Tonight we gathered at the Teepee for Merri-Mac Council.

More than most camps we know of, Merri-Mac is a camper driven program. The tribal leaders, honor campers, princess court, spirits of good cheer and sportsmanship, and even the princess herself are decided by the campers. Each of these become opportunities for campers to recognize particular character types and leadership abilities and is an important way of calling to a girl’s attention her own abilities and talents.

One of the exceptions to this is our Merri-Mac Council where the counselors will award our White Feather promotions. Here campers who have demonstrated gifts of quiet leadership and an increasing growth in the fruits of the Spirit receive beaded necklaces as they progress through the ranks toward achieving the rank of White Feather. More important than these promotions, however, are the opportunities Merri-Mac Council provides for recognizing each girl’s unique character and abilities. Some of our most successful campers, some of our tribal chiefs, and even some of our honor campers may never receive a White Feather promotion because their gifts lie in other areas. But White Feather is an opportunity to recognize certain character traits that might otherwise go unnoticed.

In the end the most important part of Merri-Mac Council comes after the ceremony is over. During cabin time on the evenings that we hold council the counselors will go to each camper to describe the gifts and abilities that they have noticed in her. This is where a girl who may never earn a White Feather Promotion, or a Gold Bar, or be elected to a tribal office, can be told about her own unique gifts and contribution to her camp family.