Camp Merrie-Woode 2019 Fall Newsletter

CAMP

MERRIE-WOODE     Situated, Celebrated on Fairfield Lake

Fall 2019

New CMW Videos Launching This Winter We are thrilled to launch a series of new camp videos this winter! These videos will begin appearing before the end of the year across our website, on all of Merrie-Woode’s social media platforms, and at upcoming camper shows. Real Digital Productions, a film company based in Brevard, NC, sent a film crew to MerrieWoode for a week during the 2019 Main Session. Real Digital Productions is run by Heath Cowart and Melinda Hendershott. Melinda spent one summer in 1994 working at Merrie-Woode on the mountaineering trip staff. She was thrilled to be back under Old Bald this past summer helping to tell Merrie-Woode’s current story! While on property this summer, they filmed hours and hours of footage capturing all of camp’s activity programming, as well as footage of camp life and culture. They interviewed 39 people about the Merrie-Woode experience including campers, counselors, and senior staff members. They even got the camera crew onto a Chattooga River trip to focus on our excellent whitewater paddling program. We can’t wait to see the footage of campers running Bull Sluice! The film crew was also able to get some truly amazing footage of our campers climbing the face of Old Bald. You will

Filming camper interviews

be blown away when you see the epic camera shots taken both from the rock and from drone cameras able to fly above the climbers. The production team is now combing through endless hours of camp footage to edit together videos focusing on all camp activities, Merrie-Woode’s mission and purpose, the camper experience, and the staff experience. Heath and Melinda have both proclaimed what a wonderful filming shoot they had at Merrie-Woode this summer. “It was great to be back at MerrieWoode,” exclaimed Melinda. “I somehow forgot how gorgeous camp is! We are so impressed with everyone we’ve met! Thanks for making us feel at Continued on page 14

Inside...

Filming at a Sunday Chapel service

Wit’s End....................................Page 2 Staff News..................................Page 2 Alumnae News...........................Page 5 ACA Accreditation...................Page 14 Alumnae Weekend...................Page 15 Alumnae Paddling Clinic.........Page 18

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

At Wit’s End... We hope this newsletter finds you doing well and that you are enjoying the beautiful fall foliage and cooler temperatures. It has been a busy start to fall thus far. We just finished the 2020 camper enrollment process, and camp is full for the 102nd summer. Along with camper registration, the senior staff has been concentrating on several events in camp like the Alumnae Paddling Clinic, local elementary school and college events, and the film screening of Lillian Smith: Breaking the Silence. We are very excited to offer our first Alumnae Weekend in May 2020, and we have already begun the planning! While preparing for the Centennial Celebration, many alumnae requested that we host a weekend where our alumnae could come back to camp, stay in cabins, and relive their camper days. We look forward to offering this special weekend every other year, alternating with our successful Mother Daughter Weekend in the spring. Please look for more information in this newsletter and online. It’s hard to believe our 101st CMW summer has come and gone. There were many highlights around camp this past summer. The campers and staff enjoyed the new campout location called Pony Lodge, the Boat Meet, and the Main session play, 1776. The new addition to the Riding program, Big John, a Draft horse who came with his own six person wagon, was the star of the 4th of July morning ride, and he was an instant sensation with the girls. Let’s not forget the introduction of fairy hair!

This was also an ACA (American Camp Association) accreditation summer, and the visitors were impressed by our talented staff, campers, programming, and facilities. We also hosted professional videographers during the Main session to assist us in creating new camper, staff, and activity videos. Overall, the campers, counselors, and senior staff enjoyed a healthy and safe summer. We look forward to our off-season projects and travels. We hope everyone has a happy holiday season, and we hope to see many of you while we are on the road this winter and early spring. Chug a Wump!

August Session campers take a ride on Big John’s cart!

Staff News We love hearing from summer staff during the offseason because it keeps our Merrie-Woode community well connected. Since the end of the 2019 summer, we have heard that Madison Beaver is busy

working for the Great Smoky Mountains Association in their Visitors Center, while enjoying quality family time in Bryson City, NC. After graduating from the University of Alabama in May, Liz Calvin started her 2

teaching career with Teach For America this fall. She is teaching middle school Math at a school in Birmingham and loving it. It is hard work, but we know Liz is making such a positive difference in the lives of her students. We

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

are so proud of you, Liz! We are overjoyed to report that Doug Cameron is making a full recovery from a recent cardiac surgery and will be speaking at the opening of the Southern Appalachian Paddlesports Museum. In a recent email, Jewel Ann Cameron told us all about her busy sophomore year at Oberlin College. She is directing this semester’s student dance showcase, which is the only non-department affiliated dance show on campus. The studentrun show offers a place for student dance groups to present their work, as well as a space to present work not traditionally supported by the department, such as urban dance or tap. Jewel Ann is also presenting her original choreography in the Dance Department’s show this fall. She auditioned in front of the entire dance faculty recently and will be presenting an original duet entitled “Sand.” If that’s not enough, Jewel Ann is teaching Introduction to Jazz Dance through Oberlin’s Experimental College, which allows students to design and teach their own college courses. Jewel Ann chose to teach Jazz because it is a style the dance department does not offer, and she saw it as a gap in the curriculum. She has six students who are all taking the class for credit, and Jewel Ann earns credit for teaching the class. In all of her spare time, Jewel Ann is performing in a play, Equilibrium, written by an Oberlin student this December. Long time staff member Elizabeth Davis wrapped

2019 Staff members Christian Ricci, Sarah T Davis, and Virginia Rush at Wake Forest’s Homecoming

up her work in the Education Department at UVA and recently started graduate school at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Elizabeth reports that she is enjoying graduate school and living in Madison so far. Though busy with wedding planning, Sarah T Davis spent homecoming weekend at her alma mater, Wake Forest University, where she caught up with Christian Ricci and Virginia Rush. Christian served as the lighting designer for How I Learned to Drive in Wake Forest University’s mainstage theatre season. We were so lucky to have Alex Ervin back at camp once again this year after her spring graduation from William & Mary. Alex plans to spend the duration of 2019 in DC working for a local bakery before starting pastry school in the spring. Corinne Foster moved directly after camp to Raleigh for graduate school at NC State to study public history, while she also serves as a TA for the history department. In one of Corinne’s courses she will design and install her own exhibit, and in another course she is creating short video biographies about people in NC State’s history. Corinne says that 3

working at camp has definitely helped her prepare for the work and responsibility of graduate school. Corinne lives with former Merrie-Woode staff member Abby Kuchar, and they see Nat Conti regularly. Abby and Nat work together for Theatre in the Park, where they opened their fall show Dracula in October. Corinne and Lindsay Hostetler took a road trip to Washington DC in October to catch up with some Merrie-Woode girls there. On their trip they saw Carter Rice, Alex Ervin, and Anna Hamilton. They also found Christian Ricci in the city who happened to be in town for his fall break! After a busy summer as the sole JC leader, Courtney Foster is settling into her senior year at the University of South Carolina. She reports that she is already getting her plans in order to stick around Columbia for graduate school next year, and she is keeping busy working at a local climbing gym. Courtney, Betsy, and Lindsay had breakfast with former staff member Caroline Robinson in October. Although we missed having Caroline at camp this summer, she was working and building her portfolio before her impending move to New York City this winter. Lea Gilbert reached out to share with us that she had a wonderful time on her trip to Scotland in August and is settled back into life at UNC-Asheville for her senior year. Lea was recently selected to direct the UNC-A mainstage production of She Kills Monsters. Denice, Jim, Betsy, and Lindsay

