July 18

July 18, 2026

It's a great day for the race!!!!

We had a huge day at Camp! Campers participated in the Swim & Boat Meet in the morning, the Crew Race in the afternoon, and a very exciting Evening Program to round out the day. On this second-to-last Saturday of Camp, campers took a break from their regular activities and headed down to the docks for one of our favorite traditions: the Swim & Boat Meet! In the days leading up to the event, our two oldest cabins signed all the campers up for an event. From freestyle and racing rolls to Merrie-Woode favorites like Double Trouble(when two canoes have to hold onto one another and race), there was something for everyone to participate in. The whole event was emceed by our JCs, who kept the energy high and the races moving. A late-morning storm rolled in, sending us to the Dining Hall, but that didn't put a damper on the fun. Campers spent the rest of the morning playing games, working on projects, and enjoying some unexpected time together!

Then, in the afternoon, it was time for the CREW RACE!!! Our six Would-Bes have spent the past week painting paddles, practicing with their crews, and getting ready for one of their biggest events of the summer. This year's theme was Michael Jackson, with a special dedication to Holly Pierce Ambler. Dressed in full costume, each crew performed a skit, revealing their paddles, and then all 6 sang a song to their Would-Be leaders. To start the race, the crews paddled out past the point and waited for the signal to sprint back to shore. With the entire camp lined up on the swim docks cheering for their favorites, the energy was incredible. It is always such a special afternoon, and this year was no exception!

As if that wasn't enough excitement for one day, our Evening Program was a big one: Harry Potter Night! Counselors fully committed to their characters, cabins were pre-sorted into houses, and campers wore their house colors proudly all day long. Our youngest two cabins, Du Kum Inn and Mushroom, were sorted live in the Dining Hall, with the Sorting Hat carefully deciding where each cabin belonged. Every house gave a huge cheer when their newest members were announced, and even Chef Thai got sorted! The JCs took on the role of mischievous Hogwarts troublemakers, hiding in the rafters and spraying unsuspecting witches and wizards with water guns throughout the meal. With spells flying, scenes being acted out, and house pride on full display, the Dining Hall felt a whole lot more like Hogwarts than Merrie-Woode. After dinner, everyone gathered in Castle to watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone together.

It was a busy day from start to finish and a perfect reminder of just how much fun can fit into a single day at Camp. As we head into our final week of Main Session, we are excited to celebrate all that our campers have accomplished. They have worked hard, tried new things, supported one another, and made the most of every opportunity! One of the greatest joys of Camp is watching girls grow in confidence, independence, and friendship year after year, and our Main Session campers are no exception. We can't wait to make the most of this last week under Old Bald!


Chug-a-wump, 

Robin & Frost 

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July 16

July 16, 2026
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!

July 14

July 14, 2026
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. 

July 12

July 12, 2026
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.
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