Camp Merrie-Woode Newsletter - Fall 2020

Fall 2020

COVID-19 Keeps Merrie-Woode’s Gates Closed for 2020

2020 will forever be a historic year for Camp Merrie-Woode.

It marks the first time in its 102 year history that camp did not open for a summer season.

After a tumultuous spring, the Board and staff came to the agonizing decision to cancel summer programming due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and an announcement was made on May 11, 2020 that Merrie-Woode’s gates would remain closed for the summer.

It was hard to imagine a summer silenced under Old Bald after Merrie-Woode had managed to carry on operations through the Great Depression, World War II, the polio epidemic, and the near permanent closure of Merrie-Woode in 1979. But while Camp remained physically quiet without its campers and counselors, the camp office remained a hive of frantic activity. As we moved into the summer, Senior Staff began to divide and conquer.

Immediate action was needed to initiate fundraising efforts to close the financial gap Camp would inevitably face with a lack of tuition funds.

Merrie-Woode parents and alumnae sprang into action, answering the call as they always have, when Camp has been faced with crisis.

A programming pivot, meanwhile, was also quickly underway. Senior Staff worked to reimagine ways to

sessions. These video devotionals dropped into campers’ email boxes first thing in the morning in varying frequency depending on the length of their session. Each devotional video was unique and represented the personality of the group of counselors who presented. It was, by far, Senior Staff’s favorite piece of virtual programming this summer. These morning devotional videos did as much to raise the spirits of Senior Staff as they did the campers!

Old Bald looks over Camp on May 11, 2020, the day Merrie-Woode announced it would close for the 2020 summer.

keep our campers and staff connected as much as possible. It seemed more important than ever in the face of this pandemic, while our community felt isolated in their homes, to keep the Merrie-Woode spirit alive in the hearts of her girls. Technology, the one thing we pride ourselves in giving up during our summers at camp, became the primary tool for keeping us connected in this summer spent apart.

How could we use technology to stay connected and keep that spark of Merrie-Woode spirit alive?

Our camp counselors of 2020 quickly rose to the challenge. They organized themselves into teams to create and film video devotionals to send to the campers throughout the summer

We also made sure campers and counselors who had summer birthdays knew they hadn’t been forgotten just because they weren’t here to take a lap around the Dining Hall. Senior Staff filmed individual birthday messages for every birthday that would have happened during the summer sessions, complete with a birthday cake and a resounding chorus of “Happy Birthday” and “Run Around the Dining Hall.”

Opening and Closing Campfires were hosted live over Zoom for all three sessions. These were the

Inside...

At Wit’s End Staff News Alumnae News Births Engagements & Weddings In Memoriam

Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 8 Page 10 Page 12

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2020

COVID-19 Keeps Merrie-Woode’s Gates Closed for 2020 cont. absolute highlight of the summer!

It was the one time we could all see each other’s faces in real time, smiling and singing over the Zoom screen. Campers who were receiving their silver Merrie-Woode bracelet this summer were given a surprise when the time came for the bracelet ceremony at Closing Campfire as their parents presented them with the treasured gift to mark the rite of passage. A second ceremony will be held again at Opening Campfire of each session next summer for any of the bracelet girls who will be back at camp in 2021.

weekly morning Bible study with the summer staff of 2020. The group gathered around the Zoom screen early every Monday morning to enjoy coffee, breakfast, and meaningful conversations. It became the perfect space to enter into a week during this long summer of the pandemic.

As another way to share the peace and reflection of time at camp, Merrie-Woode themed audio mediations were created by alumna Martha Simkins Davis and shared to our summer staff who were struggling with being away from their summer home. Martha led these meditation moments encouraging the listener to Chapel messages and songs were filmed for each Sunday and shared to imagine the tranquility of a morning the email boxes of campers and staff, in a canoe on Lake Fairfield or an afas well as via social media to the full ternoon sitting atop Old Bald. These Merrie-Woode community. We heard Merrie-Woode mediation recordings will be shared this fall with our full from so many people that these camp community on social media messages of hope and inspiration to bring a moment of calm to your were treasured every Sunday mornlives as we head into a new season. ing. Lindsay Garner Hostetler and Courtney Foster, camp’s part time Betsy Reese Helms adapted the Junior Counselor curriculum into a virtual program facilitated over Zoom, creating a huge success story of the summer. The June and Main Session JCs of 2020 met as a group multiple times a week with Betsy and former JC Leader, Courtney Foster, to tackle leadership and counselor training sessions. Dressed in their blue JC polos that Betsy and Courtney sent to their homes at the beginning of Lindsay Garner Hostetler and Courtney the summer, the JCs dove deeply Foster host a satirical summer news update in into topics such as Merrie-Woode a “Merrie-Woode Update” video. intern, tackled the Sunday songbook history, the developmental stages of children, and effective teaching and formed the smallest camp glee techniques. Betsy, Courtney, and the club in history to keep the hymns JCs built a meaningful community and music going this summer! while practicing active listening and intentional learning. The leadership Denice and Jim Dunn hosted a 2

program translated well into a virtual space, and we can’t wait to see these young women on staff next summer!

Lindsay hosted a live cabaret performance for the Main Session musical cast on what would have been their opening night of the play in Castle this summer. The cast came together on Zoom to perform individual songs, monologues, and scenes for each other, proving the show could still go on even from hundreds of miles apart.

Merrie-Woode Captains from all generations launched an uplifting letter writing campaign to the Would-Bes of 2020 who were missing their final summer in the Merrie-Woode boating program.

These girls will return to complete the program in 2021, but were thrilled to find sweet messages of encouragement in their mailbox all summer long. Meanwhile, the King’s Players came together to film a video montage of messages of support to the girls in the drama program who would have been completing their King’s Player summer in 2020. Watching generations of Merrie-Woode Captains and King’s Players step up to hold space for these girls who were missing such major programming milestones in the summer of 2020 was an inspiring thing to see.

The girls in the drama program who would have been completing their directing projects this summer came together to meet as a group with members of Drama Staff who volunteered their time to host live play readings and discussions once a week via Zoom. The group covered dramatic classics including A

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2020

Senior Staff checks in on Zoom with the girls who will present traditional readings at a virtual campfire this summer.

Midsummer Night’s Dream, Oedipus the King, and All My Sons.

To wrap the whole summer up, Lindsay and Courtney filmed a humorous Saturday Night Live style news update of this unusual yet remarkable summer of 2020 here at Camp. You can find it on Merrie-Woode’s Vimeo channel: https:// vimeo.com/campmerriewoode.

It’s worth a watch for a moment of levity in these crazy times!

While it’s easy to think of 2020 as the lost summer, in actuality it has been a moment in which the importance of our Merrie-Woode com-

munity has become more important than ever. We have heard time and again, all year long, that camp friendships have been the ones to see people through these uncertain times. Perhaps we have gained more than we lost. We have been reminded that the Merrie-Woode spirit reaches far beyond a summer and far beyond the camp gates. It has reached across continents to Merrie-Woode girls across the globe.

It has reached across generations, connecting each of us as we sing the same familiar camp songs through the Zoom screen. Merrie-Woode is where so many of us found the best versions of ourselves. It should be no surprise that it is those foundational elements of our core selves which we found at camp that have risen to the surface as we have faced this global pandemic and this collective time of distress.