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

Staff News cont. went to Asheville to see the show on opening night! Back at Bates College for her sophomore year, Darby Glenn is keeping busy with classes, the rowing team, and part-time work at a women’s center that serves women who were recently incarcerated or were victims of human trafficking. We heard that Gaby Gomez and Claudia Behringer-Smith see each other regularly at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Gaby says school is going well, and she is enjoying working at the high elements challenge course at UCF. In mid-September, three Merrie-Woode girls joined the Order of the Gown at Sewanee University. Sarah Hughes, Waverly Wadsworth, and Sykes Eckhard (who is studying abroad this semester) joined the prestigious order, and Doug Cameron had the honor of gowning Waverly himself. Just before her final semester at Clemson University, Rachel Hume recently had a chance to spend a few days with friends hiking, climbing, and camping in Utah. She had a fantastic trip and now is thinking through what she will do in the spring after her December graduation. We’re crossing our fingers that her future plans include one more summer at Merrie-Woode! We heard from Eden Price, who was able to join us for June Session but then returned to Dartmouth to take classes for the rest of the summer. She says she was grateful for her

Claudia Behringer-Smith, Gaby Gomez, and some school friends at Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios.

brief time at camp this summer because it put her in a good headspace before entering summer school. Eden is busy this semester with an internship in DC, where she works for a consulting firm that partners with non-profit organizations about their fundraising needs. Eden says she gets to catch up with many Merrie-Woode girls who live and work in the area, which makes her semester even better! Eden has been spending a lot of time with Anna November, who recently started her sophomore year at Georgetown University. Anna says she loves her classes this semester and is stage managing Firebringer at Georgetown. Cole Reifsnider says she is happy in her new job in outside sales for ADP selling payroll and recently completed yoga teacher training. Cole’s favorite news is that she is living with long-time camp friend Mary Virginia Adams, who is working as a teacher in the DC area. Speaking of Washington DC, Carter Rice moved into a new apartment there after a busy summer at camp. Carter 4

started her new job as the Executive Assistant and Board Liaison for the Round House Theatre. There are so many Merrie-Woode girls in DC these days! Recently Sallie Simpson visited Caroline Davidson in Fort Worth, TX to attend a SMU versus TCU football game. It was a fun weekend catching up with Caroline and watching SMU win “The Battle of the Iron Skillet.” After a wonderful summer as Would-Be leader, Mary Stephen Straske is having great adventures studying abroad in France. Have fun and stay in touch, Mary Stephen! We were happy to hear that Jane Wilde is loving school at George Washington University in DC. She is taking some interesting courses and was recently cast in the University’s production of Stop Kiss. Thank you to all of our CMW staff members who keep us updated on their many exciting adventures outside of camp!

Anna Hamilton, Corinne Foster, Lindsay Garner Hostetler, and Alex Ervin enjoy a walk around the National Mall on a recent visit in Washington DC.

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

Alumnae News Our alumnae have been busy this year, and we are so proud to hear of the contributions that they are making and their many accomplishments! Thank you for keeping us up to date on all of the exciting news. Julia Edwards Ainsley (9607), together with her colleague, Jacob Soboroff, were honored with the 2019 Hillman Prize in broadcast journalism for reporting on White House policies that led to children being separated from their parents at the southern border. The Hillman Prize honors investigative

Julia Edwards Ainsley (96-07) reporting for NBC news on the crisis of children separated from their families at the southern border.

journalism and commentary in service of the common good, and its winners exemplify reportorial excellence, storytelling skill, and social justice impact. Julia is an NBC News investigative reporter based in Washington, D.C. covering the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security. She appears across all NBC News and MSNBC programs, and her exclusive reporting is featured regularly on-air and on NBCNews.com. Congratulations Julia! Caroline Reeves Anderson (99-11) and her husband, Parker, recently relocated to Cashiers, NC. We’re

excited to have them so close to CMW! Caroline will work remotely for her same company, while Parker has started a new position with Silver Creek Real Estate Group. After getting settled into their new home, Caroline and Parker joined her parents, Fran and Mike Reeves, and Debe and Jed Lykes, for a talk on Merrie-Woode’s history, given by our own Lindsay Garner Hostetler (92-present) at Cedar Creek Club on October 9, 2019. It was wonderful to have Mike Reeves and Jed Lykes, two of our former CMW Trustees, attend the presentation. Stephanie Pate Burgart (00-06) and her family just moved back to Charleston, SC, this year from Seattle, WA, where they were living for 9 years. Stephanie is looking forward to her 3 year old daughter Amalia becoming a camper in the next few years! Nina Sledge Burke (57-61) is thrilled that her granddaughter, Katherine Burke, who is also the niece of Merrie-Woode alumna, Eleanor H. Burke (77-81), attended Camp as a

Jennifer Harrell Hopgood (94-08), Denice Dunn (99-present), Liz Ausley Gablehouse (55-59), and Caroline Gablehouse Berryman (86-87) at Camp this summer.

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Camper McRae Busey, daughter of Jennie Trimble Busey (88-99), showed her classmates her Merrie-Woode climbing skills during a class trip to Kanuga this spring.

Main Session camper this past summer. Jennie Trimble Busey (88-99) and her daughter, current camper McRae Busey, enjoyed a 6th grade trip to Kanuga in Hendersonville, NC with St. Mark’s School this past spring. McRae practiced her rock climbing skills, while Jennie served as science teacher and 6th grade home room parent. Ginny Jones Charest (74-78) is thrilled to report that her oldest son Ryan is going to the University of Alabama Birmingham to pursue a BFA in musical theater. Madeline Edwards (0512) is working as a freelance journalist between Jordan and Lebanon, and has spent the past year traveling to Berlin, Poland and the Golan Heights. Mary Nobles Hancock (0214) graduated from Washington and Lee University School of Law this spring! She just started as a corporate and securities associate at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP in Birmingham,

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

Alumnae News cont.

JoJo Verner, Betsy Hamilton Verner (7690), Bunny Johns (58-64), Caroline Chase, and Meredith Weeks Chase (87-97) at the 2019 NOC Guest Appreciation Festival.

AL. Congratulations on your hard work, Mary Nobles! We wish you great success in your new career. Laura Vawter Hobby (82-95) has been chosen as the Teacher of the Year at Mitchell Elementary School in Tampa, FL. Congratulations, Laura! Emily Manlove (0416) came by Camp for a visit in March. She graduated from FSU in December and is applying to nursing school. Mark and Kara Leigh Pulley McPoland (0115) moved to Worcester, MA in July and are still settling in the area. They recently spent some time with CMW alumna, Liza Scardato Cunningham (9803), who lives nearby! Jessica

Jessica Harkness Nehrbass (96-08) (far right) with daughters Belen and Annelise (center), their cousins, and Doris Kroiss (05-08) during a visit to Camp in August.

Harkness Nehrbass (96-08) brought her daughters Belen (4) and Annelise (2), as well as her cousins, up from New Orleans to meet old fellow riding counselor Doris Kroiss (05-08) and see Camp for the first time in August. They ran into the Brantleys and tore around the waterfront. The girls were smitten and can’t wait to return as campers! Rains Paden (90-98) and sister Claudia Paden (95-06) came by Camp for a visit in June. We recently heard that Rains’ husband won an Emmy for his sound work on Game of Thrones!

