Restfulness to carry the tired one whom I shall meet everyday; content to do small things with a freedom of littleness, self-control for the unexpected emergency, and patience for the wearisome task; with the deep depths within my soul to bear me through the crowded places, and the laughter of the sunny waves to brighten cheerless spots in a long winter.

God of the Stars, may I take back the gift of friendship and love for all. Fill me with a great tenderness for the needy person at every turning. Grant that in all my perplexities and everyday decisions I may keep an open mind.

God of the Wilderness, with Thy pure winds blow away my pettiness; with the harsher winds of winter drive away my selfishness and hypocrisy, fill me with the breaths and depths and the height of Thy wilderness.

May I live out the truths which Thou has taught me in every thought and word and deed. Amen.

These words are committed to our hearts each summer, carried with us as inspiration and a reminder that the gift we receive of our time at Merrie-Woode should be used in the service of others.

We look forward to sharing more Camp traditions, songs, stories, and memories with you during the upcoming weeks. As we count down to Opening Day, we will highlight all of Merrie-Woode’s eleven Values: Wilderness and the Outdoors, Simplified Living, Challenge, Play, Spirituality, Integrity, Community, the Individual, Friendship, Our History, and Service. We will take a look into how these Values show up in daily life at Camp.

We are counting down the days until summer begins!

Chug-a-wump and see you soon,

Robin and Frost