Fall 2021
Denice and Jim Dunn Announce Retirement Plans in 2022 Dear Merrie-Woode Community, After serving as the Co-Executive Directors of Camp Merrie-Woode for 20 years, Jim and Denice Dunn will retire in September 2022, at the conclusion of the camp season. The Dunns have led Merrie-Woode with vision, humility, and tireless care. Under their steadfast leadership, Merrie-Woode remains vibrant and true to its mission and the camp spirit, caring for every girl and young woman as she comes through the gate each summer, and maintaining those friendships with campers, staff, alumnae, and families as they go out into the world. Jim and Denice began their tenure as CoExecutive Directors of Camp Merrie-Woode in January of 2003. They moved to camp four years earlier, when Denice began her role as Merrie-Woode’s Development and Program Director in 1999. The Dunns have continued the many traditions and the timeless mission of providing outdoor opportunities for girls, building on the legacy of their predecessors. They have worked to preserve the historic grounds and our surrounding land, as well as Merrie-Woode’s history and unique story within the American camping movement. A few of their successes include: • ensuring full sessions for 625 campers for 20 summers; • pursuing land acquisitions to protect and grow our campus from 250 acres to over 400 acres; • enhancing our land use and conservation efforts; • improving virtually every building on the property, including the rebuilding of Chapel and Castle; • implementing the Merrie-Woode Foundation’s strategic plan; • maintaining our American Camp Association accreditation and our status as leaders in the ACA and the North Carolina Youth Camp
Association through their volunteer service; • strengthening our vital relationship with the Cashiers community, most notably through their leadership in the Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau, the Cashiers Rotary Club, and the Summit Charter School; • overseeing the Centennial Celebration including the weekend attended by 1,600 alumnae; • assisting with raising over $5 million for the new Castle and our ever-growing endowment; • most recently, successfully managing camp’s enhanced operations during a pandemic. Their continual focus on safety and financial stability has been the cornerstone of their tenure. They have positively impacted thousands of lives and multiple generations of campers and staff.
Denice and Jim Dunn
Inside... At Wit’s End Reflettions on 2021 Summer From the Archives Executive Director Search
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Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2021
Denice and Jim Dunn Announce Retirement Plans in 2022 cont. Jim and Denice have truly lived out the words and the spirit of the Merrie-Woode Plaque: It is because there is a kindred spirit in you that you have recognized what Merrie-Woode stands for. God gave us a place of rarest beauty and since I first beheld it, I have tried to match His gift as best I could with permeating love and honesty. It is a composite thing made up of all those who through the years have loved it and given it their best. While the Dunns and the Merrie-Woode Board of Trustees have been planning for this moment for several years, saying goodbye will be bittersweet. As you know, Jim and Denice are proud parents to two grown sons, Tyler and Bradley, and now have two young grandsons. They are looking forward to their next chapter of life as grandparents, while remaining in the Cashiers area. Through next summer, Jim and Denice will continue to actively lead camp operations and focus on strategic priorities, and will work with the Board to prepare for a smooth transition to our next leadership. Camp’s mission, philosophy, and high standards will remain the focus of the Merrie-Woode experience for campers, staff, and parents in 2022 and beyond. Each of us in the Merrie-Woode Community has benefited from the caring and thoughtful leadership Jim and Denice have provided for two decades. Over the next year, we will have many special opportunities to thank the Dunns for all they have done for Camp Merrie-Woode. The Board will communicate with the entire Merrie-Woode Community throughout the search process for the camp’s next chapter of leadership. We have retained Carney, Sandoe & Associates, a national search firm, to assist us with this important transition. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I wish to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to Jim and Denice for their outstanding dedication to Merrie-Woode and to the greater camp and Cashiers community. We look forward to celebrating the Dunns’ legacy over the next year and building on their successful leadership and stewardship of Merrie-Woode.
Dear Merrie-Woode Family, More than two years ago, we met with the Merrie-Woode Board of Trustees’ former Board Chair, Elizabeth Keenan Thompson, and our current Board Chair, Clair Freeman Marshall, to discuss our retirement plans. Those discussions led to a transition strategy that would make the 2022 summer camp season our last here at Camp Merrie-Woode. We have had the rewarding opportunity to serve the Merrie-Woode Community since our family arrived here nearly 23 years ago. It’s now time to pass the torch to the next leadership,
Jim and Denice enjoy a moment on the steps of Hilltop with campers and counselors in the summer of 2016.
provide support through the transition, and begin a life of retirement. We have so much to be thankful for, and we feel blessed to be part of the Merrie-Woode family! We arrived here during the summer of 1999 with our two sons, then 11 and 7 years old, not truly sure what to expect. It was the beginning, both personally and professionally, of something that would change the lives of all four of us forever. Our boys grew up here—this magnificent 400 acres that has served as a camp home for generations over 103 summers. We, our sons, their wives, and now our grandchildren have been forever changed and transformed by the people and this place. We simply could not imagine our life without the Merrie-Woode campers, staff, alumnae, parents, and friends. We want to thank the Board of Trustees, both past and present, for their unending and unequivocal support, guidance, and wisdom while acting as stewards of this place of rarest beauty for the past 23 years. Without them, both we and Merrie-Woode would be in a much different place. We want to thank all of the
Sincerely, Clair Freeman Marshall, Chair On behalf of the Merrie-Woode Board of Trustees 2
Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2021
parents and Merrie-Woode families who believed in us, even before you had an opportunity to know us. You entrusted us with your most prized possession— your daughters—and we thank you for your courage and faith. To our valued alumnae, whose continued support and engagement during our time here has been critical to the camp’s growth and success: thank you for your love of this place and your incredibly generous financial support. To the summer and year-round staff
our happy and sad tears, and our senses of humor. We always tried our best and we thank you for your unswerving loyalty through our daily charge to mentor, guide, and show compassion to the young women of Merrie-Woode. And, WOW…we sure had an awful lot of fun along the way! We think of you as members of our family. Finally, to the campers of Merrie-Woode, whom we have enthusiastically loved and cherished during our time here, you are the reason we get up in the morning and come to work. It is your energy, your humor, your ideas, your laughter, your kindness, and your joy that have made this all worthwhile. There is nothing quite like seeing shy and unsure seven- year-old campers enter through the gates, and then watching them adapt, change, and grow into confident young women. It is you that we will never be able to replace. Thank you! You will forever be on our minds and in our hearts. Chug-A-Wump and God Bless,
Jim and Denice head off to Castle with campers and a counselor in the summer of 2016.
