SmokeSignals Blog

Black Mountain Expeditions is quite a versatile organization!  Obviously, it is great at leading kids through the wilderness and providing that unique experience.  But it has also begun working with schools here on camp to provide some wonderful team building, service oriented, skill development in a camp setting rather than out on the trail.  So far this year we have hosted two excellent Asheville area schools, Carolina Day School and Veritas Christian Academy.

During this time the school’s faculty works with BME director, Ryan Carlson, to give these students a true camp experience.  They do team building exercises, learn archery, climbing, play battleball, etc. (the Sultan of fun even showed up one evening to lead Sock War!).  But then they have integrated in their own curriculum that supports what they have been learning back at school.  Needless to say, this is pretty cool stuff.

If you are ever interested in having your school come to camp for this sort of thing please have someone from your school give Ryan a call.  We would love to work with you!

Happy Camping!

Director Dan

It’s 7:30 pm and I’m in my office catching up on email with parents.  But I’m not getting much done because I keep stopping to listen.  Right now the mountain is vibrating with tribe cheers.  It’s Tribe Fest (a big day at camp!) and right now we are finishing it off with Field Day.   I have been to a lot of field days at camp, and I have been to a lot of field days at my children’s schools, and there’s a big difference.  Schools just do not make this much noise.   I think there are three reasons.

First, girls are different when there are no boys in the room.  They get very loud, they laugh more, they are not afraid to look silly, and they are not afraid to be athletic, or leaders, or followers.  Our girls are made to engage the world around them and when it is just girls they have the freedom to do this without any concern what any boy might think about it.  An all-girl’s camp is a safe place for our campers to figure out who God has made them to be.

Next, living together is completely different than being dropped off at 8:00 and picked up at 3:00.   When children live together they develop a sense of empathy that is difficult to find in other places.  The result is they find themselves cheering for friends and family, not just randomly selected teams.  Even when they do not win, they are proud of each other.

Finally, and we are made to be challenged, grow and succeed.  When a girl has the freedom to fail without anyone laughing about it, she has the freedom to try new things, and when she does this she is not afraid of challenges.  Of course growth and success are then just right around the corner.  When they see their friends grow and succeed, they begin cheering…very loudly.  It’s very loud here.

Adam (is now further behind in office work)

As Session 2A closes, lots of memories with many laughs, smiles, and tears were shared amongst campers. As the two weeks were ending, the girls were reminded of the strong friendships formed here at Merri-Mac! Each girl had tears in her eyes, but the smiles never faded, as we knew one thing…these friendships made, were true friendships. Saying goodbye is always hard, but we took comfort in the fact that we would always have each other.

Last nights evening activity was White Feather and Fine Arts Night! After dinner, the girls headed up to the Teepee to sit around the campfire for our White Feather Ceremony! Many girls were promoted last night! In Junior Camp: Kate A., Rachel H., Jarrett B., and Molly H. were promoted to the rank of Tumbleweed. Lizzie H. and Ava D. were promoted to the rank of Groundhog. In Senior Camp: Berkleigh H. Elenor P., Natalie S., Julia M., Lawton N., Sydney B., Sydney H., Gracie Rae H., Leah B., Colombe H., Laura B., Colombe H., Laura L., Olivia K., Carleigh W., Melanie G., Millie M., and Marit S. were promoted to the rank of Arrow. Alex L., Katherine O., Anna B., Courtney B., Sophia H., Taylor T., Yamille G., Alice C., and Kirstie H. were promoted to Crazy Creek. Vanessa D., Mary Laci M., Ameila G., Emma J., Becca M., Katie S., Maggie S., Anna Sutton W., Anna B., Shawn C., and Sophie H. were promoted to Long Bow. Anabel M. was promoted to Running Deer. Hamilton I., Sarah L., Sara W., and Meredith S. were promoted to Red Tail.

In Fine Arts Night many girls performed and showed off their talents! Some of our cheerleading, guitar, and dance classes perfumed! Margaret C. and Heather M. performed monologues! The chorus classes performed routines to Wicked’s “Popular” and Hairspray’s “Good Morning Baltimore”. Some of the dance routines included songs: “Angel”, “When It Don’t Come Easy”, “Jai Ho”, and “Proud Mary”! Even some girls did a fencing routine with a choreographed dance! We enjoyed each act! The girls all did a fabulous job and we are proud of each one of them!