Rains Paden (90-96), Claudia Paden (9506), and their daughters during a visit to Camp in June.

Emily Rich (00-14) reports that she continues to teach at School of the Art Institute of Chicago, focusing her syllabus on accountability for her freshman art students this year. She and her partner, Sarah, visited camp in the spring and again in August! Rachel Rich (04-17) graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Rollins College in May 2019. In addition to earning the Scholastic Award from Sigma Alpha Iota, a music business fraternity, for 6

Emily Rich (00-14) and her partner, Sarah, on top of Old Bald during a visit to Camp this fall.

being the graduating senior with the highest GPA, she received the Community Service Award and the Outstanding Achievement in Choral Music Award from the Department of Music at Rollins. As a further honor, Rachel was invited to sing the Alma Mater at the Commencement ceremony. After graduation, Rachel started an internship at a recording studio called Phat Planet where she is performing audio engineering, sound mixing, and artist relations. Congratulations, Rachel for all of your hard work! Virginia Neal Almand (54-59) reports that alumna

Emily Rich (00-14), Rachel Rich (04-17), and Adrienne Rich (00-15) at Rachel’s graduation from Rollins College in May 2019.

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

Lindsay Garner Hostetler (93-present) was thrilled to catch up with Liv Rooth (90-00) after her performance in Broadway’s To Kill a Mockingbird.

Maury Flowers Shields (5557) celebrated the outstanding victory of her horse, Country House, at this year’s Kentucky Derby. Congratulations Maury and Country House! Eve Smith, former Camp rep in Raleigh and mother of Evie Smith Davis (74-80) and Cameron Smith Callaway (70-74), shared with us that she recently had the pleasure of meeting CMW alumna Anna Duff (66-68), who is currently national president of The National Society of Colonial Dames of America, a historical preservation group. What a small world! Former staff member, Ellie Lee Tate (10-12) and her

husband Jack have acquired an artisan candle company named Elder & Co. Their hand-poured candles made in Charleston, SC are infused with natural fragrances that evoke time spent in the great outdoors. Check out Elder & Co. at elderandco.co for a selection of candles named after state parks and trails, as well as seasonal favorites like Harvest Moon and Campfire Spirit. The Tates donate 1% of all sales to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Betsy Hamilton Verner (76-90), Meredith Weeks Chase (87-97), and their girls, current campers JoJo Verner and Caroline Chase,

Alumna Maury Flowers Shields (55-57) accepts the trophy at the 2019 Kentucky Derby for the win of her horse, Country House.

Current Camper JoJo Verner and mother, Betsy Hamilton Verner (76-90), after kayaking the Tuck Gorge together this fall.

had a great time one September weekend this fall bunking at Merlin’s and tromping around western NC, including a quick stop by the NOC for the Guest Appreciation Festival. Whom should they bump into but former Merrie-Woode staff and former Board member, the esteemed Bunny Johns (5864)! Dorothy Moss Williams (83-90) visited fellow CMW Trustee Julie Harrower Diaz (78-83) in Dallas, TX to discuss the Smithsonian Women’s History Initiative. They enjoyed having the chance to intersect in their professional lives! Thank you alumnae for sharing your adventures with us!

CMW Weddings and Engagements Athena Blair (05-13) married Ryan MacLain on July 6th in Cashiers, NC with lots of Merrie-Woode alumnae attendance! Susannah Marttila (11-14) was a member of the bridal party, along with Mother of the Bride Jean Stephenson Blair (71-84). Aunt Kate Stephenson (80-84), cousin Ragan Todd Ogg (00-08), and friends Peyton Maddox (06-15), Doug Cameron (79-present), and Jill Crawford (78-83)

Ryan and Athena Blair MacLain (05-13)

also attended the celebration! Surrounded by friends and family on the summit of Montalto in Charlottesville, VA, Lindsay 7

Crittenden (00-10) and Charlie Leonard were married on August 24, 2019. Celebrating with the happy couple were Mother of the Bride Melanie Halsey Crittenden (72-80) and Grandmother of the Bride Lindsay Graham Halsey (45-46). Serving as Maids of Honor were the bride’s sisters, Alexis Crittenden (03-13) and Melanie Crittenden (06-14), while Halsey Perrin (99-07) and Elizabeth Bean (00-10)

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

CMW Weddings and Engagements cont.

Charlie and Lindsay Crittenden Leonard (00-10) married on Montalto

were bridesmaids. Many MerrieWoode family and friends also gathered for the joyous occasion, including Liza Halsey Perrin (70-71), Kate Halsey Edris (71-73), Parker Chambers (00-10), Liz Counce Irwin (72-79), Adele Irwin (02-15), Caroline Perrin (01-11), and Catty Perrin (03-11). Eliza Coker (98-09) became engaged to Jack Sheldon, Jr. over Labor Day weekend in Bluffton, SC. The whole Coker family was on hand to celebrate with them. They are planning a spring wedding in Savannah, GA. All our best Merrie-Woode wishes to Sarah T. Davis (01-19) and fiancé Alex Priore (13), who became engaged on April 14, 2019, during the Masters in Augusta, GA. They are planning a wedding at Camp in September 2020. Elisabeth Foster (01-11) married in

Eliza Coker (98-09) and fiancé Jack Sheldon

June. Ashley Helmick (97-12) recently became engaged to John Howard, also from Jacksonville! They are planning a wedding for Labor Day weekend 2020 in Cashiers, NC! In April 2019, Kelli Hewitt (07-14) and Libby Pattison (12-14) were married in Zionville, IN. Many CMW friends gathered to celebrate Dorothy McGrew Brown (00-12) and husband, Scott Thomas Brown

Sarah T. Davis (01-19) and Alex Priore (13) on their engagement day

with them, including Kailey Sitzberger (15), Hannah Moon (97-08), Sarah Ellison (04-16), Josh Helms (08-11), Lucy Wood (08-18), Joni Wavra Benitez (12-present), Betsy Reese Helms (89-present), Gary

CMW friends gather for the wedding of Kelli Hewitt (07-14) and Libby Pattison (12-14) in April 2019. From left, Kailey Sitzberger (15), Hannah Moon (97-08), Sarah Ellison (04-16), Josh Helms (08-11), Lucy Wood (08-18), Libby, Kelli, Joni Wavra Benitez (12-present), Betsy Reese Helms (89-present), Gary Hostetler (06-present), Lindsay Garner Hostetler (93-present), Debi Stewart (96-present), Denice Dunn (99-present), Jim Dunn (02-present).