with whom we have worked closely over the years, we have enormous gratitude for your kindness, love, and tireless efforts. Thank you for embracing our passions,
Denice and Jim Dunn Co-Executive Directors
At Wit’s End We hope this newsletter finds you doing well. The autumn air is crisp in the mountains, and the leaves are beginning to change. The colorful backdrop in camp is making for many beautiful camp wedding photos. We are thrilled that many of our 2020 and 2021 brides are finally able to host their wedding celebrations for family and friends. Our summer season has come and gone, but the memories are etched in our minds. We were thrilled that so many campers and staff were able to return for our 103rd summer of camping along Lake Fairfield, under the watchful eye of Old Bald. There was much excitement surrounding the reopening of Camp this summer, including the staff video that went viral and managed to appear on some of the
network news shows. Camp’s safe and healthy summer would not have been possible without the endless and thoughtful planning by the Senior Staff, the dedication of our energetic summer staff, and the strong support of our Camp families. This was a special summer that will be a milestone in Camp Merrie-Woode’s history. We all came together remembering our camp mission to use our wilderness setting to nurture the physical, intellectual, and spiritual growth of the girls and young women at a time when we all need to be supported and encouraged in a positive way. In August, we headed down to Atlanta to spend time with our second grandson, Trainor Joseph Dunn. Our son, Bradley, and his wife, Bri, were blessed with a beau3
tiful baby boy born on May 17th. His arrival happened just before we went into our “Camp Bubble” for the summer. We were thrilled to spend time with the baby and his big brother, Grayson, after camp. We can’t wait to spend more time with all of the Dunn boys this fall and during the holidays. It is truly a blessing to be part of the Merrie-Woode family. We are thankful for the love and support we have received around our retirement announcement. Thank you for reaching out to us and making us feel special. We are already looking forward to an epic 2022 summer! May you all have a happy and safe holiday season. Chug-A-Wump,
Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2021
CMW Weddings and Engagements Our Merrie-Woode brides, together with their families and friends, were overflowing with joy as they were once again able to gather in person for weddings! We loved hearing happy reports from so many alumnae who celebrated marriages and engagements this year. First we have exciting news from Mary Virginia Adams (04-18), who recently became engaged to Clayton Olmstead! They are planning a wedding on July 23, 2022. Elly Straske Bacigalupo (03-15) and Adam Bacigalupo celebrated their marriage with an anniversary party on May 15, 2021 in Chapel and at the Old Fairfield Inn Site. Elly and Adam were married in an intimate backyard ceremony in May 2020, after their wedding plans were postponed due to Covid. Their
Mary Virginia Adams (04-18) and fiancé Clayton Olmstead.
family and friends were delighted to gather at Lake Fairfield for this year’s long-awaited event. Joining the happy couple in their celebration were Mother of the Bride, Janice Ferman Straske (83), sisters and bridesmaids Davis Straske (04-17) and Mary Stephen Straske (06-19), as well as CMW alumnae Chandler Davis (02-18), Mary Nobles Hancock (02-14), Sarah T. Davis
Priore (01-19), Alex Priore (13), Elliott Hornsby (03-14), Kendall Gibson (04-14), Carter Reifsnider Toohers (02-15), Selina Horsley (04-15), Suzie Eldridge Ward (91-93), Eldridge Ward (current camper), Emily Rich (00-14), and Margaret Greene (03-15). Hayden Bates (06) and Tad Fisher were married on July 12, 2021, in The Presidio, San Francisco, CA. They held an “I Do BBQ” ta camp to celebrate their marriage with East Coast family and friends on August 28, 2021. Hayden and Tad currently live in Oakland, CA where Hayden is pursuing doctoral studies in Clinical Psychology at the Wright Institute. CMW family and alumnae in attendance at camp include Sara Bates King (00), Fritz Orr III (94-05),
Second row, from left: Janice Ferman Straske (83), Chandler Davis (02-18), Mary Nobles Hancock (02-14), Mary Stephen Straske (0619), Adam Bacigalupo, Sarah T. Davis Priore (01-19), Alex Priore (13), Elliott Hornsby (0314), Kendall Gibson (04-14), Carter Reifsnider Toohers (02-15), Selina Horsley (04-15), Front row, from left: Suzie Eldridge Ward (91-93), Eldridge Ward (current camper), Davis Straske (04-17), Elly Straske Bacigalupo (03-15), Emily Rich (00-14), and Margaret Greene (03-15).
and Sallie Orr Peterkin (69-74). Ella Bright (00-10) married Christopher Baldwin on November 14, 2020, in New Orleans, LA surrounded by family and close friends. The wedding was held at St. Stephens Church, where Ella’s parents and maternal grandparents were married, followed by the reception in 4
the Bright family’s backyard. Merrie-Woode alumnae in the wedding party included bridesmaids, Hillary Hardy (00-10) and Arlie Pearce Crumbliss (00-10), and Mother of the Groom, Karen Johnsen Baldwin (66). Current camper, Georgia Kissel, was a junior bridesmaid, and Ella’s aunt, CMW alumna Evelyn Simmons Kissel (88-95) also attended. Campbell Bowers (00-16) and Cooper Jackson will be married on October 9, 2021 in John’s Island, SC. Parker Chambers (00-10) married Alex Bertles on September 25, 2021 in Jackson, WY. Catherine Christian (08-15) married Patrick Elmer on September 4, 2021 in the Merrie-Woode Chapel. Their intimate lakefront celebration included CMW alumnae Camille Christian (08), Charlotte Christian Castejon (08-09), Debi Stewart (96-present), Lawson Drew (06-17), and Logan Allen (12-20) and was photographed by Maddie Davis Moore (04-14). A few weeks later, Sarah T. Davis (01-19) married Alex Priore (13) on September 25, 2021at camp. Their wedding ceremony in Chapel was followed by a beautiful outdoor reception with family and friends on the Waterfall Field. CMW alumnae in attendance included Mother of the Bride, Martha Simkins Davis (68-83), sister and Maid of Honor, Chandler Davis (02-18), Chloe Cunningham (02-05), Madison Chance (10-16), Anna Chance (13-present), Kathleen Simkins (09-16), Natalie Simkins (05-15), Mary Beth Royal (05-16), Jennie Royal Porter (05-12), Catherine Cranston Whitham (65-66), Elizabeth Cranston Cleckler (67-69), Katie Ryan (04-17), Catie Hancock (99-19), Chase Brantley (11-17), Mary Walker Norfleet Fry (70-83), Jim (02-present) and
Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2021
Denice Dunn (99-present), Betsy Reese Helms (89-present), Lindsay Garner Hostetler (93-present), and Robin McKinney Walker (89-present). On April 10, 2021, Elizabeth Dews (09-16) married Tyler Hay-
turned the corner to “Fool’s Rock,” Jay got down on one knee and gave Mary Sutton her grandmother’s ring. They did not realize until seeing the photos afterward that a beam of light was shining down on them! Mary Sutton shared, “It was my grandmother or the Spirit of MerrieWoode. Either way, getting the
(04-11), and Christina Givner (10), all Merrie-Woode alumnae, were bridesmaids, and they were beyond excited to be back at camp as adults celebrating the wedding. Gabrielle even rang the dinner bell to gather guests to dinner in the Dining Hall! After dinner, dancing took place under a tent out on the Waterfall Field. It may have been the first or one of the first times Camp experienced salsa music alongside lots of light up maracas and
Patrick and Catherine Christian Elmer (08-15). Tad and Hayden Bates Fisher (06).