As we move toward the hope of better days ahead, through the trepidation of uncertainty which is still to come, let us remember to keep the tiny spark of Merrie-Woode alive in each of our own hearts and

to share that spark in each of our various corners of this world. The message of Follow the Gleam rings true in these times more than it ever has. The way to find the grail is to care about the struggling person next to us more than we care for ourselves. That’s the path out of this mess. That’s what Dammie Day was trying to tell us a hundred years ago, and it’s what her lessons ingrained in camp traditions are still teaching us today. We may not have been able to gather together to recite those lessons at camp this summer, but they live on through each of us nonetheless. We are the vessel that holds the Merrie-Woode spirit. It was never meant to live at camp, only to be visited in the summer.

The spirit of Merrie-Woode was always meant to live in us so that we may share it with each person we meet in the world. Camp happened this summer. It just didn’t happen along the shores of Lake Fairfield. It happened in our cities, towns, and neighborhoods across the country and around the world.

At Wit’s End We hope this newsletter finds you doing well and staying healthy as we begin this fall season. It continues to be quiet along the shores of Lake Fairfield. We just finished the 2021 camper enrollment process, and camp is full for the 103rd summer.

With so many camper families rolling their 2020 tuition forward to next summer, the application process was also quieter than in years past.

Along with camper registration, the Senior Staff has been concentrating on several projects from reviewing

the COVID best practices for the 2021 camp season and Annual Fund fundraising, to forming the newly

Senior Staff makes s’mores after a virtual campfire this summer.

3

created CMW Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Ad-Hoc Committee.

It’s hard to believe that summer has come and gone without our beloved campers and staff at the base of the ever watchful Old Bald. For Senior Staff, it was difficult to find our way into the office each day. It was an emotional time without the bells ringing, meals in the Dining Hall, Castle, and all of the sounds and smells that make Camp come alive each summer.

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2020

At Wit’s End cont.

We spent so much time in the spring tirelessly analyzing the possible scenarios that would allow camp to safely operate this past summer, and we were all devastated when we decided that we were not going to be able to gather in camp. We found that during the summer, we were happiest when we were connected with our camp family via the virtual Zoom campfires, devotionals, birthday songs, and Chapel readings.

We recognized the importance of staying connected from a distance, and we worked hard to put forth

the most effective and purposeful social media and virtual content. A big “Shout Out” to Betsy, Lindsay, Robin, and Courtney Foster for the energy in front of and behind the camera! We were so grateful to the many summer staff members who volunteered to create devotionals, offer other programing opportunities, and to our Chapel speakers who came together to bring our community words of hope and inspiration during a very difficult time. We saw this as a bonding opportunity in the absence of being together.

While we missed our time together this year, we felt the love and support of the Merrie-Woode family.

We will return in 2021 to rekindle the Spirit of Merrie-Woode that we all love so much. We know each of you held on to the tiny spark of fire within you that represents the Merrie-Woode spirit. We send all our love to you, our dear Merrie-Woode family, and we wish you continued health and happiness until we gather together again.

Chug a Wump!

Denice and Jim

Staff News Despite not seeing our beloved summer staff members this year in person, we are grateful to all of them for staying in touch with us during these challenging times.

Kate Ambler reports that she took a month long backpacking trip this summer through NOLS in the Wind River Range of Wyoming. Kate says it was the best month of her life!

While not at camp, Mary Margaret Arrowsmith worked this summer in an oncology office with patients undergoing chemotherapy. Doug Cameron says that he had the plea-

Caroline Domescik and Emery Allen

Mary Ann Borden and Chloe Elebash at Chapel

sure of paddling with granddaughters Dillen Cameron and Jewel Ann Cameron on the Hiwassee, Nantahala, and Tuckasegee rivers this summer! Mountaineering staff member Rachel Hume recently moved to Utah to do Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy for kids with Autism, and she loves it. Unfortunately that means that she won’t be able to join us at Merrie-Woode in 2021.We heard recently that Evie Coleman rafted 82 miles down the Salmon River in Idaho this sum4

mer. So many summer adventures for our staff! After graduating from college in May, Kelli Cooper says she is working as a private tutor in MD with students who are doing online school and is looking forward to returning to camp! Speaking of education, Ella Freeman is studying education at Louisiana State University, where she is able to spend some time this semester working in a kindergarten classroom! Parker King emailed to say that she is enjoying her first semester at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she recently rushed KD with Gussie Smith, Elizabeth Moore, Bess Broughton, and Gracie Broughton. Riding staff member Elli Knowlton is back at Elon University and is planning to study in Copenhagen in the spring before returning to Merrie-Woode for the summer. Kate Livesay is a freshman at UNC-Chapel Hill. She’s planning on doing a NOLS semester trip this coming spring before returning to camp to work on the

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2020

mountaineering staff. Kate recently joined the university climbing team and is working as an intern for North Carolina Public Interest Research

Kelli Cooper hanging out with a llama friend!

Group, which registers people to vote in the upcoming election. After spending her summer working as a nanny in Cashiers, Walker McKnight is loving life at Washington & Lee where she is a member of the lacrosse team. Emily Patterson spent the summer improving her equitation and recently joined the Berry College equestrian team. Congratulations, Emily! Drama Staff member Christian Ricci spent a lot of time this summer hiking and canoeing in Maine. These days he is working

hard for the Maine Democratic Party as a Field Organizer in his home county. This means he organizes for candidates up and down the ballot toward change in the community that raised him. The biggest race that Christian is organizing for is Sara Gideon’s Senate campaign to replace Susan Collins. This summer Baker Sanders worked at an animal clinic, which she loved! Baker plans to take a gap year out west with NOLS for a five month program. She will be kayaking, backpacking, backcountry skiing, rock climbing, and caving while also receiving her Wilderness First Responder certification. Maybe we can convince Baker to join the mountaineering staff this coming summer! Tara Tecce spent the summer volunteering in the CMW office twice a week and babysitting for Owen and Leigh Helms on Wednesdays. She is back to her off-season responsibilities with her counseling job in an elementary school in the Asheville area and is patiently awaiting the summer of 2021, when she plans to step into the role of Program

Director at Merrie-Woode. Among all of the Merrie-Woode girls at Sewanee, we heard that Mary Lewis Tunno is loving her first semester there. She is grateful for all of the

by late winter/early spring. The title is A Rule of Life. Set in 1919, when CMW was first established, it will be about a fictional camp (Arden Woode), but there will be much recognizable about Merrie-Woode, the surrounding area, and a few of her founding folks, such as Mary Turk, Dammie Day, and Hugh Caldwell. She included a brief overview of the plot: It’s 1919 in the Western North Carolina Mountains.

Women’s Suffrage. Prohibition. Red Summer. The end of WWI and the Spanish flu. A brand new camp for girls has just begun, but an attempt-

ed kidnapping and a local murder in the nearby small town have everyone on edge. Others have disappeared before. Who’s guilty? Who’s innocent? A young counselor and her friends find themselves embroiled in the mystery, but things aren’t what they seem. Who to trust?

Can they figure it all out before someone else goes missing or dead?