This Morning we woke up with mixed feelings about the day to come! Although each girl was excited to see her friends and family, this meant leaving our friends behind in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains!

This morning started with a breakfast of delicious Coffee Cake and Breakfast Burritos!  After breakfast, the girls headed outside to “Friendship Circle” on the back green! In this ceremony the girls all stood in a circle and held hands, singing songs which described memories, friendships, and finally goodbye! “mmhm, I want to linger… mmhm, a little longer… mmhm, a little longer here with you.” Campers and Staff alike dread singing these songs because they know that means one thing…goodbye is near! Each girl hugged her cabin-mates, and new friends, which marked the beginning of a day filled with hugs, pictures, and exchanging of addresses and phone numbers! They “lingered” on the Green as long as they could as if staying there would mean goodbye would never come.

The girls headed up to their cabins to prepare for classes, all the while listening for her name to be called to run down the hill and meet her family at the front porch!

While in classes today, Fitness went to the lake and went synchronized swimming. In Riflery, the girls played a game of Taboo with Climbing third period today! In Drama the girls played dress up and performed a skit for Victoria Y., the drama instructor. Anabel M. got her gold in canoeing!  In Archery the girls shot the targets and worked towards their bars!

For lunch today the girls ate a camp favorite meal of Chicken Nuggets and French Fries! The girls ate Cookies for dessert!

During 4^th period the girls headed to Lake Dorris for a free swim filled with blobbing, diving, kayaking, and sunbathing! It was a lot of fun to have everyone swimming and sharing time together at our newly beautifully updated Lake Dorris!

The girls headed down the hill to dinner, where we ate pasta, broccoli, and bread sticks! For dessert we had another camp favorite—fudge bars!

After dinner, each girl headed up the hill to change into her swim suit and grab a towel to head back to Lake Dorris for a camp free swim! After free swim, they returned to their cabins and prepared for another great day at camp tomorrow!

To all of our parents: thank you for offering us this wonderful experience at camp! We cannot wait to tell you all about it! Every friendship and memory created here are only possible because of YOU! We love you all very much and are thinking of and praying for you always!

Although we are sad to see so many smiling faces go, we look forward to sharing another great two weeks with your daughters!

“Best Friends Forever means never apart, maybe in distance, but never in heart!”

We LOVE you Merri-Mac beauties!

“And as the years go by, ill think of you inside, this is goodnight and not goodbye!”

Maddy Cristina

Stardust Camper 2003 and Counselor 2011

Cheerleading Instructor

PROUD Seminole!

Photography by Wendy Perry

Every Merri-Mac camper dreads the day when Anne Boyd passes out white song sheets and says, “Lets practice Lakeside songs”.  Instead of cheering on our tribes for another 10 minutes, every camper must come to terms with the fact that camp will soon be over. As we sing, there is an unspoken air of sadness, everyone realizing they will have to say goodbye.

That night Merri-Mac tribal leaders hand their girls their candles and plates, the silence ban goes on, and they all walk down to the lake for Lakeside.  This longstanding tradition has marked the end of the summer for over 67 years.  Campers young and old can recall the same sights and sounds, extending the Merri-Mac family into the past, present, and future.

The tribes take their seats around the lake and one brave from each tribe swims their torch to the fire dock, igniting the light and beginning the ceremony.  The Chiefs and Medicine Men get into their canoes and paddle around the roaring fire in the middle of the lake.  These brave leaders take the flame from the fire dock and bring it back to their tribe.  All the while, the campers and staff sing, filling the air with words of friendship and love.

The staff begin lighting their candles singing, “It only takes a spark, to get a fire going” and the campers follow suit.  Each camper makes a wish on their plate as they place it onto the water.  The lake fills with light and wishes as the campers make their way towards their cabins.  Everyone lingers by the boat house to say their goodbyes.  Counselors try to usher their campers to the cabins, but they are persuaded to linger by the tears streaming down their campers faces.