more in a picturesque ceremony at Camp’s Old Fairfield Inn Site, followed by a reception at Whiteside Brewing in Cashiers, NC. Though they had to brace a torrential downpour, it was wonderful to be married in such a meaningful place! Mary-Sutton Gonzalez (91-04) became engaged to Jay Tucker on June 1, 2021 during a hike up
blessing from one of those two was enough for me to know.” What a special memory for an engagement! Mary Sutton and Jay are planning a wedding next fall in Tampa, FL or Cashiers, NC. On September 18, 2021, Ciele Gutierrez (04-11) and Tyler Knox were married at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Cashiers, NC, where Ciele often attended mass with Jim and other campers on Saturday nights. The bridal party enjoyed a hike around the lake trail Friday morning before all
Christopher and Ella Bright Baldwin (00-10).
Whiteside Mountain! While she hadn’t anticipated a proposal that day, as they approached the top, he kept grinning and laughing as people passed them, giving her a hint of what might be coming. When they
Tyler and Elizabeth Dews Haymore (09-16).
the wedding festivities took place. Ciele’s sister, Nina Gutierrez (1013), together with Gabrielle Going 5
Alex (13) and Sarah T. Davis Priore (01-19).
tambourines. It reminded the MerrieWoode girls of Captain Rainbow’s performances! Needless to say, it was an unforgettable weekend just like all of those unforgettable summers. Adele Irwin (02-15) shared the wonderful news that she became engaged to Garrison Block! He proposed while they were hiking in the Rocky Mountains National Park. They are planning a summer 2022 wedding in Essex Fells, NJ. Sarah Johnson (98-03) is engaged to be married to Bernhard Clemm. Liz McKee (01-07) will marry Max Lemaigre on October 2, 2021 in Spring Island, SC. In another beautiful mountain celebration in Highlands, NC, Brittney Olinger
Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2021
CMW Weddings and Engagements cont.
Mary-Sutton Gonzalez (91-04) and fiancé Jay Tucker at the summit of Whiteside Mountain.
(05-11) and David James Franklin were married on June 5, 2021. Susanna Snyder (92-01) married Matthew Katz on July 10, 2021 in
92). Susanna and Matthew reside in Boulder, CO, and make it up to the mountains as much as possible. Susanna taught Matthew to BooWhoop, so they can always find each other on the trail. As this newsletter goes to print, we will be celebrating two more Camp weddings: Natalie Wertymer (02-15) and Frank Altman, who will be married on October 2, 2021, as well as Bolling Winborne (01-17) and Murray Keogh, who will be married on
(02-11), Eleanor Williams (09-21), and Caroline Brown (01-06). Boowhoop and many congratulations to the happy couples!
Adele Irwin (02-15) and fiancé Garrison Block in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Matthew and Susanna Snyder Katz (92-01) with sisters, Kristi Snyder Costa (85-00), Katie Snyder Carson (85-98), Lindsey Snyder Birkett (91-92), and Theresa Snyder Lotspeich (91-92). Tyler and Ciele Gutierrez Knox (04-11).
Pine, CO. In attendance were her sisters, Kristi Snyder Costa (8500), Katie Snyder Carson (85-98), Lindsey Snyder Birkett (91-92), and Theresa Snyder Lotspeich (91-
October 16, 2021! Finally, we send our best wishes to Liza Wooten (01-07), who married Chris DeFago on May 15, 2021! They celebrated with family and friends in Blowing Rock, NC. Merrie-Woode guests included Ashton Ratcliffe Molster
Chris and Liza Wooten DeFago (01-07).
CMW Births Our Merrie-Woode alumnae added lots of new members to their families this year! Trainor Joseph Dunn, son of Bradley (06-12) and Bri Ratte Dunn (13), was born on May 17, 2021, weighing 7 lbs, 6 oz, and measuring 20 ¾ inches long! He is keeping busy learning everything that big brother Grayson is teaching him about trains and trucks. Proud grandparents, Denice and Jim Dunn
Trainor Joseph Dunn, son of Bradley (06-12) and Bri Ratte Dunn (13).
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enjoy visiting at every opportunity! Edward and Caroline Newlin Ellington (97-06) are the parents of a future Merrie-Woode girl! Amélie Marie Newlin Ellington arrived on June 18, 2021, and mom and dad are overjoyed to have her in the family. Tucker and Franny Couch Hurt (97-06) welcomed their second child, Thomas Hobson Hurt, on July 29, 2021. Thomas weighed
Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2021
Caden James Lukas, son of Kaley Garner Lukas (02-12).
Amélie Marie Newlin Ellington, daughter of Caroline Newlin Ellington (97-06).
7 lbs, 13 oz and measured 19 inches. Big brother, Bo, loves him so much that he refers to Thomas as “his” baby! Weldon and Hastings Crockard Jones (98-01) welcomed a baby girl last fall. Frances Faulk-
Frances Faulkner Jones, daughter of Hastings Crockard Jones (98-01).
were thrilled to be present for his arrival! Will and Libby Greenberg Overton (11-12) welcomed
“Libby” Stetson Lucia, daughter of Elizabeth Kennedy (97-02) and Ryan Lucia, was born on May 5, 2021 in San Francisco. Her mom reports that Libby can’t wait to go to Merrie-Woode! Caleb and Kaley Garner Lukas (02-12) welcomed their first child, Caden James Lukas, Dorothy Ragan Ogg, daughter of Ragan Todd Ogg (00-08).