It is a coming of age tale of friendship, loyalty, honor, and love. While we have to wait a bit longer to learn how it all turns out, we can’t wait to read it! Catherine Coley (98-08) was recognized this year as one of

Look, it’s the Drama Staff!

familiar faces on campus! She and Cady Cole are spending a good deal of time together and are glad to have met at camp in 2019. Meredith Wessel and Emery Allen are living together at UGA. They see a lot of Libby Carter, who is also a freshman there and who recently pledged Phi Mu. Keep the news coming, Staff. We love hearing from all of you!

CMW Alumnae News Even with the quarantines, lockdowns, and social distancing of 2020, our Merrie-Woode alumnae are moving ahead with exciting opportunities for their careers and families. Over the summer, Mary Grace Bowers (05-18) moved from Washington, DC to Colorado, where she will be starting a new job as a nurse. Patricia Gaddis Brandon (75) is writing a book of historical fiction that is largely set in and around Merrie-Woode. Last Fall, she arranged to come to the Centennial Archives to do some research for the book, which she hopes will be ready

5

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2020

CMW Alumnae News cont.

Fortune Magazine’s 40 Under 40 for her leadership of the US division of Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange.

In Houston, TX, Hannah Curtis (07-18) is working as a teaching assistant in a learning pod. Ashley Helmick (97-12) reports that she started a new job in March at the University of North Florida working for the Alumni Association. After one week in the office, the university changed to working remotely. She

Lottye Crawford, daughter of Laura Gleason Crawford (89-96), and Mathilde Montgomery, enjoying Merrie-Woode Sundaes with green and grey sprinkles this summer.

has been interested in the Alumni Relations field for quite some time, and she is currently pursuing a master’s degree for it at UNF. Ashley says that she is fortunate to have many experiences as a volunteer and member of Alumni Associations, and surely being a Merrie-Woode alumna has helped in leading her to the Alumni world, where she feels like she has “found my people.” As an Event Coordinator in Alumni Engagement, COVID-19 has been a bit of a challenge, but it is also an opportunity to get creative. She is thankful that technology has allowed us to connect – with work and with camp!

She says to count her in for the next virtual campfire – we’ll see you at the Merrie-Woode Zoom Campfire

on October 28th, Ashley! Emma Hunter (13-15) has been accepted to Denison University! She will start in Fall 2020 and will also be a member of the Diving Team. Emma’s mother, Claire Corter Hunter (80-84), reports that they are thrilled that Emma will continue the family diving tradition...from Carolina Blue to the Big Red (her dad, Andy, dove for UNC-CH). Emma looks forward to being part of such a positive group of athletes and coaches.

Congratulations Emma and good luck at Denison! Caroline James (04-09) is pursuing an MBA at the Yale School of Management starting this fall. While she will miss Washington, DC, where she has lived for 8 years, she is really excited to begin a new chapter in New Haven, CT. Best of luck, Caroline, in your new MBA program! During a normal summer, Caroline Keys (85-93) travels the state of Montana playing music, but in 2020 she hit more trails than roads! In October she will return to her work as poet-in-residence in several schools on The Flathead Reservation of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes.

The scenery in Montana looks

Emma Hunter (13-15) on her virtual signing day for Denison.

incredible, Caroline! Thanks for sharing it with us. Matt and Carrie Coker Kuykendall (96-15) moved 6

Caroline James (04-09) starts her MBA program at Yale School of Management this fall.

to Savannah, GA this summer. Their son, Charlie, is already making himself quite at home in his new surroundings! Mollye Lent (06-15) visited Camp in August with her mother, brother, and boyfriend. She had a great time catching up with Denice and shared her plan to move to Chicago, IL this fall. Another Merrie-Woode alumna moving to a new state is Kara Leigh Pulley McPoland (01-15). She, husband Mark, and dog, Daisy, moved to Wisconsin in July! Ellie Musson (92-03) currently lives in Washington, DC, where she is working for the DC Public school system as an instructional coach for literacy. Most of her work is giving access and providing equitable resources for young learners of color. She lives with her fiancé, Damian Smith, and puppy, Ivy, who is 10 months old.

Madeline Naylor (08-15) graduated in May from Sewanee with degrees in French and Russian. During college, she spent time studying abroad in both France and Russia.

She has accepted a teaching job at a school in Vladimir, Russia and has been teaching English since the beginning of the month. She shared that unfortunately, because the

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2020

borders are closed, she is teaching virtually from home, but she is optimistic that by January, she will be able to arrive in Russia. Congratulations to Adrienne Rich (00-15) who just bought her first house in Miami Lakes, FL! She is working hard to master Spanish and in her down time, started working as a College Admissions Consultant, helping high school students make their college applications as strong as possible! Another member of the Rich family also has a new home – Emily Rich (00-14) moved to Rhode Island this summer. She has spent her time advocating anti-racism in and for her communities,

Caroline Keys (85-93) resting with a wildflower identification book while on a hike in the Great Burn Wilderness Study Area.

reading, and teaching creative writing. Shirley Smircic (03-11) is now in her 4th year as Assistant District Attorney for Brunswick County in Wilmington, NC. Her mother, Virginia, reports that this past spring Shirley was guest speaker for Virginia’s middle school Zoom class, speaking on the Bill of Rights, The students loved it! Congratulations to Palmer Smith (02-15), who has been accepted into two Masters degree programs! She will pursue an MA in English and British literature during the summers

Lucy Wood (08-18) and Bolling Winborne (0117) during their visit in Australia.

at Middlebury College, while also starting her MFA in nonfiction writing at Columbia University in September. She looks forward to studying what she loves most and also hopes one day to teach younger generations the importance of literature. Catherine Todd (88-96) co-curated a fabulous art installation in New Orleans, LA called JAMNOLA. The pictures from the installation are incredible! If you are in the New Orleans area, be sure to follow Catherine’s work. Bolling Winborne (01-17) moved to Sydney, Australia in February. Lockdown was weird, hard, and lonely in a new place, but she and her partner, Murray, made the best of it. Thankfully they live walking distance from the beach and utilized the water and walks for their sanity. When they were finally able to leave their city in July, the first place they went to was Wagga Wagga to visit Lucy Wood (08-18)! It was wonderful to be with a familiar face, and it immediately felt like no time had passed since seeing each other. Bolling says that she got the grand tour of Wagga Wagga – the kangaroo reserve being a highlight! Aside from travel restrictions, things are mostly back to normal now in Austrailia. She is working as a nanny and as a volun7

teer coordinator for a co-op at the local university. We were also excited to have an update on Lucy Wood, who has been working for a gold mining operation in Australia.

She has become proficient at driving large machinery and shared an impressive photo of her current ride.

“This is actually the ‘smaller’ of the trucks,” Lucy says. “It’s a Cat 777 100 tonne haul truck. Before that I was a field assistant with the air core rig, drilling with the exploration crew looking for gold.” Way to go, Lucy! Mary Peterkin Worthington (94-06) visited camp in August with her two daughters, Sallie and Scottie. They enjoyed walking around camp with their cousins, Will and Becky Davis McKee (73-77) and Rebecca McKee (01-05). Margaret Cheatham Williams Driscoll (98-04) reports that she and her husband, Frank, have left New York City and moved to San Francisco!