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Hostetler (06-present), Lindsay Garner Hostetler (93-present), Debi Stewart (96-present), Denice Dunn (99-present), Jim Dunn (02-present). Congratulations to the Hewittsons! Cameron Jeutter (02-07) is getting married! Ashley Hayes McCulloh (8597) married Mark Chapman on June 1, 2019. Congratulations to the happy couple! Dorothy McGrew (00-12), known to her CMW friends as “Taylor,” married Scott Thomas Brown in March 2019. Camp friend and alumna Elizabeth Etherton (9412) served as a bridesmaid, while Kara Leigh Pulley McPolland (01-15) and Ingrid Weatherby (96-present) also attended the festivities! Congratulations and best wishes to the new Mr. and Mrs. Brown! Ashley Mitchell (01-07) and Matt Salmon were married on June 8, 2019 at The Farm at Old Edwards in Highlands, NC. Ashley and Matt met in 2015 while Matt was at Tuck Business School and Ashley was visiting friends at her alma mater, Dartmouth

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

Matt and Ashley Mitchell Salmon (01-07) on their wedding day

College. One of Ashley’s best friends from Camp MerrieWoode and her former roommate in Boston, Sarah Munford (01-05), attended the wedding! Ashley and Matt now reside in Boston, MA! Laney Pait (0204) married Lee Redfearn on October 20, 2018 in Atlanta, GA. The couple now resides in San Francisco, CA. Kara Leigh Pulley (01-15) and Mark McPoland were married on April 27, 2019 at Daniel Chapel at Furman University in Greenville, SC. Josh Helms (08-11) officiated their beautiful ceremony! Kara Leigh shared that it was so special to have

Josh and Betsy Reese Helms (89-present) be a part of their day. Denice Dunn (99-present), Jim Dunn (02-present), Taylor McGrew Brown (00-12), and Bridget Oliver Woods (14-15) were also there to celebrate with them. Congratulations to you both! Best wishes to Carter Reifsnider (02-15) and Patrick Toohers, who just became engaged in September! They met in college at James Madison University and are planning a wedding in September 2020 in Richmond, VA. Elly Straske (03-15) became engaged to Adam Bacigalupo on March 23,

Mark and Kara Leigh Pulley McPoland (01-15)

Carter Reifsnider (02-15) and fiancé Patrick Toohers

2019! They are planning a spring wedding at Merrie-Woode on May 2, 2020. Claire Woodall (98-15) married Sam Bellman on May 5, 2019! Claire’s brother, former staff member Dan Woodall (13-16) and Natalie Green became engaged in May 2019. They are planning a fall wedding at Camp on October 10, 2020. We are so happy for all of our Merrie-Woode alumnae on these special events in their lives!

CMW Births We’re guessing that a lot of Merrie-Woode songs are being sung as lullabies to all of the new babies who have arrived this year, and many more little ones will soon learn the words to “Chug-a-wump,” “Brown Eyes,” and “Taps.” Julia Edwards Ainsley (96-07) and her husband, Newman, are expecting a daughter in January 2020! Jacob Fuller and Alexandra Bach (95-03) welcomed their first child, Billie Babette Bach, on November 21, 2018. They are

Susannah Reeves Campanelli, daughter of Sallie Reeves Campanelli (92-06)

thrilled to have a future MerrieWoode girl join the family! Chris and Sallie Reeves Campanelli 9

(92-06) were thrilled to meet their daughter, Susannah Reeves Campanelli, on September 14, 2019. Bea loves her new baby sister! Jimmy and Calene Wertymer Chambers (00-15) are thrilled to announce the birth of their son, Ethan Walker Chambers, on July 23rd. Big sister, Evelyn Harper, adores her new baby brother! Caroline Landry Doyle (93-98) and her husband, Justin, proudly welcome their daughter, Isabel Dylan Doyle, born May 25, 2019.

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

CMW Births cont.

Ethan Walker Chambers, son of Calene Wertymer Chambers (00-15)

Isabel Dylan Doyle, daughter of Caroline Landry Doyle (93-98)

Leila Kathryn Frayser, daughter of Pete and Susanne Inman Frayser (93-99), was born April 23, 2019, joining her big brothers Jackson (4) and Teddy (2). Watson Woodward Harris (99-10) is expecting a baby girl at any moment! We can’t wait to hear about the arrival of this future Merrie-Woode girl. Matt and Carrie Coker Kuykendall (96-15) welcomed their first child, Charles Westfield Kuykendall, on October 3, 2019. Charlie weighed 8 lbs, 9 oz, and his parents adore him

Leila Kathryn Frayser, daughter of Susanne Inman Frayser (93-99)

Charles “Charlie” Westfield Kuykendall, son of Carrie Coker Kuykendall (96-15)

already! Congratulations Carrie and Matt! Liz Landry (89-01) and John Eiser are over the moon about their first daughter, Eleanor Elizabeth Eiser, born June 13, 2019, weighing 8 lbs, 3 oz and measuring 20 1/4 in. Congratulations on your future Merrie-Woode girl! Thomas and Kate Carey Light (97-05) are expecting a baby girl in October 2019! Baby Light can trace her legacy back to CMW already, as her parents were set up through Camp friends Carrie Coker, Elizabeth Harrison, and Libby Page, over ten years ago. CMW is so special to both Kate and Thomas, and they are eagerly awaiting the day when their daughter becomes a MerrieWoode girl. Justin and Perry Ellis Lopez (98-10) welcomed their first child, Thomas Stanley

Eleanor Elizabeth Eiser, daughter of Liz Landry (89-01)

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Thomas Stanley Lopez, son of Perry Ellis Lopez (98-10)

Lopez, on April 18, 2019. He weighed 8 lbs and measured 19 inches long. Perry reports that he already adores being outdoors, and they are looking forward to lots of camping trips with him! Congratulations Perry and Justin on your handsome baby boy! Adam and Jessica Werner Moskowitz (94-03) are expecting another Merrie-Woode girl in early March 2020! The whole family is thrilled, and the girls are excited to teach her all about camp, starting with campfire song lullabies! Michael is happy he remains prince of the household but looks forward to introducing his cousin to Camp Carolina. This new little boy, expected to arrive in November 2019, will be the first son of Stephen and

Siena Pilgreen and brother Wyatt, children of Natalie Williams Pilgreen (92-06)

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

Elizabeth Wesley Schulz, daughter of Meredith Ashcraft Schulz (94-99)

Amanda Werner Jessup (9804). Ellis and Natalie Williams Pilgreen (92-06) welcomed their daughter Siena on September 20, 2019. She joins big brother Wyatt, who is thrilled to have a baby sister. Laura Wyllie Ratliff (95-05) is expecting a baby boy in November 2019!

We just heard the exciting news that Sara Huffman Schmidt (95-12) is expecting a baby boy at the end of February 2020! Jonathan and Meredith Ashcraft Schulz (94-99) welcomed their third child, daughter Elizabeth Wesley Schulz, on January 21, 2019. Older siblings, Eleanor and Charlie, are already in love with their baby sister. Robert and Logan Carpenter Senior (92-06) are expecting their fourth child (and first girl!) in November 2019! We can’t wait to meet this future MerrieWoode girl! More exciting baby news from the Coker family! Alex and Carter Coker Simpson (93-08) are expecting another Merrie-Woode girl in

Louis Kronn Veazey, son of Foster and Meredith Kronn Veazey (98-11)

October 2019. We can’t wait for her to wear green and grey with her big sister, Rosalie. Foster and Meredith Kronn Veazey (98-11) are thrilled to be parents of a son, Louis Kronn Veazey, born October 11, 2018. Congratulations, Meredith and Foster on your happy, smiling boy!