Thomas Hobson Hurt, son of Franny Couch Hurt (97-06).
ner Jones, born October 6, 2020, is looking forward to attending Merrie-Woode in a few years! Elizabeth
on August 19, 2021! Aunts Lindsay Garner Hostetler (93-present) and Ashley Garner Dringo (95-07)
their first child on August 10, 2021. Daughter, Ruth Carwile Overton, weighed 7 lbs, 5 oz, and her parents are wholeheartedly in love with their baby girl. Danny and Ragan Todd Ogg (00-08) welcomed their first baby girl, Dorothy Ragan Ogg, on September 4, 2021. Dorothy loves hearing camp songs and can’t wait for her first trip to Merrie-Woode! All our best wishes to these parents and babies!
She was one of four generations of her family to attend Camp Merrie-Woode, beginning with her mother, Virginia Hilton Roller Grasty (29), a camper of Dammie Day’s era, followed by daughters, Hilton Hallock (75-82) and Elizabeth Hallock Andrews (76-81), and finally by granddaughter, Madeleine Andrews (12-present). Great-nieces, Lily Hallock (13-19) and Alice
Hallock (13-present) round out the family of dedicated Merrie-Woode girls. While a camper, Ginger especially enjoyed whitewater canoeing, making Captain during her third summer at Camp in 1953. She continued to hop into a boat at every opportunity, and she particularly loved paddling with her mentor, Hugh Caldwell (52-84), and dear friend, Doug Cameron (79-pres-
Elizabeth “Libby” Stetson Lucia, daughter of Elizabeth Kennedy (97-02).
In Memoriam Ginger Somerville Hallock (June 13, 1938 - June 13, 2021) Just a few weeks into our June Camp session and on the date of her 83rd birthday, Merrie-Woode lost one of its legends – Alumna, Former Trustee, and Former Interim Director, Ginger Somerville Hallock (51-79). It would be hard to identify any person with more Merrie-Woode P-E-P than Ginger!
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Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2021
In Memoriam cont. ent). Ginger returned for several summers as a counselor and eventually became Program Director, only to see her Camp summers come to an end (or so she thought) when she married the love of her life, The Rev. Harold H. Hallock. While Ginger supported Harold in his ministry in the church, he too supported her in her devotion to Camp, especially during the years she worked tirelessly to ensure that Camp would be in a position to thrive as it does today. Harold became a member of the Camp family where he spoke at Chapel, led programs at Castle, and served as chaplain to the Silver Haired Jocks. Ginger and Harold’s 60th wedding anniversary in May was a celebration of a loving partnership. In the midst of Ginger’s tenure on the Board of Trustees of the Merrie-Woode Foundation, Inc., she unexpectedly found herself wearing a green staff shirt once again when she volunteered to serve as Interim Director during the 1989 – 1990 season. Ginger was a great help to Gordon and Laurie Turner Strayhorn (90-02), who began their role as Executive Directors in the spring of 1990. Ginger’s contributions to Merrie-Woode during this transition were eloquently captured by Laurie Shock in Merrie-Woode’s Centennial Book, One Hundred Years of Following the Gleam, “Ginger was the magic that got people excited about Merrie-Woode, and as interim camp director, she breathed new life into a family of campers that had continued to grieve Hugh’s departure. Her tireless devotion to preparing Merrie-Woode for the 1989 season knew no bounds. She operated with pure heart, solid determination, and a much-welcomed sense of humor.”
Together with staff members Sid Long (86-01) and Phyllis Stiwinter (88-19), Ginger did “everything that needed doing,” including managing the office, recruiting campers, hiring staff, and even raking leaves. Sid remembers that “The camp office in those days was literally falling down around us, as was the lack of excitement about camp enrollment. But with Ginger’s enthusiasm and energy, she rekindled the spirit of camp and enrollment began to climb once again. She was always a joy and made working in tough times fun!” And who could forget Ginger at Merrie-Woode’s Centennial Celebration in 2018, proudly wearing her middie and tie, regaling the attendees of the Legendary Luncheon with sidesplitting tales of pranks and other camp highjinks? Always ready to rally the Merrie-Woode family, Ginger provided wonderful advice and support during Camp’s special 2020 fundraising efforts. We are all grateful for the memory of Ginger reading “To An Old Camper” by Mary Edgar during last fall’s Virtual Alumnae Campfire, which was a great boost to the spirits of all Merrie-Woode girls who participated around the globe. Ginger’s light shone so brightly throughout her life, and it is fitting that she and her family established a permanent endowment in her honor at Camp that will support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Merrie-Woode for years to come. Elizabeth “Bitty” Grimes McRae (August 10, 1924 – June 23, 2021) Living to a remarkably healthy age of 97, Bitty Grimes McRae (36-37) enjoyed a full and productive life nearly as long as that of Merrie-Woode itself. According 8
Captain Ginger Somerville Hallock (51-79) on the river.
to step-daughter and alumna Diane McRae Graham (63-65), “Bitty
Elizabeth Hallock Andrews (76-81), Hilton Hallock (75-82), Ginger Somerville Hallock (51-79), and Virginia Hilton Roller Grasty (29).
Ginger Somerville Hallock (51-79) at the Centennial Celebration.