She has launched a fine art photography collection, Moxie’s Daughter, named for her mother, Margaret

Lucy Wood (08-18) stands next to the Cat 777 that she drives for a gold mining company.

Williams Williams (71-75). You can check it out @moxiesdaughter on Instagram! Thanks to everyone who sent us updates. We always love hearing from you! We are so very proud of the contributions that our Merrie-Woode alumnae are making throughout the country and the world.

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2020

CMW Baby News What a year for babies at Merrie-Woode! We are thrilled to report that so many of our alumnae are adding new members to their families. Congratulations to Emerson and Alison Martinez Allen (99-10) who are expecting their first child in Feb-

Henry Mathis Brewer, son of Nellie Black Brewer (94-00)

Henry James Barmore, son of Kathryn Calder Barmore (93-05), with big sister, Calder

ruary 2021, and to Parker and Caroline Reeves Anderson (99-11) who are also expecting their first child in March 2021! On April 28, 2020, James and Kathryn Calder Barmore (93-05) welcomed their second child, Henry Edward Barmore!

He weighed 7 lbs and measured 19.5 in. Big sister, Calder, adores him already. George and Alden Denny

Maddy Boyle Gross (04-19) and daughter Faye

Barsness (98-08) are expecting their first child very soon! Eli and Nellie Black Brewer (94-00) are thrilled about the arrival of their son, Henry Mathis Brewer, born on April 27, 2020. Henry weighed 6 lbs, 8.8oz, and measured 19.25 in.

We’re looking forward to meeting him on their next visit to Merrie-Woode! Toni Gibbons Carter (98-15) is overjoyed at the birth of her second child, Perrin Babb Carter, on August 11, 2020. He weighed 9 lbs, 1 oz, and is welcomed by his mothers, Toni and Laurel Carter (15), as well as big brother Cassidy, who loves Perrin’s soft, fuzzy

Perrin Babb Carter, son of Laurel Carter (15) and Toni Gibbons Carter (98-15)

8

head. Charlie and Mary Coleman Rogers Clark (94-07) have a new future Merrie-Woode girl. Katherine “Kitty” Rivers Clark was born December 9, 2019. Big brother, Charles, just adores her. Dougie and Grace Thorington Coffed (98-19) welcomed their first child, Thomas “Tommy” James Coffed, on May 14, 2020. He weighed 7 lbs, 15 oz, and measured 20.5 in. Will and Jane Anne Martin Crawford (99-09) are parents of a future Merrie-Woode girl! Cecile Rae Crawford was born

Katherine “Kitty” Rivers Clark, daughter of Mary Coleman Rogers Clark (94-07)

on April 8, 2020, weighing 7 lbs,4 oz, and measuring 20 inches. Jane Anne reports that baby Cecile loves hearing Merrie-Woode songs during bath time, and her current favorite is “Flicker of the Campfire.” Maddy Boyle Gross (04-19) and her husband welcomed their daughter Faye into the world on June 29, 2020. She weighed 8 lbs, 6.5 oz, and was 20 inches long. Robert and Charlotte Young Henry (98-09) are expecting a baby girl in December 2020!

Hooray for another Merrie-Woode girl! Sarah Kate Chatel Higgins

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2020

Thomas “Tommy” James Coffed, son of Grace Thorington Coffed (98-19)

ber 2020! Dan and Sarah Simmons Matthews (96-12) are expecting their second child in December 2020 as well! Kent and Whitney Dunlap McLeod (89-04) were thrilled to add a future Merrie-Woode girl to their family! Daughter, Finley Elaine McLeod, was born on June 17, 2020, weighing 7 lbs, 7 oz. Thomas and Sarah Wynn Palma (00-12) are expecting their first child! Evan and Grayson Davis Pierce (97-07) had

Frances Swain Hurst, daughter of Mary Stuart Couch Hurst (94-07) with sister Frannie Couch Hurt (97-06) and mother Anne Emack Couch (67-71)

Finley Elaine McLeod, daughter of Whitney Dunlap McLeod (89-04) Cecile Rae Crawford with mom Jane Anne Martin Crawford (99-09)

(02-14) and her husband, Bo, welcomed daughter Emerson Sybil Higgins on May 4, 2020! Stuart and Mary Stuart Couch Hurst (94-07) welcomed their daughter, Frances Swain Hurst, on June 11, 2020 in Atlanta, GA. She joins big brothers Charlie (5) and Henry (2). Frances will hopefully be a fourth generation Merrie-Woode girl as soon as she can say Chug A Wump! Stephanie Works Landry (96-08) is expecting a baby girl later this year. Kyle and Sarah Jo Trimble Luby (97-05) are expecting their second child in December! Mary Owen is excited to become a big sister. Andrew and Sarah Josey Lyon (97-08) are expecting a baby girl Lyon in Decem-

Emerson Sybil Higgins with parents, Bo and Sarah Kate Chatel Higgins (02-14)

James Mixon Pierce, son of Grayson Davis Pierce (97-07)

Charles “Charlie” Thomas Robinson with mom Kelsey Holder Robinson (96-01)

9

a baby boy during quarantine! James Mixon Pierce was born on March 21, 2020, and he has brought numerous smiles to his parents ever since.

Nick and Kelsey Holder Robinson (96-01) welcomed their first child, Charles “Charlie” Thomas Robinson, on June 12, 2020. Charlie weighed 6 lbs, 5 oz, and measured 20 in. Congratulations to the Robinson family! Tie Mudge and Ashley

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2020

CMW Baby News cont.

Sullivan (92-02) are thrilled about the arrival of their second child, Barents Sullivan Mudge, on April 7, 2020, weighing 7 lbs, 8 oz. Big brother, Tileston, is so excited to teach him about all his favorite things. Woodie and Betsy Hassinger Van Horn

(93- 97) welcomed their fourth child and first daughter, Elizabeth “Lily” Bolton Van Horn, on January 20, 2020. Lily weighed 7 lbs, 13 oz and measured 19.5 in. Older brothers Wade, Henry, and Liam are enchanted with her. Christopher and Court-

ney Dial Whitmore (95-05) have another future Merrie-Woode girl.

Their second daughter, Ivy Hombs Whitmore, was born on September 3, 2020! Congratulations to all our Merrie-Woode families on their new arrivals!

Ivy Hombs Whitmore, daughter of Courtney Dial Whitmore (95-05)

Elizabeth “Lily” Bolton Van Horn, daughter of Betsy Hassinger Van Horn (93-97)

Barents Sullivan Mudge, son of Ashley Sullivan (92-02)

CMW Weddings and Engagements 2020 will be a year to remember when it comes to weddings.

A number of our Merrie-Woode brides had to alter their plans due to COVID-19, but we were pleased to hear that many organized small family celebrations, sometimes shared online with friends and family all over the country. With all of the re-scheduling, as well as new engagements, 2021 will undoubtedly be a truly exciting year! Elizabeth Bean (00-10) is getting married OcBrittney Olinger (05-11) and fiancé David James Frankin

Ellie Musson (92-03) and fiancé Damien Smith

tober 31, 2020 in Birmingham, AL. Catherine Christian (08-15) is engaged to Patrick Elmer, and they are planning a Merrie-Woode wedding on May 8, 2021. Eliza Coker (9809) shared that she and Jack Sheldon were married on June 6, 2020.

