Saturday started off on a great note with Sunnyside, Big Dipper, and Cloud 9 coming in
to assist counselors for Staff Appreciation Day. This is a wonderful day for the staff to
feel the love while the older campers get an opportunity to learn what life is like as a
counselor, both in the cabins and in activites. Counselors were there to assist, but
oftentimes didn’t need to as we watched many campers step up and lead in a truly
beautiful and inspiring way. The day continued in this spirit, with Lizzie K., speaking to
‘Who is Jesus’ by recounting a story about her younger self getting lost in a musuem.
She spoke to the nature of Jesus which is similar to that of a mother, the pursuit of us
even when we are lost, and the desire to bring us to God (or in Lizzie’s case, safety).
We also had a busy and fun day full of trips, with Climbing heading out to explore our
local mountains, Rafting heading to the French Broad, and Comet heading out for a fun
cabin trip.

 

CLIMBING Melrose Climbing Area:
Taylor C.

Mallie P.

Blythe H.

Mia B.

Loulie G.

Elise S.

Meme J.

Gracie S.

RAFTING the French Broad Section 9:
Emma T.

Collins W.

Colette W.

Julie W.

Katheryn S.

Annabelle M.

Helena L.

Florence S.

Madison B.

Carolyn S.

Shea M.

CABIN TRIP to Montreat Swimming Hole:
Gray E.

Lucy F.

Tess T.

Emma C.

Katherine O.

Reagan G.

Evie S.

Campbell O.

Edythe L.

Blake B.

Lydia S.

Anne Tillison A.

Gracie S.

Reid D.

Elsie A.

Emmeline M.

 

Back at camp, girls of all ages were working hard on new skills. It was awesome to see
all the Sunnyside, Big Dipper, and Cloud 9 girls jump into teaching, both activities that
they knew well, as seen with Sophie B in Kayaking, or activities that they may never
have been in, as seen in Candance in Backpacking. Both girls, along with all the others,
worked extremely hard and learnt a lot, a common theme here at Camp Merri-Mac.
Today was also an opportunity for growth in the dining hall, with our interim ‘staff’ (older
campers) learning the art of self-sacrifice through serving the younger girls and our
actual staff enjoying fun times leading tribal chants. Lunch also brought an exciting
announcement – tonight was Christmas Eve, meaning tomorrow was Christmas!! After

dinner, our campers got to experience the wonderful voices of their counselors through
some fun caroling, and got their cabins all decorated for a merry Christmas to come.
With many fun activites, trips, and bonding time ahead, our campers went off to bed,
ready to dream about the incoming cheer that Christmas brings!

Signing off,
Rachel E, Backpacking staff, Cross Partch counselor, and proud Red Wolf!