Merri-Mac FAQs

What ages go to your camp?

Merri-Mac accepts girls ages 6-16.

What is the deadline for registration?

We have no deadline. Both our camps are on “rolling” admissions; we begin taking new campers one week after the close of each session, and continue taking applications until camp is full. Please apply as early as possible in the year, but never hesitate to check on availability. The easiest way to check, and to get other questions answered, is to call us in the office at 828-669-8766.

Do you have a one week session?

We do not. We have found that our girls are most successful with two weeks as the minimum stay. For those families not ready for a full summer experience, we recommend checking out our Mother Daughter Weekends!

What should I bring to camp?

A list of items is included in our camper packet released in April.

How many campers are in a cabin?

Our cabin size ranges from 6 – 24 and our overall staff to camper ratio is 1 to 3.5.

How do I pick activities?

Campers fill out an online Activity Selection form that is released with our camper packet in April. Select ten (10) activities, ranking them for 1 to 10 by preference, and return the sheet to us.

What is your refund policy?

Deposits for camp are refundable, less $300, until January 1. There are no refunds after that date, for deposits or paid balances, so you will need to zero in on your plans before then. If you shorten a session (moving from 4 weeks to 2 weeks, etc.) you will be charged a lost deposit fee ($1,000). Deposits, tuitions and enrollments may not be transferred to other campers.

Balances are due March 1, and there are no refunds for shortened sessions or full withdraws after that. We hate retaining tuitions so please call if you have questions.

How does your wait list work?

Our wait list is first-come, first-served by date. No deposit is required to be on the list, and you will be notified when a spot becomes available. At that time you will have to put down a deposit. We fill early each year.

How do campers do laundry? How often?

Campers bring their laundry to our in-camp laundry service once a week at breakfast. They pick it up later in the day. It is very important that every item be permanently labeled with your camper’s name.

Are phone calls allowed? What is the best way to communicate with my child?

Phone calls are strongly discouraged. We will never prevent you from communicating with your child. We will, however, encourage you to speak with a director or your child’s counselor first, and all phone communication must be initiated by the parent. The best way to communicate is with encouraging letters and emails.

What kind of luggage should I bring to camp? Do I have to mail it ahead of time?

You should bring a large, canvas duffle to camp. These are nice because they are both able to carry all camp necessities and are easily stored away when not in use.

You do not have to ship the duffle ahead of time, unless your camper is flying, though many parents choose to ship in order to lighten the load in the car.

How is lost and found handled?

We work very hard to send campers home with everything they brought. But we also ask campers to keep up with their own things. Of course we’ll help. Every night – long after the girls have gone to their cabins – our staff will tour the grounds collecting all lost items and returning everything they can. So be sure to put their names on everything.

Can my child be in a cabin with her friend?

Usually. Campers of the same grade can request on their applications to be in the cabin with each other. We honor as many of these requests as possible, but cannot guarantee your camper will be in a cabin with a particular person.

If you forget to list this information on your application and want to request a cabin mate, email us the information. The earlier we receive a request, the more likely we are to be able to honor it.

Does my child need any spending money at camp?

No. The camp fee will cover all expenses in camp. When filling out the online form for the camp store, you may choose to give your camper a ‘spending allowance’ that they can use to buy clothing in the camp store during the session. If you would like to do this, we generally recommend $150 for a two week session.

What if she’s homesick?

Missing home is normal for many campers, even for some girls who have been at camp for years. Don’t worry; we’ll give you a call if her homesickness is more than is typical. We’ll also give a call for anything that we as parents would want to know if she was our daughter.

Who should not come to camp?

We think everyone should go to camp, but not every camp is right for every girl. Merri-Mac can be socially intense so we are not the right fit for girls with behavior or emotional challenges. If a girl’s behavior is hurtful to the group then we will ask her to leave. There are no refunds if this happens so please give us a call if you are unsure if your daughter ready. We want her with us if it is a good fit, and we want to help you find the right camp if not.

Eating is especially important at camp since the girls are so active, so let’s talk if this is an area of concern. We work hard to to make special diets work, but we are not able to accommodate vegan diets or severe airborne peanut allergies. We should also talk about any special medical needs, like diabetes or severe allergies.