SmokeSignals Blog
SUMMARY - Answers to parents' frequently asked questions about going to summer camp.
IMAGE CAPTION - What a view! What a summer! Come join us at Merri-Mac!
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January 31st, 2012
The concrete foundation walls are up and Tree Top is starting to take shape.
It is all pretty exciting around here because we have also decided to take on yet another project, the Lodge is getting a much needed face lift! Why would we do that you might be asking yourself? Well, ultimately because we love you girls and a lot of Sunnysiders weren’t going to be able to be here without us doing something drastic. We fill up really quickly after camp (never forget to early enroll people!) and it was heartbreaking to us that some really sweet girls were going to miss out on their last summer with us due to lack of space. So for the first time ever, the Lodge is going to have campers living in it! Aren’t we crazy? Maybe a little bit. But it is going to be nice. Check out the progress so far. You would never even know it was the Lodge.
And then we put in some pretty stone steps on the bank up by the canoe shack too! Because why not?
Happy Camping! (Especially to you Sunnysiders)
From all of us here at Merri-Mac
Posted in About Camp, New Camp Construction, News by Adam | (7) Comments
January 24th, 2012
Actually, we are adding two this summer.
I have a confession to make. I’m proud we’re building a new infirmary (Tree Tops?) but I am even more excited that the bottom floor will be a demonstration kitchen. Yep, we’re adding a cooking class this summer. I love our food at camp, but I cannot wait to see what our girls cook in class…and I am expecting to see some of it on the round table this summer!
But that’s not all. We’re also rolling out a new knitting class. Knitting has become the new cool thing among high school student here in Black Mountain, and I suspect it will be even more popular here.
I have always been pleased that Merri-Mac has something for everyone. We have high energy athletic sports like gymnastics, soccer, diving, cheerleading, volleyball, fitness, etc. We also have camp classics like fencing, riflery swimming and archery. I especially like our mountain sports like climbing, canoeing, kayaking, and backpacking. And of course riding is in a class of its own. But recently I have felt there was room for a few quieter, small motor skill , activities, and I think cooking and knitting will fit the bill perfectly.
Knit one, Pearl two,
Adam and Ann
Posted in New Camp Construction by Adam | (7) Comments
January 14th, 2012
Merri-Mac, we want to know your favorite thing about the tribes.
Ask an Merri-Mac camper from the 1940′s or 50′s what camp tribe she is in and she will say “I AM a Choctaw “, or “I AM a Seminole”, or “I AM an Iroquois.” Seldom will you hear “I was.” There is a sense of permanence that gives our campers a base, a stability, and a sense of tradition. Those same former campers can walk into the Merri-Mac Dining Hall today and hear the same songs sung today as they sang them more than 60 years ago.
Each camper or counselor joins an Indian tribe soon after arriving at camp. When you become a Iroquois, Choctaw, or Seminole at initiation, you have joined a lifelong group within the Merri-Mac family. Each night in camp, our evening activity is a competition between the three tribes. At the end of the session, the tribe with the most victories wins the Merri-Mac banner and some serious bragging rights.
Posted in About Camp by Adam | (3) Comments
January 11th, 2012
Between Christmas and New Year’s we had a great staff reunion. All of the girl’s slept over at Anne Archer’s house (next to the fencing pavilion) and there were so many people there that there were Merri-Mac counselors sleeping on almost every inch of the house (even the kitchen floor!). Lots of quality hang out time was spent together, we went into Asheville to get coffee, and we even had a white elephant gift exchange at the Boyd’s house!
It was amazing to catch up with folks from the summer. I was reminded again of just how blessed we are to have such a great group of people surrounding camp.
We even had an appearance from “Virtual Dave” at the Staff reunion. It was nice to see her wandering around the party on Brie’s Ipad. Very nice touch, Dave!
It is hard to believe that camp is just around the corner. After Christmas it seems like the snowball of camp preparation really begins to grow larger and head down the mountain! We are getting super excited and can’t wait for June. What about you? Are you ready for camp?
Posted in About Camp, News, Summer Camp Staff by Adam | (3) Comments
January 3rd, 2012
It is a new year and all across the land people are making resolutions to improve themselves. We pretty much have this resolution for camp going all the time, but it just so happens that our project started now. This will be a beautiful three story building that will house a new infirmary and give other daily camp activities some needed space on the bottom floor. I wonder what those activities might be? I will tell you that they are both going to be new to Camp Merri-Mac. Get excited people! We certainly are.
Also, we need a name. Does anyone have a suggestion?
Happy Camping!
Director Dan
Posted in New Camp Construction by Adam | (15) Comments
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