lived every minute and never let up,” maintaining her professional ASID credentials well into her 90s. “Bitty was determined and particular in her quest for perfection. She lived a life in constant pursuit of beauty,
Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2021
and her results were exceedingly gorgeous, whether she was planning a party, decorating a room, cultivating a garden, or coordinating just the right outfit.” Diane remembers fondly a family trip down the Colorado River where, despite the rugged conditions, Bitty still managed to showcase her crisp fashion sense. Like most Merrie-Woode girls, Bitty loved adventure! A proud native of “Rahhhw-leh,” Bitty maintained those Raleigh-based friendships in Linville, N.C., where together she and her camp friends exhibited the same enthusiasm of their Merrie-Woode summers by filling their days with rigorous hikes and spirited tennis matches. Other alumnae family members in addition to Diane include step-daughter Patty McRae Washington (63-66), granddaughter Katie Graham Forde (8687), and nieces Jennie Scott Shad (59-66), Mary Jane Scott Trimble (61-72), and Jo Scott (65-70). Merrie-Woode also gratefully acknowledges the role of Walter McRae, Jr., Bitty’s husband (Diane’s and Patty’s father), who served on the Board of Trustees during the critical period when Merrie-Woode was transitioning from private ownership to a non-profit foundation. Jane Woodruff (September 30, 1925 - July 29, 2021) Merrie-Woode wishes to celebrate the life of Jane Woodruff (38), one of the intrepid young women, who donned a middie, tie, and bloomers for eight weeks of wilderness adventures at Merrie-Woode. Jane continued to have a deep love of the mountains throughout her life, coming often to her home in Highlands, NC, where she was one of the community’s most generous philanthropists. Jane is remembered for her many charitable endeavors that have
brought exceptional opportunities in healthcare and education to the people of the Plateau through institutions such as the Highlands-Cashiers Community Hospital, the Highlands Community Child Development Center, the Robert Woodruff Civic Center/Rec Park, and our own Camp Merrie-Woode. Her gifts were instrumental in helping the Merrie-Woode Foundation to purchase the Inn Site and the property across Lake Fairfield secured through The Final Piece campaign. Jane made her primary home in Atlanta, GA, where she was a great supporter of many schools and universities throughout the state of Georgia, including Emory University, Mercer University, Woodward Academy, Pace Academy, Rabun Gap Nacoochee School, The Westminster School, The Lovett School, and others. Jane is survived by many family members, including Merrie-Woode alumnae, granddaughters Alexandra Woodruff (01-03) and Caroline Woodruff (00-03), nieces Missie Woodruff (64) and Nell Woodruff (64), and cousins Callie Bivings (06-08) and Emma Bivings (06-11). She is pre-deceased by her sister, Frances Woodruff (37-38). Lucy Baumann Zemp (November 11, 1930 - September 24, 2021) As a camper during World War II, Lucy Baumann Zemp (40-44) knew Merrie-Woode in an era when Dammie Day instilled in each girl the importance of her role as a citizen of the world. No doubt Lucy took that advice with her when she traveled the country in the early years of her marriage to Air Force pilot, Charles Russell “Russ” Zemp. Lucy treasured her many roles in family life, as a devoted mother, grandmother, wife, and friend, and adored her family pets, whom she treated as beloved companions. She 9
was known for her thoughtfulness, always remembering special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. Daughter, Libby Cheek, recalled how much her mother cherished her summers at Merrie-Woode and shared, “Her camp years were some of her happiest, and she enjoyed coming to camp drop off [for granddaughters, Elizabeth and Laura] with us for several years, remembering the smell and sounds of camp. She was eager to hear which cabin the girls were assigned, and loved it if they happened to be
Announcing the Ginger Somerville Hallock Endowment It is our great honor to announce that the Hallock family has established an Endowment at Merrie-Woode in honor of Ginger. The Ginger Somerville Hallock Endowment will support diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at Merrie-Woode, a cause that Ginger whole-heartedly embraced. She gave so much of her heart to helping Camp thrive, and now her legacy will allow many more girls and young women from underrepresented groups the opportunity to experience Camp and become part of the Merrie-Woode family. The funds generated through the Ginger Somerville Hallock Endowment will support programming, staffing, camperships, and other initiatives advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion at Merrie-Woode. We are enormously grateful to the Hallock family for this most generous gift.
Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2021
In Memoriam cont. in one of her old cabins, some of which included Peter Pan and Paint Box.” Among these early memories, Lucy told her family how she rode the train from Knoxville to Asheville. A camp staffer would meet the campers and drive back to Sapphire, where they would pick up their camp middies and leave their travel clothes in a storage area of Castle.
Lucy was grateful to share her love of Merrie-Woode with her two granddaughters, Elizabeth Cheek (05-16) and Laura Cheek (09-18), as well as her sister Ethel Baumann Skeggs (40-42). She was a generous supporter of Merrie-Woode’s Campership Endowment and believed in the value of providing the Merrie-Woode experi-
ence to more girls and young women through the campership program. “Lucy loved camp,” says Libby, “and would be pleased to know donations were designated in her memory to Merrie-Woode’s Campership Endowment.”
Reflections on the Summer of 2021 In years to come, when we think back on the summer of 2021, it is likely to be remembered as one of the most challenging and most glorious summers ever seen under Old Bald. Successfully running camp through a global pandemic took an enormous amount of planning, co-
ordination, imagination, and bravery from parents, staff, and campers alike. But what this summer required and provided, more than anything else, was an immeasurable amount of love. We knew this summer would be different before we ever opened
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the camp gates. When the staff arrived we took their temperatures, documented verification of their negative COVID tests, and dove into orientation sessions to prep us all for a summer in the “Camp Bubble.” We knew campers would be arriving to us different than in previous years.
Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2021
We knew that a year spent at home and on their screens, while navigating the uncertainty that flooded into their lives in 2020, would have an effect. We talked about it consistently through our week of Staff Orientation. We also firmly believed that a summer at camp, playing outdoors, and living together in a community again was the exact antidote that they, and we, needed. Some things this summer looked and felt different. Different can sometimes feel hard at a place that hasn’t changed all that much since 1919. But we quickly found new moments of magic as a direct result of some of these changes. We saw far less homesickness on Opening Day when counselors drove campers to their cabins. In the absence of visiting Chapel speakers, our counselors stepped up and provided messages at each Sunday service. They shared their hearts and their wisdom in ways that were more moving than we could have imagined. In the first summer since launching our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative, we saw campers and counselors embracing their authentic selves in deeper ways at camp. We witnessed a community reevaluate how fully they can support one another with kindness and unconditional love. For the most part, however,
camp remained the same as ever. We watched floorboards shake under jubilant dance parties. We listened to beautiful music created by campers and counselors together in the stone amphitheater of Chapel. We watched the face of Old Bald reflect the light of Jim’s spectacular 4th of July fireworks show. The teenagers stayed up too late, laughing and talking after “Taps.” The youngest campers spent countless hours building fairy houses behind their cabins. We all shared campfires together and watched the smoke rise up into the twilight. And it was around these campfires, as our camp founder, Dammie Day, so eloquently stated, that we “sung with the stars and believed in the wonder and beauty of life.” Through over a century of change in the outside word, the Great Depression, times of war and times of peace, societal and cultural changes, and now a global pandemic, the magic of Merrie-Woode remains in the moments of human connection made in the restoring presence of nature. As we leave the summer of 2021 behind us, we are trying to hold onto these moments we experienced. We know we were witness to something remarkable and special this summer. To our campers, thank you for believing that even if Camp looked and felt a little different, the
essence of Merrie-Woode would remain. The magic doesn’t live in the place; the magic lives in its people. When you return through those gates each summer, this place comes alive once more with music and joy, laughter and love. You are the Spirit of Merrie-Woode. To our camp parents, thank you! Thank you for trusting and supporting us. You are raising extraordinary, intelligent, thoughtful, joyful, brave young women in this challenging world. We feel privileged to be able to share the summer with them. To our alumnae, thank you for sending us every encouraging note, text, and email and every uplifting prayer. We called on every ounce of positive energy you could afford us. We felt your love from afar, and there were days when it kept us going. And to our 2021 Summer Staff, no words of thanks will ever be enough. What you held, what you gave, and what you accomplished together as a team is something very few people will ever fully understand. You will be a chapter in the greater story of Merrie-Woode that will forever be told to exemplify dedication, sacrifice, resilience, and love.
