The Merrie-Woode Values: Spirituality
Spirituality: Camp Merrie-Woode is a place of reverence and is based in the Christian faith.
As we wrap up this first session of the summer, we are especially grateful for our time at Merrie-Woode, the Place of Rarest Beauty, and for the way that it reveals God’s presence in our daily lives. Merrie-Woode's natural beauty evokes a sense of awe and appreciation for our Creator in those who have the opportunity to observe it, especially the campers and counselors who spend their summers beneath Old Bald. Recognizing the importance of Camp as a sacred place, the first line of Merrie-Woode’s Mission Statement speaks of “a sanctuary of rarest beauty which inspires a lasting awareness of God’s presence.” Admiration of nature is often the basis of spirituality at Camp. Campers instinctively acknowledge that the many wonders of the outdoors are God’s handiwork.
Some of our favorite reflections about Merrie-Woode are found in the pages of
The Lake Fairfield Ripple, a collection of camper and staff writings and drawings published annually since 1923. In one early edition of
The Ripple, a camper expressed the connection between God and nature in poetic verse:
Who made the flowers and birds and trees?
Whose hand formed the sapphire sky?
Who created the cooling breeze?
And the wind that whistles by?
Who put the mountains here on earth?
With their fringes brown and green?
Who gave the butterflies their birth?
And made the waters calm and serene?
God made them all and put them here
Each to do its own little part
And so it’s not for us to fear,
But to do our bit with all our heart.
For if in this, life’s great mosaic,
One little piece is left out
It leaves a hole, an empty space
Which Can’t be filled along life’s route.
This camper beautifully expresses how God designed each element of nature for a specific purpose and as a unique part of a greater whole. Through observations of nature, campers discover that they were also created by God for a special purpose, and they should not be afraid to embrace their unique qualities.
In addition to this reverence inspired by natural beauty, Camp provides many opportunities to explore how Christian faith can direct our interactions with others. In our cabins and activities, there are often learning moments when we see how qualities like kindness, patience, generosity, and forgiveness can improve our relationships. When moments of stress or conflict arise, these situations provide campers and counselors with opportunities to talk to each other about how to put these qualities into practice in everyday life. A counselor might talk to a camper about forgiving someone who said something hurtful, or a camper might talk with a friend about how to have more patience with herself when tackling a skill for the first time. From daily devotionals in Castle to Sunday Chapel talks, there are many opportunities for campers to learn qualities, such as the Fruits of the Spirit, that guide us in how we should live together.
One of Merrie-Woode’s longtime Directors, Fritz Orr, Jr.(featured in the middle image above), shared in a 2015 interview that Christianity is the foundation of life at Camp. He called it “the floor of the whole thing,” and noted that “what the kids were standing on was their faith and religion.” He emphasized that faith was not something “to beat you on the head every day, it just bubbled up every now and then.” He believed that Camp ought to be a world where Christianity could be exemplified in the way that people treat each other, and that campers would learn by watching role models living out Christian virtues in their everyday activities. We find that this concept remains relevant today, as we pursue Merrie-Woode’s Mission to nurture the physical, intellectual, and spiritual growth of girls and young women through traditional camp activities and outdoor adventures.
Camp continues to be a community that encourages spiritual growth for both campers and staff. How we respond to difficult situations reveals a lot about the state of our spiritual lives. When we regularly spend time with God reflecting on His Word, we are better equipped to bring our best selves to the challenges that come up each day. Throughout the Merrie-Woode experience, we find ways that Camp continues to foster spiritual growth. As we reflect on this first session of the summer, we are grateful for the Place of Rarest Beauty, especially for how spirituality “bubbles up” at Camp and gives us opportunities to strengthen our faith throughout our lives.
Chug-a-Wump,
Robin & Frost
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