Their small, immediate family-only ceremony was at the Coker family home, on the bluff of the May River 10

in Bluffton, SC. CMW alumnae in attendance included her mother and siblings: Sylvia Sparkman Coker (69-72), Carter Coker Simpson (92-08), Carrie Coker Kuykendall (96-15), and Joanie Coker (01-10).

Sarah T. Davis (01-19) and Alex Priore (13) will be married on September 25, 2021 at Camp. Elizabeth Dews (09-16) is engaged! She is planning a Cashiers wedding with a ceremony at the Inn Site on April 10, 2021. Ciele Gutierrez (04-11) and Tyler Knox are planning a September 18, 2021 wedding at Camp.

Longtime Camp doctor Santa Johnson (01-04) was married this summer in Franklin, NC. Ellie Musson (92-03) and fiancé Damien Smith are getting married on October 2, 2020! They hope to travel to the Middle East for their honeymoon in the Spring of 2021. Scottie Springer (98-12) married Eddie O’Heron on August 22, 2020 at her family’s

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2020

Carter Reifsnider Toohers (02-15)

home in Afton, Virginia. There were many CMW alumnae in attendance and several in the wedding party, including Mother of the Bride, Margie Johnson Springer (72-79), and bridesmaids Campbell Bowers (0016), Anne Lykes (99-12) and Margaret Cheatham Williams Driscoll (98-07). Sarah Wynn Palma (0012) was also a bridesmaid, but was unable to attend the wedding in person. Brittney Olinger (05-11) is engaged to David James Franklin from London, England. They are planning a wedding in Highlands, NC on June 5, 2021. Brittney and David met as

undergraduates at Oxford and have both worked at top European investment banks for the past few years in London. They will be moving to Florida in the fall, where David will pursue a full time 2-year MBA at the University of Florida. Brittney, after earning her Certified Investment Management Analyst designation through IWI and the Yale Business School, will join Koss Olinger Financial Group as an Associate Advisor. After 6 years together in the UK, they are excited for a sunny change of scenery and a new adventure. Our best wishes to Brittney and David on their engagement! Carter Reifsnider (02-15) married Patrick Toohers on September 12, 2020 in Rich-

Eddie and Scottie Springer O’Herron (98-12)

Carter Coker Simpson (92-08), Joanie Coker (01-10), Eliza Coker Sheldon (98-09), Sylvia Sparkman Coker (69-72), and Carrie Coker Kuykendall (96-15)

mond, VA. Merrie-Woode alumnae in the wedding party included mother of the bride Robin Travis Reifsnider (75-79) and sister and maid of honor Cole Reifsnider (0317). Elly Straske (03-15) married Adam Bacigalupo on May 2, 2020 in an intimate backyard ceremony with Mother of the Bride, Janice Ferman Straske (83) and sisters, Davis Straske (04-17) and Mary Stephen Straske (06-19) in attendance. They have re-scheduled their celebrations with family and friends for May 15, 11

Matt and Rachel Waterfill Bridges (94-00)

2021 at Camp. Amanda Von Thron (95-19) married Steve Romito in a small ceremony with their parents on April 18, 2020. Kristina Bond (1419) also attended as Maid of Honor.

Amanda and Steve plan to celebrate with all of their friends and family on April 17, 2021 at Merrie-Woode!

Rachel Waterfill (94-00) married Matt Bridges in Seabrook Island, SC on November 16, 2019. Since their wedding, they relocated to Charlotte, NC. Natalie Wertymer (02-15) is engaged to be married on October 2, 2021 at Merrie-Woode.

Ashton Wilder is engaged and planning a wedding for Fall 2021.

Bolling Winborne and Murray Keogh will be married at Camp on October 16, 2021. Congratulations to our 2020 brides and all our alumnae planning 2021 weddings!

Steve and Amanda Von Thron Romito (95-19)

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2020

In Memoriam Nancy Carter Bland (1935-2020) It came as no surprise to those who knew Nancy Carter Bland (47-50) that an obituary prepared by her family would start off with a description of her “happy summers at Camp Merrie-Woode…as a camper and later a counselor…canoeing on Lake Fairfield and living in the cabins below Old Bald.” Daughter and alumna Sally Bland Fielding (74-77) remembers her mother reminiscing frequently about the many friendships she developed at camp with new friends from other states as well as those with her Atlanta friends which grew even deeper. “It was such a joy to share the Merrie-Woode connection with mom and so many cousins. The shared memories gave my mother a real sense of camaraderie with many special people who remained dear friends throughout her life.”

CMW alumnae and first cousins, Ellen Ansley Hardison (47-49) and Nancy Carter Bland (47-50).

Nancy died July 5, 2020 in Atlanta following several years of infirmity, but her characteristic cheerfulness was evident until the very end.

Ellen Ansley Hardison (47-49), Nancy’s first cousin and best friend, remembers her as a gregarious camper with all the hallmarks of a

Merrie-Woode girl. “I was so proud of Nancy at camp because she was always ready to ‘go and do’ enthusiastically whether it was earning her Captain’s hat or hamming it up at Castle’s evening programs.” Ellen also recalled when she and Nancy spent two months happily quarantining at camp during the polio outbreak in 1948. “What better place to quarantine than at Merrie-Woode?” they thought.

In fact, Nancy’s family is brimming with Merrie-Woode girls, including her daughter, Sally, as well as her granddaughter, Carolyn Bland (0612), and numerous extended family members, Nancy Hanes Sasz (7780), Sally Sasz (09-14), Patsy Sasz (10-16), Lulu Sasz (12-19), Marion Hanes Rutsch (71-74), Mary Dudley Hanes Faison (73-75), Boyce Ansley (59), Sharon Bleakley Ansley (58-60), Fayne Ansley (82-10), Ellen Ansley Hardison (47-49), Lillian Hardison Bossong (77-78), Ansley Hardison (07-13), Ellen Hardison (11-12), Anna Ansley Davis (81-88), Anna B. Davis (1217), Catherine Benedict (07-09), Claire Yancey Benedict, Claire Marie Benedict Huff (84-86), and Mary Claire Huff (16-present).

Generous to Merrie-Woode over the years, Nancy’s life was marked by countless volunteer and philanthropic contributions to numerous organizations – in Atlanta and beyond – in which she and her husband, Jim, had that same “all in” approach.

Janie McMullen Cline (1942-2020) Merrie-Woode lost one of its most devoted alumnae and supporters, when Jane McMullen Cline (5512

65), known to friends as Janie, passed away on July 13, 2020. A native of Clearwater, FL, Janie fell in love with Merrie-Woode and Western North Carolina when she first arrived at Camp in 1955. She especially enjoyed exploring the mountains and rivers during her eleven summers at Merrie-Woode, making Captain in 1957.

