June 12th

June 12, 2026

Nearly every day at Camp, campers have the opportunity to head out on one of our many out-of-Camp trips. These adventures are a chance to explore the incredible rivers, mountains, and caves that surround us while building confidence, teamwork, and a deeper connection with the outdoors. We offer trips ranging from paddling and climbing adventures to full-day hikes and overnight expeditions.


Our paddling and boating trips take campers out onto some of the best rivers and lakes in our area, including rivers like the Tuckasegee and Nantahala. Campers get to bring the skills they've learned on the lake to the whitewater and build new skills on the river. Whether they’re paddling through rapids or working together to navigate the river, every river trip offers something new! One of our most sought-after trips is Lake Jocassee, a three-day, two-night adventure with paddling, camping, and more! Campers paddle across crystal-clear waters to an island campsite. They spend their days exploring the lake, swimming, and soaking up the great outdoors before cooking dinner over an open fire.

Our Mountaineering program invites campers to dive into a wide range of outdoor adventures. From full-day hikes and rock climbs to caving expeditions, there is something for everyone! Campers can take on everything from challenging multiple-day hikes to shorter, skill-focused climbing trips. Trips to Grimshaws, the sliding rock near camp, is always a popular trip to sign up for! Caving is one of the most unique trips we offer at Merrie-Woode. Campers journey to Worley's Cave in Tennessee, where they suit up in coveralls, helmets, headlamps, and gloves, ready to head down into the cave. Inside, they spend the afternoon trekking through the cave—bouldering along the way, wading through an underground river, and spotting stalactites and stalagmites. They'll even squeeze through a few tight spaces, proving that getting totally covered in mud is just part of the adventure(see below...).

Out-of-camp trips are easily some of the highlights of the summer. They give campers a chance to explore new places and build memories that last long after closing day. Whether it's a once-in-a-lifetime adventure or a chance to practice new skills alongside new friends, these trips bring a whole new kind of magic to the summer.


Chug-a-wump, 

Robin & Frost 

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June 10th

June 10, 2026
Every year on the Fourth of July, we host a Carnival for our Main Session campers, and it’s always one of the highlights of the summer. Last year, we decided it wasn’t quite fair for our June campers to miss out on all the fun, so we brought the tradition to them as well. Now in its second year at June Session, Carnival has quickly become a favorite!

June 8th

June 9, 2026
We have been having the best time under Old Bald! It’s hard to believe the first week of the session has already come and gone. Every Monday and Thursday at lunch, table assignments change in the Dining Hall. On the first night of camp, both campers and counselors fill out a survey with categories like birth month, favorite color, and hometown. Twice a week, we use those answers to reorganize the tables so that everyone has the chance to meet new people and spend time with campers of all ages. We don’t tell them the category when they switch tables, which makes it even more fun! Each table has to ask questions and gets to know one another while trying to figure out what they all have in common. For this past rotation, we grouped everyone by their hometowns! In a more recent tradition, we play songs in the Dining Hall for each state represented. When your state’s song comes on, your whole table jumps up and runs around the Dining Hall. With songs like “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Sweet Caroline” for the Carolinas, and even “International Love” for our international campers and staff, it makes lunch that day very eventful!

The Merrie-Woode Values: Our History

June 6, 2026
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.
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