From the Archives: Camping Days During the 1940s Polio Epidemic There are times when moments in history seem to reflect each other. As we planned for and now reflect back on the 2021 summer during the global Coronavirus pandemic, stories from the summer of 1948 seem to resonate in new ways. When our founder, Dammie Day, prepared to open camp for the 1948
season she faced the serious threat of a growing polio epidemic, which spiked to its highest point in North Carolina that year. Polio, a virus which spreads quickly, particularly among children and especially in warmer months, infects the spinal cord and can cause paralysis or even death. The na11
tionwide polio epidemic was rising significantly in the late 1940s, and North Carolina was the epicenter of multiple outbreaks in the summer of 1948. On July 17, 1948, The New York Times reported the highest daily number of cases to date in North Carolina. Merrie-Woode campers had arrived to camp just two weeks
Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2021
Camping Days During the 1940s Polio Epidemic cont.
Dammie Day and and her grandson, Sherwood Lewis, circa 1946 - 1948. CMW Centennial Archives Acc. No. 2019-0006-176.
before, and parents panicked. As case numbers continued to rise in the early days of the camp session, Dammie took every precaution to provide a safe and healthy summer for her Merrie-Woode girls. She wrote weekly updates to her campers’ parents to assure them that camp would continue to be safe. Most of the polio infections were seen in the eastern part of the state, but when a camper at a nearby camp in Brevard, NC became infected, Merrie-Woode went into an immediate voluntary quarantine. Seven campers were withdrawn the following weekend, leaving campers and counselors worried as they watched their friends and cabin mates abruptly leave camp. Dammie reached out to the North Carolina State Board of Health for advice on July 13, 1948. She wrote, “We are meeting panic on the part of some parents from other states, as are all camps in North Carolina…We have had several pediatricians, some of whom
have daughters in our camp, state emphatically that the children are as safe, if not safer in camp than they would be back home in cities. We feel that if we comply with all the suggested precautions which you… may make, we will be giving our children the maximum protection possible.” She listed some of the imposed health and safety measures at Merrie-Woode as: taking no campers for less than the full eight week session, any campers who arrived from infected areas of the country were quarantined and isolated before arriving to camp for 14 days, limiting the ability of counselors to leave camp on their days off, allowing no trips out of camp to public spaces, and allowing no visitors into camp that summer. Sherwood Lewis, Dammie’s grandson, remembers the postman having to drop all mail off at the end of the camp road. Deliveries and supplies were left there
as well, and Sherwood would ride with camp’s groundskeeper, James Pressley, in the camp truck to pick them up while wearing face masks if meeting a delivery driver. We reached out to a few of our alumnae from the summer of 1948 for their memories of life at camp during the polio epidemic. Jeanette Kennedy Hancock recalls Dammie Day consulting with her father, a well-known pediatrician in Birmingham, AL, about how to handle the epidemic. “As a camper, I wasn’t very aware of the pandemic worries of the outside world; but, of course, we were very aware of it in Birmingham.” Dammie continued to consult with Dr. Hughes Kennedy throughout that summer. She wrote in one weekly parent bulletin that he stated Merrie-Woode was, “taking every possible precaution to protect the health of our campers, and he feels that the children are as safe
Dammie Day and a group of campers, circa 1940s. CMW Centennial Archives Acc. No. 2016-0350.
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Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2021
here as they can be anywhere, and certainly more happily and healthily occupied.” Lizora Miller Yonce’s most vivid memory is that there were absolutely “no visitors allowed” at camp, even though her family was staying just down the road at High Hampton in Cashiers, NC. “We were all very fearful.” Harriet Cooper recalled, “There were some communities, such as Savannah, GA, where parents were especially worried, and many of those girls had to stay home or were picked up by their parents early in the summer. They were understandably fearful. The rest of us didn’t have a care in the world, and we just focused on our camp activities such as boating and swimming. Later in life while at St. Mary’s Junior College, I remember being much more fearful when a classmate had to be placed in an Iron Lung. We would visit her and the only way she could see us was by looking at a special mirror over her bed. It was the most awful thing you could imagine.” With an outbreak in Atlanta, Ellen Ansley Hardison recalled how thrilled she and Nancy Carter Bland were to “have” to quarantine for two months at camp. Campers had reason to be glad to be at camp instead of in their home towns. Across the country in cities and towns with outbreaks, playgrounds, youth centers, and public pools were closed. Movie theatres refused admission to children under 16, and churches canceled Sunday school and youth activities. Later that fall schools delayed opening until cooler weather arrived and the virus was less likely to spread. While Dammie was dealing with the polio crisis here at Mer-
Merrie-Woode campers and counselors on the swim docks, circa 1940s. CMW Centennial Archives Acc. No. 2016-0403.
rie-Woode, Camp’s future director, Fritz Orr, Sr., was managing the epidemic at Fritz Orr Camp just north of Atlanta, GA. His daughter, Tinsley Orr Northen, had contracted and survived polio in 1944. “In those days, everyone was terrified of polio,” she recalls. “I remember receiving a spinal tap at Egleston Children’s Hospital in Atlanta to confirm I had it. Our family doctor called my father immediately and instructed him to send all the campers and staff at the Fritz Orr Camp home right away. My little sister and brother [Polly Orr Bates and Fritz Orr, Jr.] quarantined with my grandmother...Several times a day, nurses would put hot, scratchy wool cloths on me and make me lay flat all the time, which was not fun nor something an 8-year-old can do. The disease struck my face but lasted only briefly, thank God. I was extremely fortunate and blessed.” While campers and counselors certainly had much to fear in that summer of 1948, they didn’t let that keep them from making the most of their time at camp. Dammie wrote to the parents that summer, “If you 13
were here to witness it, you would be as proud of the morale in camp as we are. Naturally the departure of those seven campers was a little disturbing… On top of that we had a weekend deluge of 10 inches of rain. Everything in camp was soaked, the lake rose well above the surface of the dock, and for 36 hours it looked as though we’d never see the sun again. But even that couldn’t dampen the spirits of the campers…It’s a wonder you couldn’t hear their singing where you were Sunday. They pulled everything they could dream up…out of the song bag, and the… lung power they put into the renditions was positively overpowering!” Looking back at this past summer of 2021, we feel similarly. Campers and counselors embraced the precautions put in place and kept the Merrie-Woode spirit alive. Dammie’s closing words of a letter to her campers’ parents in 1948 hold particular meaning to us this year. She said, “You can imagine…if you multiply your concern for your own child by 105, for that is the number of children for whom we feel the same immediate concern.” Camp
Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2021
Camping Days During the 1940s Polio Epidemic cont. is a bit bigger now. We multiply that number by over 200, but the sentiment remains the same. The summer of 2021 felt eerily similar to the summer of 1948 as we, like Dammie, looked to keep our
Merrie-Woode girls safe through a global health crisis. The summer of 1948 closed without a case of polio in camp, as this past summer saw no cases of COVID at Merrie-Woode. But both summers will forever be
remembered as moments in our history when camp became a truly isolated community, and by doing so provided its campers with a refuge away from rising infection rates and fears of a society in crisis.
