Summer Has Arrived!

June 2, 2026

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.

Breathtaking colors of our planet
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Faces of Humanity

Portraits of people from around the globe
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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 

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The Merrie-Woode Values: Spirituality

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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:
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