Janie McMullen Cline (55-65), Tweed Cline Eckhard (79-83), Sykes Eckhard (09-18), Carson Eckhard (09-17), and Rick Eckhard

Janie’s life-long friend, Hebe Dowling Murphy (55-63) recalls that “Janie and I shared a life together from kindergarten through high school in Clearwater, FL...through two 4 year bracelet campfires at Merrie-Woode...through weddings and children...through thick and thin. Looking back, our happy place remained Merrie-Woode. We loved it all! We adored our counselors and our friends. We were thrilled to be hugged by Hugh. We paddled the rivers, slept under the stars, cried at campfires, hated it when Fritz said we needed peppier songs, couldn’t wait to wear our whites on Sunday, thought Castle was the ultimate, and could not wait for summer to come around again. We shared our deep love for Camp Merrie-Woode and our commitment to its future.” Hebe notes that Janie’s spirit lives on in

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2020

Janie and Hugh maintained their close friendship until the end of Hugh’s life. Janie recruited many Merrie-Woode girls from Florida during her tenure as the Camp Representative in Clearwater. From 1991 to 1996, Janie served as a Trustee on the Board of the Merrie-Woode Foundation. While on the Board, Janie worked with Executive Directors Laurie and Gordon Strayhorn to plan the refurbishment of many Camp buildings.

Hebe Dowling Murphy (55-63) and Janie McMullen Cline (55-65) were lifelong best friends.

the whispering pines, the moonlight on Lake Fairfield, and the laughter of campers every summer.

While attending Queens College in Charlotte, NC, Janie met her future husband, Harry Sykes Cline. She designed and created Harry’s gold wedding band by hand in the Camp Bang Shop, when she was a staff member during the summer of 1965.

Married for nearly fifty-five years, Janie and Harry shared a loved of the mountains, and they enjoyed spending several months each year at their second home near Cashiers.

Visitors to the Cline’s North Carolina home relished the opportunity to see Janie’s wonderfully detailed Merrie-Woode scrapbook with photographs from her camp summers.

Janie’s dedication to Merrie-Woode continued once her daughter, Tweed Cline Eckhard (79-83), became a camper. A close friend of Hugh Caldwell, Janie was instrumental in the formation and early years of the Merrie-Woode Foundation, Inc., from 1979 through the mid-1980s.

When her daughter, Tweed, was married at Camp in 1995, Janie transformed the Dining Hall into a beautiful bower full of flowers, accentuated by the custom-designed tablecloths that Janie created for the occasion. Janie was proud that her two granddaughters, Carson Eckhard (09-17) and Sykes Eckhard (09-18), carried on the Merrie-Woode family tradition, and she loved attending their Boat Meets during the years that they made Captain. “Of our three generations who have loved Camp,” shared Tweed, “we still think Mom loved it the most – she treasured her lifelong camp friendships and decades of memories associated with Merrie-Woode.”

Janie and Harry generously supported all of Merrie-Woode’s significant fundraising campaigns, including the most recent Centennial Campaign.

We are grateful for the love that Janie held for Merrie-Woode and for her many years of devoted service to preserve Camp and to nurture the Merrie-Woode Foundation, Inc. into the stalwart organization that it is today.

Sally Sasz (1998-2020) One of Merrie-Woode’s beloved 13

young alumnae, Sally Dudley Sasz (09-14) of Charlotte, NC, passed away on July 6, 2020, while hiking in Utah. Sally was a remarkable individual in every aspect of her life. The oldest of three sisters, all of whom attended Merrie-Woode, Sally thrived during her summers at Camp and enjoyed sampling different activities throughout the session.

Her favorite Sunday activity was the

The Sasz family, from the left: Steven Sasz, Nancy Hanes Sasz (77-80), Patsy Sasz (10-16), Sally Sasz (09-14), and Lulu Sasz (12-19)

Dam Swim – she even swam both ways once – and she climbed Old Bald at least once per summer. Sally loved getting the top bunk so that when she woke early in the morning she could watch the mist lifting off the lake. She was extremely proud of the chair that she made in weaving, using it as her desk chair throughout high school and taking it to college one year. Wampus Cat kisses and churros for dessert were other favorite Camp memories.

Sally also loved making jewelry in the Bang Shop. Her mother, Nancy Hanes Sasz (77-80) shared, “One summer Sally came home with a sweet little silver ring that she gave to me. I immediately put it on and have never taken it off. The following summer Patsy brought me a similar, but slightly different, silver ring that I immediately put on and have never taken off. Sally always wore a

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2020

In Memoriam cont. ring of twisted gold that I had made at Camp Merrie-Woode and given to her. She was wearing it when she died. Now Lulu is wearing that ring so that we are all connected... it is something that connects us all with each other and camp – something we all loved.”

A talented graduate of Charlotte Country Day School where she played varsity tennis and basketball, Sally was awarded the prestigious Morehead-Cain scholarship to UNC-Chapel Hill. While at UNC, she continued to excel as a scholar and an athlete, playing club tennis, serving as an ambassador for Arts Everywhere, a university-wide arts initiative, and co-chairing Art & Life, an after-school youth education program. Sally was often seen around campus riding her lavender bike and stopping to chat with everyone she passed along her way.

Sally’s passion for art led her to concentrate her studies at UNC in Art History and English, while gaining hands-on experience in the art industry through her summer internship at the Turner Carroll Gallery in Santa Fe, NM. She thrived on the challenges of working at a gallery, where she wrote exhibition essays,

designed catalogues, worked on curatorial projects, and researched valuations. Gallery owner Tonya Turner Carroll trusted Sasz to write the catalogue essay for an exhibition of works by Hung Liu, a well-known contemporary artist.

Sally Sasz (09-14) and Anna Avinger (12-14)

Friends described Sally as a “bright light,” and “someone who emitted joy.” One of Sally’s dearest camp friends, Anna Avinger (12-14) remembers, “Each year, she encouraged me to try something I thought was crazy – Synchronized Swimming, Tumbling, and Zumba were among the most notable. We were not the most coordinated couple of gals, but we sure did laugh a lot…

We took sailing with our sisters – Patsy, Lulu, and Caroline. We’d pile in a sailboat together and take turns pushing each other off and (accidentally?) capsizing.” According to

Anna, “Sally made everything more fun, more exciting, more joyful. She embodied happiness and adventure, and she made everyone around her feel loved.”

Sally is survived by her parents, Steven and Nancy Hanes Sasz (77-80), sisters Patsy Sasz (10-16) and Lulu Sasz (12-19), and a large extended family. Many of Sally’s aunts and cousins also attended Merrie-Woode, including Marion Hanes Rutsch (71-74), Mary Dudley Hanes Faison (73-75), Nancy Carter Bland (47-50), Sally Bland Fielding (74-77), Carolyn Bland (06-12), Boyce Ansley (59), Sharon Bleakley Ansley (58-60), Fayne Ansley (82-10), Ellen Ansley Hardison (47-49), Lillian Hardison Bossong (77-78), Ansley Hardison (07-13), Ellen Hardison (1112), Anna Ansley Davis (81-88), Anna B. Davis (12-17), Catherine Benedict (07-09), Claire Yancey Benedict, Claire Marie Benedict Huff (84-86), and Mary Claire Huff (16-present). Sally will be greatly missed by all who knew her, but her legacy as “a true Merrie-Woode girl” will continue to inspire us all.

The CMW Unplugged Initiative is Still in Need of NANO iPODs! Thank you for the generous response to our spring newsletter request for NANO iPods. We appreciate all of the gently used iPods we received from so many of you. It’s not too late to participate, if you have a NANO iPod that you would like to donate to camp.