Lakeside is a beautiful ceremony that holds sentimental value to hundreds of campers past and present.  This tradition ties current campers to the extensive Merri-Mac family and deepens our love for Christ, and each other.  The friendships made at Merri-Mac merit this extensive and meaningful goodbye. We hope that you will enjoy these pictures of our most meaningful evening activities.

~Lee Bolton
Proud Seminole
14 time Lakeside Attendee

Photography by Wendy Perry

The bugle blared bright and early this Friday morning as a new day began at Camp Merri-Mac. Yesterday the sun set with fencing bars, White Feather, and the legendary Merri-Mac talent show. Jiselle H, Victoria B, Sophia E, Virginia C, Samantha F, Taylor T, Elizabeth I, Eleanor B, Kate H, Mattie C, and Isabel E. all earned their bronze bars in fencing just before dinner. And the day couldn’t have ended more perfectly than the Merri-Mac girls showcasing their talents in music, drama, and dancing. Comet, Sunnyside, and the staff all performed skits, while Nicki G. recited a monologue and Emma R. mimed. Cheerleading also performed a routine. Lainey G., Natalie, Rachel D., Isabel E., Stewart Ann M., Ana R., Chloe R., Cece B., Adair C., Arianna J., Emily M., and Katherine G. captivated the audience with their voices as each sang amazing covers to various songs. All in all, the talent show was a huge success; Merri-Mac definitely has star potential.

But this morning, the campers readily woke in anticipation of Farmer Friday and Tribefest. Girls pulled on cowboy boots and flannel shirts over their tribe jerseys and raced down to the dining hall to dig into some coffee cake and baked oatmeal. Then they headed to the chapel and learned about the character of Jesus as counselor Annie-Grace Shaffer taught from the first chapter of Ephesians. Finally, the word was given – change into your bathing suits and get ready for Swim Fest! Decked out in tribal gear, the campers filed down to the lake behind a golf cart decorated with Seminole, Choctaw, and Iroquois colors to cheer on their swim competitors.

In the junior category, Isabel O., Mary Ellison, Ellie J., Lexy S., Sophia E. and Virginia C. competed in backstroke; Mary Ellison, Katherine F., Lexy S., Ellie J., Grace A. and Stewart Ann swam breast stroke; Isabel O., Katherine F., Elizabeth I., Laura S., Grace, and Virginia swam freestyle; and Mary Ellison, Katherine F., Isabel O., Michelle W., Ellie J., Lara S., Taylor T., Stewart Ann, Eleanor, Vicki, and Virginia represented their tribes in the junior life-vest relay.

In the intermediate category, Olivia K., Alina, Kate H., Sarah English, Sophia B., and Emily H. swam butterfly; Olivia K., Victoria, Ashlynn K., Juliana R., Ansley B., and Shay A. competed in backstroke; Alina, Addison, Morgan P., Sarah English, Emily H., and Addie swam breaststroke; andAlina, Olivia K., Holland, Addison, Ashlynn K., Kate H., Juliana R., Morgan P., Grace P., Sophia B., Yaara, and Caroline L. all represented their tribes in the medley relay.

In the senior category, Sarah Beth, Nicki G., Ellie T., Cassidy H., Caroline C., and Caroline A. competed for the butterfly; Sarah Beth, Laura, Cassidy H., Katie S., Bailey A. and Bianca P. swam backstroke; Arianna, Isabel, Abbie T., Ellie T., Caroline A. and Audrey A. swam breast stroke; Catherine, Madison, Mary Helen P., Sarah Kate P., Caroline C., and Bailey A.competed in freestyle; and Laura, Sarah Beth, Arianna, Catherine, Cassidy H., Ellie T., Abbie T., Sarah Kate P., Bailey A., Caroline C., Caroline A., and Bianca P. Represented their tribes in the medley relay.
After the intense competition of Swim Fest, the girls put aside their differences, linked arms and headed to lunch with their cabins. At the end of lunch, the results were in – Iroquois won Swim Fest and Choctaw won Spirit Points!

The afternoon saw an hour of rest time and free time until 4:30 pm, when tribes met again to plan and hold try outs for Field Day. Only time can tell to see which tribe will prevail to win Field Day…

Until then, Merri-Mac family, sleep well and wait for the rooster to crow (or the bugle to blare) once more tomorrow morning!

Hilary Sayre

Moonmist

July 8, 2011