In Memoriam Horace Holden, Sr. minister. Horace Holden is In 1961, Horace like a bright thread that is founded Camp Chattahoochee woven through the fabric of on the Chattahoochee River Merrie-Woode’s history. where the Chattahoochee Horace was born Nature Center now stands. in Atlanta in 1933. As a The camp allowed Horace to boy, he attended the Fritz share his love of the outdoors Orr Camp, where he likely and sports with generations first met Fritz Orr, Sr. of children for the next 30 and Hugh Caldwell, and years. Along the way, he where he learned to paddle co-founded the Georgia canoes. During his tenure Horace Holden (second from left) with Hugh Caldwell and Canoeing Association in Merrie-Woode campers scouting a river. as a college student at Emory, 1968. The next year, he served Horace took Hugh’s place on as prime organizer of the trophy for best all-around athlete the waterfront and as head of Southeastern U.S. Canoe and because of his prowess on the trips during the summer of 1953, Kayak Championship, which has swimming and track and field while Hugh went back to finish become an annual event and will teams. Horace later attended his PhD. celebrate its 50th running this seminary at New College at the Horace graduated October. University of Edinburgh and from Emory with a degree in In addition to his time on Union Presbyterian Seminary philosophy, which was also Camp staff in the 1950s, Horace and was an ordained Presbyterian Hugh’s field. At Emory he won a 11

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

In Memoriam cont. is well-known to MerrieWoode girls as one of the co-founders of the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). In 1972, along with Payson and Aurelia Kennedy (a former CMW staff member and the first woman to run Nantahala Falls), he bought the old Tote ‘N Tarry restaurant, motel, and convenience store to establish the NOC, the first southeastern whitewater outfitter. Each of his four sons became whitewater raft guides and three became canoe and kayak instructors. One son, Horace Jr., competed in C-2 in the 1996 Summer Olympics. Later in life, Horace often stopped by the Lost Mine Campground on Silvermine Road, above the Nantahala Outdoor Center, where the Would-Bes would camp and flip pancakes before paddling the river. Horace would regularly join the Merrie-Woode crew for coffee and pancakes. His last visit to camp was for the 95th Celebration. Horace died in March 2019 at the age of 85. Horace is survived by his three sons, Howard Preston Holden, Horace Pope Holden, Jr., and William Aiken Holden, as well as his siblings, Frank A. Holden, Jr. and Betty Holden Ford, and seven grandchildren. Horace’s oldest son, Charles L. N. Holden, passed away shortly after his father in July 2019. Immediately before publication of this article, Merrie-Woode learned that

Ruth Kalmar Lewis (73-74) with friend and fellow camp mom, Kari Englehardt, mother of Lucie Englehardt (13-present).

Aurelia Kennedy, a dear friend of Horace Holden and co-founder of the Nantahala Outdoor Center, also passed away. Please look for a tribute to Aurelia in the upcoming Spring CMW newsletter. Ruth Caroline Kalmar Lewis Like so many other Merrie-Woode girls, Ruth Caroline Kalmar Lewis (73-74) of Charlotte was a talented, spirited, multi-faceted person, with expertise and passions across a wide range of disciplines, including farming and architecture. Ruth died in May 2019 following a very courageous battle with cancer leaving Alan, her husband of 26 years, and Merrie-Woode alumnae daughters Sara Reid Lewis (08-17) and Caroline Lewis (05-14). Ruth’s sister, alumna Laura Kalmar (72-75) shared this story from their 1970s Merrie-Woode days: “Ruth was competing in the Merrie-Woode Horse Show. There were a lot of girls who had brought their own 12

ponies to camp that summer and were more experienced riders. But Ruth happened to be assigned to a camp horse that really “knew” the jumping course. Halfway through her exercise, Ruth’s oversized riding hat slipped down over her eyes and she couldn’t see a thing. Thankfully, the horse knew the way. Ruth just held on for dear life and ended up winning a big blue ribbon!” Sara Reid remembers that her mom was particularly enthusiastic about horseback riding, riflery, and activities along the waterfront. “Mom told us lots of stories about sliding down Toxaway Falls on Sunday afternoons. She loved Spann’s famous Merrie-Woode French Toast, and that recipe has been circulating around our friends and family for years.” Caroline recalls that “Mom loved Camp MerrieWoode’s songs and traditions, and she passed on her excitement to Sara Reid and me as well as our Charlotte friends, Lucie Englehardt and Caroline, Grace, and Ellie Beuley. Each year on opening day, she gathered her group of moms and daughters to wake up early and wait at the Merrie-Woode gates. She took pride in helping us set up our cabins to feel like home. She always left letters in our mailboxes as she was leaving so that we would never go a day without mail.” Family friend and fellow Merrie-Woode mom,

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

Beth Beuley, remembers that “Ruth was always proud of Camp Merrie-Woode traditions that had endured the test of time. She loved that our girls were practicing so many of the same traditions that she and Laura practiced years and years ago. However, much to Ruth’s chagrin, there was one “tradition” that had not withstood the test of time. When Ruth was a camper and she sent her middies, ties, and sheets to the laundry, they would be returned not only washed but also, and perhaps more importantly, STARCHED AND IRONED!!” According to her beautiful obituary, Ruth’s true passion was people, and it was through a “generosity of spirit that Ruth demonstrated loyalty and unconditional love and expanded the definition of family…to know Ruth was to love Ruth.” Frank Troutman, Jr. It is not an exaggeration to say that Merrie-Woode would not be here today without a cadre of loyal camper families during the first few challenging years of the Merrie-Woode Foundation beginning in 1978. One volunteer who stepped forward was Frank Troutman, Jr., of Atlanta, father of Missy Troutman de Souza (68-80) and Katherine Troutman Ferrara (69-74) and grandfather of recent alumnae Stewart Cory (01-06), Preston Cory (03-13), Maggie de Souza (01-02), and Alexandra Ferrara (04-16).

Frank Troutman (center) and family on his 75th Birthday.

Mr. Troutman, who died August 10, 2019, at the age of 84, had grown up with a love of the “camp” experience having been a camper as a boy at the Fritz Orr Camp in Atlanta. As a result, he was very devoted to the Fritz Orr Family as well as his favorite camp counselor, a skinny young college kid by the name of Hugh Caldwell. Missy recalls that it was a combination of Hugh and founding board chairman John Kinnett that persuaded her dad to lend his talents of building successful business models to their goal of preserving MerrieWoode. Along with others, Mr. Troutman led the fundraising campaign which resulted in the acquisition of the original camp property; all of those volunteers were grateful to the Orr Family for their patience and restraint in allowing plenty of time to raise the funds. This was the first step in a long line of successful campaigns but the only one in which Merrie- Woode’s very survival depended upon success, and thanks in part to Mr. 13

Troutman, it was a success. As a counselor during those first few years of the Foundation, Missy remembers Hugh recruiting the staff to work for free in 1979 and 1980. “All of us were glad to do it, but you just can imagine my businessman father’s reaction when, at the end of the summer, rather than collecting a pay check, I wound up owing camp $92 due to a few shopping sprees at the stock shop!” Among the large congregation who gathered to pay their respects at Mr. Troutman’s memorial service was long-time family friend and fellow alumna Martha Simkins Davis. As Martha said, “we were all devoted to Hugh, and, looking back, it is amazing to see the group he assembled to save camp. He knew what he was good at – sharing his passion and vision – but also knew he needed help with the business side. It came very naturally to Hugh to surround himself with people he knew well and trusted. Having known Frank for such a long time and knowing his inherent skill as well as how much Merrie-Woode meant to Katherine, Missy and all the rest of us, it was only natural that Hugh would ask Frank Troutman for help!” Katherine reflected that “it makes me so happy that Daddy was there when MerrieWoode needed him most so that my daughter and my nieces could enjoy the same experience we did.” The same could be said for the rest of us.