As you may or may not know, the NANO iPods are getting harder to find, and we rely on these for our cabins and activity areas. Please send any gently used NANO iPods you may be ready to donate to Camp and share the gift of music with our campers and staff.

14

Camp Merrie-Woode 100 Merrie-Woode Road Sapphire, NC 28774

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2020

Campfire As the spring of 2020 arrived, Merrie-Woode alumnae from across all generations gathered together on the Zoom screen for our first virtual campfire. Born out of the need to come together as we were all quarantined in our homes during the early days of a global pandemic, it was the perfect reminder of the strength and comfort our camp community can provide. With Senior Staff hosting from the Dunns’ living room where we had reliable WiFi, our hearts were filled watching Merrie-Woode girls of all ages sing along from across the globe. The best part of the evening came when we could hear hundreds of voices calling out “goodnight” after singing “Taps.” It was a profound moment of connection in an isolating time.

We went on to host several more live virtual campfires via Zoom for each of our three camp sessions this summer. In July, as we became more proficient with the technology, we decided our second full alumnae virtual campfire could happen in

Prepping for our first virtual campfire in the Council Ring!

Extension cords ran everywhere to make it all work!

the Council Ring. After rigging up a system to gain temporary Wi-Fi in the thicket by the waterfall, solving multiple sound and camera issues, we were thrilled to be able to appear in people’s computer screens from a location that felt much more authentic to everyone’s campfire memories.

Fall is now approaching as we send this newsletter to print, and we are in the process of planning one more virtual alumnae campfire for our full Merrie-Woode community on October 28th. We could have never imagined in the spring that this pandemic would be stretching into the

end of 2020 and beyond. As the seasons change again, we find ourselves longing to bring our camp community together in the best way we know how – by gathering around the campfire via the safety of our own individual computer screens, and singing the same camp songs that have tied us together for generations.

We know this last virtual campfire of 2020 will be an inspiring reminder that even though we must remain far apart in space, we are never far apart in spirit. See you all around the Council Ring as the autumn leaves begin to fall and we replace our staff shirts with flannels and fleeces.

The CMW Community, Especially our Parents, Answer the Call… Again Whether it was saving the camp in the late 70s, acquiring surrounding property to protect from encroaching development, enhancing the campus’s 80+ buildings and 400 acres, or enriching the many programs being offered, the Merrie-Woode community has always stepped up when they were needed the most.

This year was no different. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, camp was forced to close its gates for the first time in its 102 year history. As a result of having to suspend Camp operations in 2020, and after

making all possible adjustments in terms of expenses, Merrie-Woode is faced with raising approximately $1 million to overcome Covid-related shortfalls. Merrie-Woode will survive this pandemic, but we must guarantee that the exemplary programming and staffing can continue as seamlessly as possible.

When given the choices, some families donated their tuition outright while nearly two-thirds of the families rolled their tuition forward to next summer. While it’s still two 15

years of operating camp, the current one being bare bones, there is only one year of revenue. Camp would not have been able to survive without our supportive parents. Many other generous Merrie-Woode families have increased their annual giving, donated to the Young Alumnae Challenge, or participated in the “Half Way Up” matching gift challenge. We are filled with gratitude as our Merrie-Woode community has once again stepped up to ensure Merrie-Woods’s success and survival for the next century.

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2020

The Formation of the CMW DEI Ad Hoc Committee As we look toward the 2021 camp season when we can all be together again under the watchful eye of Old Bald, we are reminded of the many challenges this year has brought to Merrie-Woode and the entire world. Here at camp, we are always focused on strengthening this institution that we all love so dearly, and we’re increasingly attentive to issues surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion at camp.

In response to what we see as a time to make meaningful change at camp and in our society, we wish to share our thoughts on how to move forward, as well as involve the greater Merrie-Woode family in this discussion.

Our inspiration comes from Dammie Day, one of Merrie-Woode’s founders. We think about the racial climate during Dammie’s time here at camp (1921 – 1952) and the frustrations that she must have felt regarding the fair treatment of all people. Her own method of protest and means to bring about change was to allow Merrie-Woode’s campus to be used for race relations and equity summits, as early as 1936. In addition, she asked her campers to think deeply about themselves and the society in which they lived. We believe that is still a foundation of Merrie-Woode, and we embrace the opportunity to find ways that we can build a bridge to a better tomorrow in this “place of rarest beauty.”

Within this context, the framework for all decision making about Merrie-Woode begins with a review of our mission statement:

Merrie-Woode is a sanctuary of rarest beauty which inspires a lasting awareness of God’s presence. The Mission of Camp Merrie-Woode is to use that setting to nurture the physical, intellectual and spiritual growth of girls and young women through traditional camp activities and outdoor adventures. In this friendly, non-competitive community of simplified living, each individual is valued for who she is and who she will become.

By looking through the lens of the mission, we allow it to guide our thoughts, planning, and actions. Our focus centers on four facets of Merrie-Woode: Governance, Historical/ Traditional/Social Justice Themes, Training and Resource Support, and Recruitment/Programming.

In the area of Governance, we are reviewing our Board structure and staff leadership. Part of this work is our commitment to attracting a well-rounded, diverse Board and continuing our biennial Staff Leadership Retreats.

While conducting a review of Camp’s history and traditions, we have identified Historical, Traditional, and Social Justice Themes that need to be addressed. As an institution which has existed for over a century in the American South, we recognize that there could be old representations, particularly of the Confederacy, remaining in Camp of 16

which we are unaware.

Regarding Training and Resource Support, we are already researching and scheduling additional staff training for our full-time, year-round staff members. We will continue to attend sessions at annual conferences on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we will work to draw in diverse speakers and presenters for camp programs and presentations.

In terms of Recruitment and Programming, we aim to attract and recruit a more racially and socio-economically diverse camper and staff population. Although this process will take time and require new methods of recruitment, we look forward to reviewing these processes with fresh eyes.

The Merrie-Woode Foundation, Inc.’s Board of Trustees is developing a Diversity/Equity/Inclusion Ad Hoc Committee, which will be led by current Board member, Mallory Dimmitt, acting as Board Liaison, as well as three members of senior staff: Betsy Reese Helms, Lindsay Garner Hostetler, and Robin McKinney Walker. The committee will report to the Chair of the Board, the Executive Directors, and the Board’s

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2020

standing Programming Committee.

The Ad Hoc committee will meet quarterly via Zoom.

We are delighted with the number of applicants who are interested in

serving on the Ad Hoc Committee.

With so many applicants, we will be able to select a cross-section of individuals whose ages and connections to Camp will ensure that varying perspectives are represented. We are excited about the new Ad Hoc Committee that is being formed and feel that the work of this committee can build the bridge and expand efforts that have already begun.

Additionally, we are grateful to those who shared their thoughts about diversity, equity, and inclusion at Camp Merrie-Woode by filling

Cabin Signs In anticipation of the joyous return of campers in 2021, we decided it was time to spruce up all the cabin signs.

