From Mackey’s to Pippin, the Merri Mac campers did it all today! We woke up to a slightly chilly, but blue-skied morning. After heading down to Tucker Inn for a breakfast of biscuit sandwiches containing sausage and eggs, the girls headed to chapel where Adam spoke and we sang three lovely songs, including my personal favorite “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks.” From there, girls left to go out on a canoeing trip and a trail running trip. Later in the day girls from The Robin all went on a hike. The Tweedles hiked up to Pippin Hill for a field day which included soccer, giant Jenga, and a visit from the puppies, while Bear Camp ran down to Mackey’s to have some fun on the slip and slide. Scout K. and Isla Mae M. followed up their time on the slip and slide with some soccer. The Upper Camp girls played a fun-filled game of Pirate Ball at the lake. Lily N. and Anna E. joined the group of rafters while Griffin B., London W., and Parish K. cheered from the banks. Of course, Pirate Ball wouldn’t be complete without the kayakers, canoers, and water polo players, so, proudly wearing their Black Bear, Red Wolves, or Golden Eagle jerseys, many girls from Mountain hopped in the lake to support their teams. After this exciting game, campers from Sunnyside, Dreams End, Sundrop, Dreams Begin, Moonmist, and Blue Heaven traveled up to Pippin to have a field day (just like the Tweedles) while campers from Milky Way, Stardust, Comet, Big Dipper, Little Dipper, Lavender’s Blue, and Cloud Nine went to enjoy the slip and slide. Both the Tweedles and the Forest girls, including Ciara S., Betty Lou, and Liza H., were covered in soap after doing the slip and slide.

After a wild morning, the Merri Mac girls ate a delicious lunch of pizza casserole and fruit and then settled down in their cabins for rest hour. In the afternoon, girls were spread all around campus in activities like riflery, PAWS, mountain biking, and kayaking. Sliders were made in cooking today, which looked delicious, and each girl got to choose her own toppings, including pickles, grilled onions, and a range of cheeses! In DIY, these creative Merri-Mac girls painted a range of things with watercolors, including a rendition of a burger and a couple of Black Bear signs. In Gymnastics, Quinn C., Caroline G., Anna M, and Louise C. earned their bronze. In Cheer, Adeline P. and Stella M. worked on their stunts and jumps and in Diving, Cecelia G. earned her silver and Elise C. earned her gold! Girls scaled the Upper Tower and traversed the Boulder in Climbing, worked on their overhand serve in Volleyball, and unswaped canoes in Canoeing. Caroline B. worked on her lacrosse skills and Carys H. suited up to fence. It’s been a packed day here in Black Mountain.

To finish out this beautiful day, we ate a dinner of pork and potatoes with ice cream for dessert and the Upper Camp girls are now headed to play Battleball, another personal favorite, while the Lower Camp girls are already well into a game of Gold Rush! After these activities the girls will head back to their cabins and enjoy post-evenings of s’mores, a dance party, and free swim! Then, it’s to bed at Taps for these campers, so they can be energized for another Merri-Mac day tomorrow. I’m already wondering what will be achieved then (and who will win Evening Activities!).

From this haven,

Adeline Grimmett, Milky Way Counselor

Best,

Adeline Grimmett