This week has seen cool mornings and breezy afternoons, offering everyone at Camp Merri-Mac a break from the heat of the summer. The morning bugle echoed out over the crisp valley at 7 am this morning, marking the start of another great day at camp. After each camper made their beds and tidied their cabins, they all headed down to Tucker Inn to get some French toast sticks! After eating their fill, everyone made their way above the lake to the chapel, shining bright in the morning sun. Worship included singing You Are Holy and Blessed Be Your Name; as well as wonderful message from Big Dipper Counselor Lauren B, focusing on Colossians 1:13-14. Shortly after each Iroquois, Seminole and Choctaw had attended and departed their various tribal meetings; first period was in full swing. In riding class, girls were jumping horses. Down by the backpacking hut, campers created fun skits in order to practice rules for leave no trace and camping etiquette. Outside of the kitchen on the patio, Taylor T. and Shay A. were hard at work knitting headbands. Right inside past the patio, girls were whipping up marvelous dishes of baked ziti. Over at the enchanted barn, campers finished up their slab mugs and started working on the wheels. Up the hill on Little Dipper porch, girls were strumming away to “Pompeii” and “How He Loves Us” in guitar class. In the drama room, counselor Steph G. gave a miming tutorial that left everyone speechless. Down on the sand volleyball courts, many were shuffling back and forth, working hard to learn how to correctly set. At 1:00, everyone took a break from all of their adventures to enjoy some pizza, fruit and pasta salad for lunch. After a much needed rest hour, the bell for trading post rang and the stampede of candy-craving girls thundered down the hill. Allie W. reined tether ball queen supreme as everyone enjoyed their various trading post goodies. Before they knew it, it was time for afternoon activities to begin! Tennis class practiced their backhand strokes and ended class with a fun game of jail. At the archery range, girls practiced shooting and scoring their targets. Climbing met at the traverse wall today, and Becca M. from Sunnyside cabin successfully completed the hardest route for her gold bar. Out on Lake Doris, kayakers practiced their hip snaps and soaked up some warm sun. In canoeing class, they practiced deep-water reentry and had fun with some relay races. After a packed day of activities came to a close, everyone dressed up for America Color Wars. Each girl dressed up in various shades of red, white and blue and competed in a patriotic game of sock war, topped off with a delicious ice cream party on Macky’s Green.

Yesterday marked three weeks until the end of the summer. I really cant believe how quickly the summer has blazed by us all, and I can’t imagine leaving this haven we all call Merri-Mac. Where else in the world can one girl kayak, mime, shoot a bow and arrow, walk a dog, ride a horse and bake cupcakes all in one day? But what does make Camp Merri-Mac such a special place are the friendships we all form here. Years from now, we may not be able to recall how to shoot a bulls eye every time we use a bow and arrow, but I am confident that we always be able call up our sisters that we’ve found here at camp and reminisce on our camping days and friendships true.

Sincerely,

Davie Boone

Comet Counselor

Seminole