National Search Begins This Fall For Next Executive Director Last month, the Merrie-Woode Foundation Board of Trustees announced the retirement of the Co-Executive Directors of Camp Merrie-Woode, Jim and Denice Dunn, who will retire in September 2022, at the conclusion of the camp season. Given Camp Merrie-Woode’s exceptional standing in the camp community, the Board of Trustees will conduct a national search to attract the best qualified candidates to succeed Jim and Denice. We are confident that Merrie-Woode’s reputation for excellence, as well as its mission, 103-year history, financial stability, and welcoming community will attract a pool of outstanding candidates for the position. Carney, Sandoe & Associates Search Partners As we shared in September, Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A) will assist the Board in identifying the next leader of Camp Merrie-Woode. CS&A brings a deep knowledge of independent schools and nonprofits from over 40 years of experience placing leaders, administrators, and educators. The Board contacted and interviewed several regional and national search firms earlier this year, seeking a firm with the philosophy, process, and enthusiasm that would partner most effectively with us for this critical transition. CS&A is a familiar name
to many and has connections to Merrie-Woode families and alumnae dating back many years. It is an honor to be selected as one of their clients. We are pleased that Devereaux McClatchey and Marsha Little will serve as our CS&A search consultants. Devereaux and Marsha are seasoned search professionals with long careers in search consulting and independent school administration. For the last 20 years, Devereaux has served as the President of Carney, Sandoe & Associates and a senior search consultant. He has worked on leadership searches all over the country and has consulted on a wide range of topics, including long-range strategic planning, governance, and succession planning. Marsha is Director of Professional Learning and Development, Search & Consulting Practices and a search consultant for the firm’s Key Administrator and Head of School Practices. Marsha brings over two decades of independent school administration and college admissions experience to her work in the search. She joined CS&A from The Lovett School (GA), where she served as the School’s Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs. Board of Trustees Leadership Search Committee Our Leadership Search Committee, led by Clair Freeman 14
Marshall and Julie Harrower Diaz, includes current and recent Board members who will work closely with Devereaux and Marsha throughout the process. The Search Committee members represent various facets of our camp community and a variety of Board committee leadership positions. It will be the responsibility of the Leadership Search Committee to screen and evaluate candidates and to make a recommendation to the full Board of Trustees, which will make a final decision on the successful candidate. We hope to announce our next Executive Director during the spring of 2022. We are grateful to those who have agreed to serve as members of the Leadership Search Committee. Their names and short biographies are listed at the end of this article. The Merrie-Woode Community Survey We intend for this process to be as inclusive as possible, and our goal is to offer our entire camp community opportunities to share thoughts and aspirations along the way. In April 2021, Devereaux and Marsha conducted a site visit and facilitated a Visioning session for the Board. They will engage in additional listening sessions this fall and winter. Additionally, we invite all community members to share feedback through this link: https:// www.surveymonkey.com/r/Camp-
Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2021
MerrieWoodeExecDirectorSurvey, which will remain open until close of business day on Thursday, October 28. After the interviews are completed and the survey results have been compiled, the CS&A team will create a position profile to share with potential candidates. While we will endeavor to remain as communicative and transparent as possible, we recognize that we will need to honor requests to work confidentially with candidates to ensure that we are able to recruit and interview the most talented leaders. Additionally, we have been encouraged by our consultants and others to maintain a nimble and fluid approach in this search, given the extremely competitive landscape of leadership recruitment. We look forward to providing updates as appropriate over the coming months. Any inquiries, feedback or nominations can be directed to search@ merriewoode.com. We have benefited tremendously from the shared leadership model of Jim and Denice, and the Board remains open to a variety of leadership models moving forward. We most likely will end up interviewing both singular “Executive Director” candidates, and also couples or co-leader models where more than one person applies as a leadership team. We are deeply grateful to the Search Committee and the entire Merrie-Woode Community for their
ongoing support and enthusiasm as we begin this transition. Leadership Search Committee Members Clair Freeman Marshall, Raleigh, NC Co-Chair, Leadership Search Committee Camper 1985 – 1991, Counselor 1992 – 1993, 1995 1998. Board Member 2017 – current, serving as the Chair of the Board of Trustees. Former Board Member 2007 – 2013, serving as Secretary and Treasurer. Julie Harrower Diaz, Dallas, TX Co-Chair, Leadership Search Committee Camper 1978 – 1980, Counselor 1981 – 1983, Board Member 2017 – current, serving as Chair of Development Committee. Mathilde Villere Currence, New Orleans, LA Camper 1982 – 1986, CIT 1987, Board Member 2016 – current, serving as Chair or Nominating Committee. Mother of Lucy (Camper 2006 – 2016 & Staff 2016 – 2018) and Frances (Camper 2009 – 2019 & Staff 2019 – 2021)
George Pillow, Killen, AL Board Member 2016 – current, serving as Vice Chair and Chair of the Facilities Committee. Former Board Member 2005 – 2010, serving as Treasurer, Chair of Finance Committee. Husband of Rudi Robbins Pillow (Camper 1964 – 1967), Former Board Member 1997 – 2002, serving as Secretary, Place of Rarest Beauty: The Final Piece Capital Campaign Committee 2005 – 2010. Father of Rachel Pillow Mitchener (Camper 1985 – 1988), Rebecca Pillow Hovater (Camper 1987 – 1990 & Staff 2005 – 2007), and Celeste Pillow (Camper 1988 – 1997 & Staff 2000). Grandfather of Martha (Camper 2013 – 2017), Ruthie (Camper 2013 – 2017), Ann Currin (Camper 2020 – present), and Mary Pillow Mitchener (Camper 2020 – present). Carter Coker Simpson, Washington DC Camper 1993 – 2002, Counselor 2003 – 2008. Board Member 2017 – current, serving as Chair of Audit and Risk Management Committee.
