1/5/2024 0 Comments Camp color war cheers![]() At Opening Ceremonies, we kick-off the session together by singing songs, performing skits, and explaining our core values. “My counselor was the BEST! She's like my mom, my sister and my best friend all wrapped up into one.Opening and Closing Ceremonies occur on the first and last nights of each session at the Great Council Ring. Wait, no, it's probably rock climbing - or maybe horseback riding. By the time a girl is a 12'er you are a mature Merriwood Girl that is known throughout the camp and is a great example of how a camp girl should be which is happy, smart, respectful, and a strong girl building great lifetime friendships." The traditions of Peter Pan Night, Color War, the songs, the funny dress up skits, the overnight camping, the lake, camp events and traditions (International Day, Texas Night), and finally the Camp Sister program to carry a junior to senior mentoring is simply special. The girls are all respected, celebrated and cherished. ![]() Many of my daughters’ leadership and friendship qualities are from Camp Merriwood. My daughters talk about the Millers as family.Gary, Judy, Susan and Mark.and Joe's food, and Kristin’s tennis, etc, etc. "Over the years I can see Merriwood Magic and strength in my girls. ![]() Even though I miss you, I don’t want to leave.” I have had such a great experience for my 1st year at camp. They really encouraged me! Afterwards, everybody, even my camp sister, was telling me that I did such a great job. Everybody at camp had said to me "You can do it!" So I tried. "I felt really proud when I got up on waterskis. (Excerpt from letter, California, age 11) Oh, and the food is great! Please, can I come back next summer? Got to go, I get to go ride my favorite horse now. "I love it here! Even though I miss you some, I'm having sooo much fun and there's so much to do all the time. Guess what? I do not miss you at ALL! I am only writing this letter because I have to. "Our family is under the spell of Merriwood Magic!" My closest friends from Merriwood have and always will be central to my life." There was nothing like the thrill of Color War breakout and the unbelievable feeling of teamwork and community that the experience created. "Today, even 32 years after my last summer at Merriwood, I am still a Color War fanatic. She loved it all and yearns to return each year and encourages her friends to come along so they too can have a "great camp experience"." Though independent by nature she felt completely cocooned by the world of camp - the many friends she made, the warm spirit of the counselors and staff and the delicious FOOD. "Our daughter was swept away by the Merriwood camp experience. She now approaches new experiences with much more confidence, drawing on the success she experienced tackling new physical activities, being away from home, and drawing very close to new friends of all ages." "My 11 year old daughter has gained tremendous self-assurance from her time at Merriwood. It’s contagious! I now cannot imagine my girls not having this experience. "The power of Merriwood is its atmosphere created by so many confident girls…even those who aren’t as much. ![]() My girls have had wonderful experiences throughout their time at camp, even through the few rough patches, they have learned how to manage and how to cope." I think Merriwood is one of the few places where my girls feel completely at ease and where their true selves can come out. It is such an inspiration to see a 15 year old hugging and genuinely smiling at a 9 year old at Camp Merriwood! I believe the girls, in this camp atmosphere, gain a real sense of empathy and respect for others in their camp community and beyond. Every girl at camp cheers for, encourages, supports every other girl at camp. My girls know every single girl at camp and are inspired by all of the girls they meet. I love that all of the girls do things together, regardless of age, cabin assignments, interests, etc. "The most striking thing about Camp Merriwood, in my opinion, is the cohesiveness of all of the girls who attend camp.
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