Nothing says “Welcome Home” like a new coat of paint! The current signs were painted in 1998 by the professional artist Allysa Pinkerton, who was Laurie and Gordon Strayhorn’s nanny at the time. She says, “It is so special that each cabin has such a sweet history. I was honored to share my craftsmanship with camp during the big remodel of all the cabins.”

The new signs are inspired by the current ones but have an updated design. We cannot wait for everyone to see them on Opening Day next summer.

The new cabin signs are currently being painted by alumna Laura Vawter Hobby (82-95) and her daughter, Virginia, a current camper.

Laura says, “Painting the cabin signs has been a relaxing reprieve during the pandemic. I have been able to work on them at home in my studio while other events and activities have been cancelled. It has been fun to get feedback from Virginia, and we have enjoyed comparing memories about camp friends who lived in each cabin during her time as a camper and my time as a camper and counselor.”

17

out the brief online survey. Your input on resources, recommendations, and other institutional successes will be beneficial. We deeply appreciate your perspective and opinions and look forward to moving toward thoughtful change in the years to come.

We recognize that meaningful change will require all of us to work together for a sustained period of time, and we are confident that our combined efforts will bring forth results of which we are proud.

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2020

Merrie-Woode Family Rallies Fundraising Support When the Merrie-Woode Board of Trustees made the difficult decision to suspend camp operations this past summer, the decision was painful in part because of the immediate impact on operations. Tuition is Merrie-Woode’s main source of revenue. While it was clearly the right decision, it also meant getting right to work to fill that void. Even after making all possible adjustments in terms of expenses, Merrie-Woode will need to raise approximately $1 million to overcome Covid-related shortfalls. Merrie-Woode will survive this pandemic, but we must guarantee that the exemplary programming and staffing can continue as seamlessly as possible.

In June, Merrie-Woode launched its most ambitious annual fund to date - the “Be a Light – Annual Fund 2020.” In true Merrie-Woode fashion, volunteers from all generations picked up the phone immediately. Generous alumnae and friends stepped forward. Parents donated all or portions of their tuition dollars, even as they consoled their disappointed daughters. As of late Sep-

tember, Merrie-Woode has received $520,000 in commitments, over half of what is needed to meet the operations shortfall.

Since the fundraising to date is “Half Way Up,” a group of Merrie-Woode alumnae (and one anonymous Tajar!) joined together to offer the Merrie-Woode Family a challenge grant of $200,000. When Merrie-Woode raises $200,000 in new dollars by Friday, November 27th, the group will match that amount with another $200,000 for a total of $400,000. This will put Merrie-Woode well within reach of its $1 million goal. Merrie-Woode friends and families can support the challenge by making an outright donation, extending a Centennial pledge one more year, or even doubling the amount given to the Annual Fund last year. Whatever you can give will be extraordinarily helpful.

We know many of you have already given, and please know your support is deeply appreciated. Any help you can give by donating again, or by encouraging others to think about Merrie-Woode, would be wonderful.

Merrie-Woode’s Be A Light – 2020 Annual Fund campaign is inspired by the candles on the lake after Follow the Gleam.

Amidst this period of profound uncertainty in the world, there is one constant that we can always count on. You! The Merrie-Woode Family always, always, always shows up when it really matters. And right now, it really matters. Thank you.

Conservation Spotlight: Inn Site Meadow Merrie-Woode has embarked on an update to the Master Site Plan for its property. As part of this work, we have engaged Reed Hilderbrand, a highly-regarded landscape architecture firm from Cambridge, MA, to assist us in returning Merrie-Woode campus to a more natural, wilderness setting. Several of the larger projects designed to address stormwater management in camp are presently on hold for a year, due to the financial challenges of COVID-19.

One project, however, is already underway – creating a meadow habitat at the Inn Site between the location of the Old Fairfield Inn and the lakeshore.

Many of you may remember the grassy hill that stretched from the flat spot on top of the hill to the lake.

During 2020, Camp has allowed the natural grasses and newly planted grasses, reeds and wildflowers, to grow, with mowed paths and picnic 18

areas circulating between the sections of tall grass. A number of birds, rabbits, butterflies, and bees have re-

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2020

2020 Board of Trustees Clair Freeman Marshall, Chair Raleigh, NC Holly Pierce Ambler Boone, NC Alan Clark Charlotte, NC Mathilde Villere Currence New Orleans, LA Jane Curtis Houston, TX A map showing the proposed design and walking paths for the Inn Site Meadow.

populated the new meadow habitat, which will also provide an increased buffer for water traveling down the hill into the lake. The level area at the top of the hill will remain open space, maintained for use by Camp and by those renting the property for events, such as weddings.

The new landscape design serves both sustainability and recreational goals. The grasses, reeds, and wildflowers will help restore wetland character to low-lying areas, while providing a threshold between civilization and the wilderness. The meadow will connect and frame the gathering spaces with an “open meander” path guiding circulation around the lake edge and through the

woodland area. It will also stabilize lawn and meadow soils, while reducing maintenance costs.

When you next return to Camp for a visit, or find yourself walking the Lake Trail, check out the Inn Site

Mallory Dimmitt St. Petersburg, FL Julie Harrower Diaz Dallas, TX Tweed Cline Eckhard Tampa, FL

Jerald (J.R.) Hanks Atlanta, GA

Mary Leland Davenport Hutchison Lookout Mountain, TN Creecy Chandler Johnson Raleigh, NC Elly Lane New Orleans, LA Stephanie Blessey Lilley Washington, DC

meadow for a glimpse of our recent work. In addition to general operating funds, Merrie-Woode’s Conservation and Sustainability Endowment, established in 2018 as part of the Centennial Campaign, provides financial support for this project.

James (Jay) McKnight Nashville, TN George Pillow Killen, AL Carter Coker Simpson Washington, DC Daniel (Dan) Wilbanks Knoxville, TN

19

Camp Merrie-Woode® 100 Merrie-Woode Rd. Sapphire, NC 28774 828.743.3300

Return Service Requested

To The Household Of:

www.merriewoode.com

Stock Shop is now Online!

Holiday Gift Ideas from the We know Merrie-Woode has always ested in making an updated Stock been a little behind the technolog- CMW and user friendly website Shop ical curve. What can we say; we are all about simplified living, but this summer we had to adapt. Part of connecting with our camp community involved making stock shop items available to order so families could have even more Merrie-Woode spirit at home. We took an old-fashioned approach to orders, providing an online form or encouraging parents to just call the office.

Camp alumna Margaret Hancock (01-04), who has experience with marketing tools and creating online shopping sites, saw our stock shop order form and reached out.

She asked if we would be inter-

entirely for the stock shop.

We were thrilled! Margaret also looped in camp alumna, Green Tumbler: $20.00 Lulu Graham (10-16), to Drawstring Bag: $25.00 handle photography. Margaret, Lulu, and Courtney Fos- Centennial Ripple: $15.00 ter, camp’s intern, have been Kitchen Tea Towel: $10.00 hard at work making the new Playing Cards: $6.50 online stock shop a reality.

Dammie’s Prayer Poster: $20.00 We are happy to announce it is now live, just in time for the holidays. You can find it Additional Stock Shop items are available. on our camp website: merriewoode.com. We hope being Email annette@merriewoode.com to order. able to purchase and sport your favorite Merrie-Woode gear brings you joy this fall.

28