Tweed Cline Eckhard, Tampa, FL Camper 1979 – 1983, Board Member 2014 – 2020, Chair of Centennial Events. Mother of Sykes (Camper 2009 – 2016 & Staff 2017 – 2018 ) and Carson (Camper 2009 – 2015 & Staff 2017)
Dan Wilbanks, Atlanta, GA Board Member 2015 – 2020, serving as Treasurer, Chair of the Finance Committee. Father of Sara Sims (Camper 2005 – 2014 & Staff 2015 – 2017) and Harris (Camper 2007 – 2016 & Staff 2017 – 2018).
2021 Board of Trustees
Mallory Dimmitt St. Petersburg, FL
James (Jay) McKnight Nashville, TN
Clair Freeman Marshall, Chair Raleigh, NC
Julie Harrower Diaz Dallas, TX
Elizabeth Dempsey Merritt Raleigh, NC
Holly Pierce Ambler Boone, NC
Jerald (J.R.) Hanks Atlanta, GA
Ruffner Page Mountain Brook, AL
Alan Clark Charlotte, NC
Mary Leland Davenport Hutchison Lookout Mountain, TN
George Pillow Killen, AL
Mathilde Villere Currence New Orleans, LA
Elly Lane New Orleans, LA
Carter Coker Simpson Washington, DC
Jane Curtis Houston, TX
Stephanie Blessey Lilley Washington, DC 15
Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2021
The Joy of Going Back- Annual Fund Update This past summer Merrie-Woode opened her gates once again to welcome back the campers and staff who were unable to return to the Place of Rarest Beauty during the pandemic. For their joyous shouts of laughter, their nights falling asleep to the sound of croaking bullfrogs, their cool swims in the shimmering waters of Lake Fairfield, and for all of their memories made beneath Old Bald, they, and we, owe a debt of gratitude to the many generous supporters who gave extraordinary gifts to Camp during the special Annual Fund Campaign of 2020. As a nonprofit, Merrie-Woode relies upon its gifts from alumnae, parents, grandparents, and friends to the Annual Fund, which is essential to ensure that Merrie-Woode remains an institution of the highest caliber in traditional wilderness camping. Tuition dollars alone only cover a portion of the expenses required to carry out
Merrie-Woode’s outstanding programs each summer. When campers enjoy the outdoor adventures, visual and performing arts, and traditional programs, they are directly benefitting from the additional resources the Annual Fund provides. In addition, the Annual Fund generates resources used for the maintenance of Camp’s historic facilities, the training of its staff, and the upkeep and replacement of programming equipment each year. Flexible in purpose, the Annual Fund dollars are used to fund various high-priority projects and the “campership” tuition-scholarship program. Merrie-Woode is proud to be able to offer the camp experience each summer to several girls through “camperships.” The Annual Fund not only supplements the financial assistance provided to many camp families, but also allows MerrieWoode to work with programs, such as Camplify in Hendersonville, NC,
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to identify potential campership recipients. Through this partnership and others, we are able to grant full tuition camperships to young girls who would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend summer camp. The Merrie-Woode community believes that camp provides a unique experience for youth development, character building, and selfdiscovery, and we are thrilled to be able to offer that experience to Merrie-Woode girls, old and new, each summer. Gifts to the Annual Fund may be made by check mailed to the Camp office or by credit card through the Merrie-Woode website. All gifts are tax deductible within the limits of the Internal Revenue Service Code. Thank you to all of our contributors who are driving us toward a record success for the Annual Fund again this year. The smiles on our campers’ faces each summer are proof of your impact!
Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2021
Consevation Spotlight: Merrie-Wood Introduces Sustainable Wood Processing Merrie-Woode recently launched a new initiative to become more sustainable in its building practices by milling its own lumber! Construction projects around Camp often require a lot of wood, and recent price increases have made lumber an expensive commodity. Merrie-Woode came up with an innovative solution to reuse trees felled on Camp’s property, as well as trees donated by our local tree surgeon, to create our own supply
of sustainable lumber. In addition, wood shavings saved from the operation will be spread in the stalls of the barn. With the addition of some new wood processing equipment, Merrie-Woode’s sawmill is officially in business! Camp will now be selfreliant for nearly all its future lumber needs. The sawmill is housed in the storage sheds next to the covered Riding Arena. All of the equipment has been installed on temporary
platforms, making it easy to move to new locations if future plans should require it. Adding this element to our Facilities program will pay dividends for years to come. Best of all, the trees from Camp’s property will not go to waste but will be transformed into the future buildings that campers and counselors will treasure during many future Merrie-Woode summers.
Step 1: Mill the lumber from logs.
Step 2: Kiln dry the milled lumber.
Step 3: Run lumber through the edger, making two perfectly straight edges on the rough-sawn lumber.
Step 4: Run lumber through the Moulder/Planer to make trim, shiplap wall board, tongue and groove flooring, etc. 17
Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2021
Around Camp This Summer
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Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2021
CMW Mother & Daughter Weekend is Back! Join us for the CMW Mother & Daughter Weekend this spring! Friday, April 29 – Sunday, May 1, 2022 The weekend will feature a wide range of activities geared towards mothers and daughters of all ages, including a hike up Old Bald, fun on the waterfront, Campfire, and Chapel. $675 per Mother/Daughter pair, $125 per additional daughter Fees include all meals, cabin lodging, and activities. This event is designed for Merrie-Woode girls of all camp generations and their moms or daughters. The only requirement is that one person in your party must be a CMW alumna or current camper. Sign up early! Space is limited to 100 people. Register on the CMW website: www.merriewoode.com/camp-programs/off-season-programming/
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Camp Merrie-Woode® 100 Merrie-Woode Rd. Sapphire, NC 28774 828.743.3300
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CMW Executive Director National Search Begins This Fall - Give Us Your Input!
Holiday Gift Ideas from the We intend for this process to be as inclusive as possible, and our goal is to offer our entire camp community opportunities toCMW share thoughts Stock and aspirationsShop along the way. We invite all community members to share feedback through the survey link below or found with this QR code. The survey will remain open until close of business day on Thursday, October 28. All inquiries, feedback or nominations can be directed to search@merriewoode.com. Green Tumbler: $20.00 For more information about the CMW Executive Director search, see page 14 of this newsletter. Drawstring Bag: $25.00 Centennial Ripple: $15.00 Kitchen Tea Towel: $10.00 Playing Cards: $6.50 Dammie’s Prayer Poster: $20.00 Additional Stock Shop items are available. Use this QR code to access the Email annette@merriewoode.com Merrie-Woode Community Survey.
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to order.