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

New CMW Videos Launching This Winter cont. home while we were shooting!” We are incredibly grateful to the Main Session campers and staff for all of their help during the week of filming. Everyone took extra care to be in perfect uniforms, and even took a very early morning climbing trip out in order to capture the best light on Old Bald. Heath noted, “It is important to acknowledge the efforts that all the staff and campers made in helping create the videos. Campers took time out from activities to be in interviews…Staff members adapted activities to accommodate our film crew,

Heath films on a river trip

answered countless questions, and provided anything we asked for… including boats for shooting from the water and evening classes in the covered riding arena so we could capture the best light. The quality of the videos is a direct reflection of the hard work of countless people

who stepped up and offered to help.” We are excited to begin rolling out our new videos by the end of 2019. Keep an eye on the camp website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram this winter to see some breathtaking new videos showcasing the best of MerrieWoode!

Setting up for interviews

ACA Accreditation 2019 The American Camp Association (ACA) is a private, nonprofit educational organization, which promotes standards and practices followed within the camp industry. It is the only nationally recognized body that accredits all types of camps throughout the United States. Camp Merrie-Woode was first accredited in 1954 and has been continuously accredited since 1999. Camp has been reviewed every three years until 2014, when the ACA changed to a five year review cycle. The reaccreditation process includes an in-depth review and observation of our entire operation. The summer of 2019 was an ACA accreditation summer. This accreditation process involved much

Many binders in preparation for our ACA Visitors

preparation by the directors, senior staff, and summer staff and culminated in a summer site visit by three camping professionals. The standards for accreditation include criteria for camp’s facilities, food service, transportation practices, health care, operational management, emergency preparedness, human resources, and all aspects of program design and management. In order to achieve 14

accreditation, the camp must demonstrate its compliance with each of the applicable mandatory standards. The accreditation process helps to insure that MerrieWoode’s camp programs and facility are of the highest level of excellence. Being part of the American Camp Association supports Camp’s mission of nurturing the physical, intellectual, and spiritual growth of girls and young women through traditional camp activities and outdoor adventures. This summer our site visitors came for a day during the Main session. They walked around to various activities, asked questions of our staff and campers, and poured through our accreditation paperwork.

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

Congratulations to our 2019 staff for a job well done! The three ACA visitors were impressed with the whole camp operation, especially our counselors and campers. Our lead visitor later said, “The visit was exactly what it should be – an opportunity

to showcase your wonderful facilities, your talented staff, and the joy your campers experience.” A funny side note: In Castle, during our morning Devotional, the visitation team enjoyed a lively “Merrie-Woode

ACA” song, sung to the tune of “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from the Disney movie Mulan. When the song was finished, the visitors cheered and insisted on receiving a copy of the song.

Order your Centennial Book! Camp Merrie-Woode: 100 Years of Following the Gleam This beautifully designed, award winning, hardcover book documents the history and legacy of Camp Merrie-Woode and her founders. The coffee table sized book is over 250 pages with stunning new photographs and significant archival imagery. This is sure to be a keepsake that grandmothers, mothers, daughters, and granddaughters will share for generations. Price: $100.00 All proceeds will go to the CMW Endowment. Order online: merriewoode.com/alumnaes/publications/

2020 CMW Alumnae Weekend Feeling homesick for your home away from home along Lake Fairfield? Get ready for the first Alumnae Weekend in Spring 2020! Calling all Alumnae over the age of 21 to join us for a fun filled weekend at Merrie-Woode! If you miss spending your days staying in cabins lake side and gathering by the campfire roasting s’mores with great camp friends, then you are in luck. Camp will open up its cabins to our Merrie-Woode alumnae this spring from Friday, May 15 – Sunday, May 17, 2020. The weekend will be full of a wide range of activities

geared towards alumnae of all ages. You’re never too old for Merrie-Woode’s traditional programming including a hike up Old Bald, fun on the waterfront, Evening Program, and Chapel. We look forward to MerrieWoode alumnae gathering around the campfire, singing camp songs, and enjoying the never out-of-style s’mores. Registration is easy through our website (www. merriewoode.com). The cost per alumna is $550. The fee includes all meals, cabin lodging, and activities. We encourage you to sign up early as space is limited to one hundred alumnae. The 15

event promises to bring back old camp memories for a fun weekend. Reserve your spot today on the CMW website! www.merriewoode.com/ camp-programs/off-seasonprogramming/

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

Alumna Profile: Rachel Garrett If you have spent any substantial time at MerrieWoode in the last 15 years, you may know Rachel Garrett’s name. If you happen to know Rachel well, you likely regard her as one of the most authentic women you have ever met. Rachel, originally from Little Rock, AR, is a passionate high school Math teacher. She is also a natural leader, a gifted outdoorswoman, and a visionary. Rachel began her Merrie-Woode journey at the 2002 June Session and switched to the Main Session in 2005. Rachel was a camper through 2008, served as a Junior Counselor in 2009, and worked on staff from 2010 through 2016. Rachel admits that she was an introverted camper who felt uncomfortable showing her true self. That changed in 2008 when Rachel lived in Bum’s Rest. For Deck the Counselor that year, the girls dressed their counselor, Riley Dickey, as Pepper Ann. Pepper Ann was a goofy, late 1990s cartoon girl with red hair and mismatched clothes. The girls painted Riley’s hair red, dressed her in a ridiculous outfit, put her on rollerblades, and sent her out on the Castle stage to entertain the entire camp. Although Rachel can’t remember the skit’s content, she thinks about that night regularly. Rachel says that in that moment, “Riley was actively teaching me how to be myself. She taught me how to

Rachel Garrett enjoying the Wyoming backcountry

not care what other people think about me.” Riley’s Deck the Counselor performance, paired with years of watching female counselors lead campers up challenging rock climbing routes and down difficult whitewater rapids began concentrating Rachel’s understanding of herself and where she hoped her life would take her. As an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Rachel spent her summers working on the Merrie-Woode mountaineering staff and enjoyed one summer as a JC leader. During those summers, Rachel stood on the shoulders of Riley Dickey and the other influential counselors of her childhood; she saw no limits to what her campers could accomplish at camp or out in the world. Upon graduation from UNC, Rachel threw herself into the difficult experience of teaching high school Math 16

in Kinston, NC via Teach for America. Most days during those two years, Rachel felt bone tired and unbearably lonely from working to her limits in the midst of the sadness and hate that filled her students’ lives. She knew that her kids didn’t merely need someone to teach the curriculum; they needed someone to see them and hear them and make them feel the way Rachel felt at camp. She believed that education could look and be different, and she knew that fully serving her students would require her to prepare further for this career. So, in the fall of 2016, Rachel began her graduate studies toward a M.Ed. in Learning and Design at Vanderbilt University. At Vanderbilt Rachel was, “pushed to think deeply and critically about education in America, what it means to teach to transgress, the importance of play, and how to build community relations.” She learned to walk into any environment and design something that enhances learning while understanding the community she serves. In conducting her research, Rachel’s

