Each week Merri-Mac gathers at the teepee. Legends are read, awards are given and handprints are left on standards.  We do this because we think it is important to recognize growth in our campers, and equally important that they recognize it in themselves. It is important because we are made to live life together, to be challenged, grow and succeed. These things are always best learned in families, but we believe they are next best learned at camp. We also believe that the things that happen at camp help girls grow and so we have designed our White Feather program to lay breadcrumbs on the trail for growth at camp.
As part of White Feather girls accumulate “marks” based on activity achievements, elective challenges (solo backpacking trips, two-match fires, running Tomahawk Trail, etc.) and cabin leadership. Each mark takes them a step closer to their next “promotion”  and toward the highest rank of White Feather. With each mark and each promotion girls receive pins and necklaces, which we encourage them to keep on their camp pennant. The result is that through their years they will build a record of their camp accomplishments.
In the end the most important part of Merri-Mac Council comes after the ceremony is over. During cabin time on the evenings that we hold council the staff will go to each camper to describe the gifts and abilities that they have noticed in her.  This is where a girl who may never earn a White Feather Promotion, or a Gold Bar, or be elected to a tribal office, can be told about what we see God doing in her life and her and her contribution to the camp family.
All that is happening right now, as I write this blog, but these following awards happened about an hour ago:
Bars:
County 1
Fencing
      Silver     Allie W.
County 2
Climning
      Silver     Sadie E.
Diving
       Silver     Lucy W.
Fencing
      Silver     Cooper K.
Merri-Mac Move
      Silver     Maisie H., Collman F., Sarah Dial A., Caroline M., Sadie E.
      Gold      Sadie E.
Riflery
      Silver     CoCo N.
      Gold      CoCo N.
Volleyball
      Silver     Lia I., Katie Ann M., Ferrell W., Katherine B., Eliza D., Laura P., Rachael B.
      Gold      Sadie E., Ferrell W.
Counselor Commendations:
County 1
 Cross Patch
   Shealy H., Ella Y.
 Happy Hallow
   Livy J., Campbell H.
 Jiggity Jig
   Caroline C., Tizzy P.
 Jiggity Jog
   Elizabeth S., Caroline J.
 Sun Spot
   Quinn C.
 The Robin
   Millie S., Mckay B.
 Tweedle Dee
   Madeline N., Wendy D.
 Tweedle Doe
   Libby B., Louise B.
 Tweedle Dot
   Mila B., Laura Catherine M.
 Tweedle Dum
   Mary Stewart B., Arrington B.
 Up Yonder
   Caroline B., Sadie C.
County 2
 Big Dipper
   Zelle W., Lucy W.
 Blue Heaven
   Kate C., Annaleigh M.
 Cloud Nine
   Charlotte W., Elizabeth S.
 Comet
   Anne Tyler B., Louise C.
 Dreams Begin
   Taylor M.
 Dreams End
   Lucy B., Lynley T.
 Lavender’s Blue
   Dylan Q., Ann Calvert W.
 Little Dipper
   Nova C.
 Milky Way
   London W., Katie P.
 Moonmist
   Kelsey O., Taylor H.
 Rainbow
   Elizabeth M., Isabell C., Audrey K., Ruari O.
 Stardust
   Violet H., Olivia C., Anna E.
 Sun Drop
   Gianna B.
 Sunnyside
   Tori M., Enley M.
Camper Commendations:
County 1
 Cross Patch
   Louisa K., Olivia M.
 Happy Hallow
   Maye N., Addie Gray O.
 Jiggity Jig
   IslaMae M., Caroline D.
 Jiggity Jog
   Hill C., Anney C.
 Sun Spot
   Harper M.
 The Robin
   Emily C., Cecilia S.
 Tweedle Dee
   Meigs G., Ella B.
 Tweedle Doe
   Libby B., Adeline G.
 Tweedle Dot
   Josie D., Edie G.
 Tweedle Dum
   Carlyn F., Maeve T.
 Up Yonder
   Elizabeth K., Afton C.
County 2
 Big Dipper
   Laine M., Collman F.
 Blue Heaven
   Maisie B., Griffin B.
 Cloud Nine
   Charlotte W., Sarah Harper B.
 Comet
   Anne Tyler B., Sara Catherine E.
 Dreams Begin
   Mary Paige S.
 Dreams End
   Elli S., Eve Quisenberry
 Lavender’s Blue
   Ashlyn H., Hope K.
 Little Dipper
   Sofia B.
 Milky Way
   Stella S., Miller C.
 Moonmist
   Lily H., Maria S.
 Rainbow
   Gennie P., Nina L., Eliza D., Glynes H.
 Stardust
   Sarah Dial A., Stella D., Carys H.
 Sun Drop
   Ruthann S.
 Sunnyside
   Sarah B., Lucy L.
Promotions:
County 1
Tumbleweed
Louise B., Frances B., Ella B., Wendy D., Libby H., Louise M., Eva P., Audrey S., Molly Z., Bailey S., Cricket S., Claire B., Bella B., Quinn C., Betty Lou F., Adelaide K., Madeline N., Catherine P., Poppy S., Harper M., Anna W., Laura Catherine M., Mila B., Parker B., Josie D., Meigs G., Carlisle K., Chollet O., Madeline Q., Maeve T., Helen O., Elisabeth H.
Groundhog
Libby B., Harris G., Eden G., Louise O., Arrington B., Laney G., Frances H., Evie S., Carlyn F., Adeline G., Lucy A. M.
Badger
Mary Stewart B., Evelyn M.
Arrow
Sadie C., IslaMae M., Allie W., Afton V., Ann Caldwell M., Ella Y., Emma F., Cecilia S.
Long Bow
Caroline B.
County 2
Arrow
Katherine B., Kate Caswell C., Caroline F., Carys H., Violet H., Dylan Q., Ann Calvert W., Sydney B., Elise C., Ashlyn H., Amme Carther H., Ann Charlotte J., Adelaide W., Madeline W.
Crazy Creek
Katie P., Stella S.
Running Deer
Sydney C., Catherine E., Libby F., Laura Kate H., Mary Paige S., Lynley T., Lucy B., Sara Catherine E., Finley H., Callie L., Anna S., Charlotte W., Mary Richard E., Collman F., Lily H., Enley M., Kathryn T., Zelle W.
Red Tail
Cooper K., Ruthann S.
Electives:
County 2
Comet
Adeline P., Anna S., Rachael B.
Dreams End
Taylor S., Lynley T.
Rainbow
Mary Clayton S.
Sunnyside
Caroline N.
 
 
 
Growth through friends and adventure!
Adam