Rachel Garrett with her fall trip student group in Montana

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

vision for the future was sparked. She dreams of opening her own school to “empower young women to be confident leaders both in the classroom and in the field by creating a brave space where failure is not villainized and by providing a diverse community in which students can learn from the life experiences of one another.” Rachel knows that young women need a place where they can excel in the outdoors and where they can be their genuine selves every minute of every single day. Her current, working name for the school is the FLOW School, which stands for Fostering Leaders in Outdoor Women. She sees the FLOW School as an experiential institution that serves female students from varying socioeconomic backgrounds. Although FLOW is a formidable dream, Rachel is actively brainstorming and looking toward developing a business plan soon. She can see her future brightly, and she looks forward to showing her FLOW students how to accomplish their own dreams. For now, Rachel is happy in her second year at Jackson Hole Community School, where she teaches Geometry and Algebra 2. JHCS opened in 2004 and currently enrolls 84 students in ninth through twelfth grades. It is a college preparatory school that prides itself on fully knowing all students and faculty. Students at the Community School call their instructors by their first names, and Rachel feels well connected to all of her

Rachel Garrett teaching a mathematics student at Jackson Hole Community School

kids. Rachel is always looking for ways to better her teaching and improve the quality of her students’ educational experiences and by extension, their lives. In addition to her teaching job, Rachel serves as the Experiential Education Committee Coordinator at the Community School. Her responsibilities enable her to help plan and execute five-day long backcountry trips in the fall and mini-mester courses in February, but her primary function is to sell experiential education as a vital component of high school to parents and teachers who may know very little about it. In her own classroom, Rachel’s lifecentering passion for blending traditional and experiential education informs her math instruction. Her classes learn outside whenever the weather allows, and her traditional lessons always intersect with experiential pedagogy. As Rachel contemplates what happens from here, she hopes to expand the experiential education program at JHCS and transition her own math classes to project-based courses with an emphasis on social justice issues while gaining traction toward a 17

fully functioning FLOW School within the next decade. For now, she is enjoying the outdoor opportunities and new friendships available in Jackson Hole. When she is not at school, she looks for ways to serve as an encouraging force on young people. For the past three summers, Rachel has worked as a trip leader for both Moondance and Wilderness Adventures. Rachel enjoyed this past summer’s trip most because it was the first all-female excursion offered by Wilderness Adventures; it reminded her of nights in the backcountry during her summers at camp and reinforced why the FLOW school is a worthwhile dream. For Rachel Garrett, her teaching objectives and life’s ambitions always come back to her years at Merrie-Woode. She says, through tears, that her work and her vision all boil down to camp and that, “not a day goes by that I am not indebted to MerrieWoode for all that it gave to me.” At camp Rachel learned about gratitude, healthy boundaries, listening with intention, leadership, grief and celebration, being herself, and what all she is capable of accomplishing when she challenges her mind and her body. She is changing the trajectory of her students’ lives with these lessons from Merrie-Woode. No matter where Rachel’s career or future leads her, there is no doubt that the field of education and its students will benefit profoundly from Rachel’s care, intellect, and positive influence.

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

Whitewater Adventures, Merrie-Woode Alumnae Style As we floated in our kayaks in the center of Lake Fairfield on a warm September afternoon, we heard Kelli Talley, Merrie-Woode’s Outdoor Adventure Coordinator and our lead instructor for the weekend, call us to bring our kayaks together to form a circle. “This is the flower of power,” Kelli said, “This weekend we are going to stick together as a tribe, a lady tribe, face our fears, and have fun!” As each member of the group took turns sharing her name, hometown, and years at Merrie-Woode, a bond was immediately established. We all shared a love of whitewater paddling, and now we were back at Camp, where we once spent countless hours on the lake, preparing to reconnect with the thrill of playing in the rapids once again. Our group of alumnae traveled from homes in New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Boone, NC for the inaugural Alumnae Paddling Clinic during the weekend of September 13-15, 2019. Women in their thirties, forties, and fifties, many of whom had never met, quickly settled into a home-away-fromhome in the cabin of Avalon, then headed down to the Boat House to select a boat and gear for the weekend. Once everyone had the correct sizes and labeled helmets with electrical-tape nametags, we were ready to hit the lake to practice strokes and wet exits. It wasn’t long before this group was laughing like

Holly Pierce Ambler (80-96), Lucy Dorris (96-08), Maggie Niehaus (99-09), Katherine Rich Niehaus (75-80), Kelli Talley (16-present), Oliva Head (9709), Elizabeth Kennedy (97-07), Hester Hodde (96-04), Robin McKinney Walker (89-present), and Susan Mitchell Cross (7381) on the Tuck Gorge for the 2019 Alumnae Paddling Clinic.

old friends over dinner in Lily Pad. While comparing our experiences as Would-Bes, we realized that while a few things had changed over the years, the memories of flipping pancakes on overnights, doing shake-outs in canoes, and surviving tests on vectors were universal. After dinner, we gathered around the fireplace to talk about our goals and expectations for the weekend. Everyone had a few apprehensions, some were nervous about their ability to roll or paddle confidently in fast water, though overall the group was excited to set out the next morning for the river. Following a hearty breakfast spread of eggs, sausage, and potatoes, with plenty of coffee, fruit, and granola, we loaded into the van and set out for the Tuck Gorge. A beautiful sunny day provided the perfect backdrop, and we cruised down the river, stopping to catch 18

eddies and practice S-turns along the way. As we bounced through the big wave trains of Slingshot and Double Drop, confidence increased, and everyone was having a blast! We finished the day just as a rain storm moved in, having a delicious picnic lunch of chicken salad and sweet potato curry wraps on the porch of a neighboring outfitter. A late afternoon trip to Jack the Dipper was, of course, a must-do! Back at camp that evening, we were treated to a marvelous dinner of beef tenderloin, roasted vegetables, and key lime pie. Everyone was having so much fun visiting that we had to cut our evening session a little short to get a good rest for the next day! Holly Pierce Ambler (80-96), current CMW Trustee and an instructor in Outdoor Education at Appalachian State University, led a session on the fixed mindset vs. the growth mindset, based on the work of author Carol Dweck. Kelli followed up with the perfect reading, The Beginner’s

Alumnae paddlers on the Tuck Gorge practice catching eddies.

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

Mind, an essay from Doug Ammons’ book, Whitewater Philosophy. Ready to apply our growth mindset/beginner’s mind, we easily fell asleep to the croaking of the bull frogs. The next morning, we got an early start for our old stomping ground, the Nantahala Outdoor Center. We definitely needed our fleeces and paddling jackets, since the river is still about 60 degrees down in the Gorge, aka the Land of the Noon Day Sun. Bouncing through waves and dodging rafts, we

Maggie Niehaus (99-09), Hester Hodde (96-04), Oliva Head (97-09), Elizabeth Kennedy (97-07), Lucy Dorris (96-08), and Kelli Talley (16-present) getting ready to tackle the Nantahala.

stopped for a quick lunch at the beach by the Surfing Rapid. Everyone had a great day,

and though we were tired, the experience rekindled our love for a day on the river paddling with friends. After a quick scout and wild ride through the Nantahala Falls, we suddenly found ourselves back at the NOC take-out. The weekend had flown by! The Paddling Clinic was a great success, and from the talk on the way home, some folks are already planning to sign up for next year. We hope you’ll all consider joining us for our Alumnae Paddling Clinic 2020!

2020 Whitewater GOALS Trip

Camp Merrie-Woode is thrilled to announce the 2020 GOALS (Girls Outdoor Adventure Leadership School) Kayaking Expedition, consisting of six days of whitewater adventures. The intention of our GOALS program is to offer more opportunities for technical skill and leadership development in the years between making Captain and returning as staff. Girls who are eligible for this expedition are campers, JCs, and

CAs who have completed the Captain or Eskimo programs. The 2020 trip will take place in the southeast with the opportunity to paddle many of our favorite rivers including the Nantahala, Chattooga, Nolichucky, Pigeon, and Ocoee. We are excited to see the boating girls of Merrie-Woode take what they have learned as campers to the next level. As well as technical skills and confidence building in their abilities, participants will also develop as leaders. Using the CMW GOALS curriculum and intentional conversations, girls will grow in a challenging yet supportive environment. It has been inspiring to see this program 19

grow and girls come back to camp enthusiastic about paddling and teaching younger campers. The 2020 expedition will run June 17 – 22, immediately prior to the Main Session of camp. The cost is $800/per person. Please contact Kelli with any questions: kelli@merriewoode.com or 828743-3300. http://www.merriewoode.com/ camp-programs/off-seasonprogramming/

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

Old Glory Flies on Old Bald On July 4th, the MerrieWoode campers and Cashiers community awoke to a surprise – a giant American flag hung on Old Bald mountain, but no one knew how it had gotten there. The secret was soon revealed, when the campers found out that the Mountaineering staff at Camp Merrie-Woode had achieved a feat first envisioned in 1976 to honor America’s bicentennial anniversary. Old Bald is one of Cashiers Valley’s signature granite domes. It first attracted the interest of the local rock climbing community in the mid1970s. Climbers Diff Ritchie and Buddy Price were each working to put up the first route on the face during the summer of 1976. The climbers originally planned to hang a large American flag on the rock to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the United States, but were not able to complete it before the celebrations. Diff finished the first route, known as The Spider Wall, later that summer. With the support of Fritz Orr, Jr., Director of Camp Merrie-Woode in the 1970s, Diff also started the Camp’s first climbing program. Having a rock face on Camp property was unique, and the Merrie-Woode girls loved the mental and physical challenges of rock climbing. When the current Camp Mountaineering staff learned about the early climbers’ wish to hang the flag on Old Bald, they were inspired to bring the

Kelli Talley and Mathes Vaughan rappelled from the top of Old Bald just before sunrise to hang the flag.

idea to fruition for July 4, 2019. They shared their thoughts with Denice and Jim, earlier in the summer. Denice and Jim were enthusiastic about the idea and supported them in creating a plan to surprise Camp. Once the enormous 30 x 60 ft. flag had been ordered, the Mountaineering staff set to work over the next several weeks finalizing the details of how they would unfurl the flag over the rock. After performing two scouting trips and assembling a team of climbers, led by Kelli Talley, Camp’s Outdoor Adventure Coordinator, and Curtis Baird, Climbing Specialist, the mountaineers were ready. On July 4th, they left Camp at 5:00 am and set up a rappel at the top of Old Bald to lower themselves into position to hang the flag. Team members at the top and bottom 20

of the mountain communicated with the climbers on the rock via radio to make sure the flag was correctly positioned. Curtis carried the rolled up flag on his back like a backpack as he, Talley, and staff member, Mathes Vaughan, rappelled into position. Carrying such a large flag was no small feat. “It weighed about 50 pounds,” Curtis said. The team attached the upper corners of the flag to the rock using long ropes. After fixing one side to the rock, the team swung over to the other side to attach the second corner. Once the flag was securely fastened, the climbers ascended the ropes and headed back down to camp. On the way to breakfast, the campers were met with a huge surprise! Who had hung the flag? How did they get it up there? Word quickly spread, and when the Mountaineering staff arrived at the Dining Hall, they were greeted with a round of applause. The Cashiers community soon joined in the fun, as drivers on Highway 64 started spotting the flag and calling Camp with questions. Camp Merrie-Woode is pleased that the community enjoyed this Fourth of July surprise as well. “It was a great way to celebrate America and remember the achievements of the early climbers who scaled Old Bald in 1976,” said Jim. A piece of the rope that held the American flag on Old Bald is now part of the permanent collection in the CMW Centennial Archives.

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

From the Top of Old Bald

Opening Day Hike with June Session families.

During Opening Day of each of our 2019 summer sessions, we welcomed camper families, as well as alumnae in the local area, to join us for a hike up Old Bald. Each session we were thrilled to have an intrepid group from the CMW family enjoy the classic Camp experience of reaching the top of Old Bald. We are excited that this hike is becoming a much-loved tradition on Opening Day. After gathering at the Inn Site at 11:00 am, we filled our water bottles and started out for the 1.5 mi trek to the summit! Our path took us around the far end of Lake Fairfield, over the dam, and up the back side of Little Bald. From there, we traversed along the saddle between Little Bald and Old Bald, finally making our way up to the rock outcropping at the top of Old Bald. From this lookout, we had a perfect view of Camp, and we ate our lunches while gazing at the surrounding peaks of Chimney Top, Rock Mountain, and Whiteside. Each hike presented a slightly different landscape with the change in season from early to mid-summer. During our June

Session hike, we spotted many flame azaleas along the trail. We even came across a long black snake, which slithered across our path onto a nearby log, much to the delight of several sixyear-olds, who are the younger siblings of some June Session campers. Our Main Session hike brought us through a beautiful display of rhododendron as we made our way up Little Bald. Seeing a lemon balm just off our path, alumna and camp parent Stephanie Blessey Lilley (7683) told us how former Camp director, Hugh Caldwell, would always point out the distinctive flower and lemon scent of this special plant.

Opening Day Hike with Main Session families.

Along the trail, our camp parents and visiting alumnae chatted about their campers, friends from home and acquaintances in common, and stories from their camper days. It was wonderful to develop new friendships and strengthen bonds between our camper families. As our group took in the beauty of the woods, we talked about some of the challenges of maintaining Camp’s 435 21

Opening Day Hike with August Session families.

acres of woodlands and how Merrie-Woode is implementing its forestry management plan developed in 2014. Our new Conservation and Sustainability Endowment, established in 2016, will provide funding for these environmental projects, such as treating hemlocks for the wooly adelgid and employing new stormwater management techniques to protect the water quality in Lake Fairfield. To all of the members of the Merrie-Woode family who joined us this past summer, we loved hiking with you! We would be thrilled to see even more families and local alumnae come out on Opening Days in 2020 for our Old Bald hike. As we sing in “Half-Wit Girls of MerrieWoode” – We’ll all be back again next year!

Robin McKinney Walker and CMW parent Megan Wenrich during the August Session Old Bald hike.

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

Kindred Spirit Profile: Nancy Conkle Swann Nancy Conkle Swann is Merrie-Woode personified. Growing up in Cashiers, Nancy met Dammie Day as a child and became enchanted with Camp during her first eight-week session in 1955. She enjoyed several summers as a camper, making Captain in 1958. In 1988 she and her husband, David, and their two sons moved to Atlanta, and Nancy was soon elected to the Merrie-Woode Foundation Board of Trustees serving for six years. Her dedication and love for Merrie-Woode led her to become Board Chair from 19982005. During her tenure as Board Chair, Merrie-Woode completed the highly successful “Place of Rarest Beauty Campaign,” ably chaired by Liz Irwin, allowing the Foundation to purchase several crucial parcels of land that serve as a buffer from development, including the old Fairfield Inn site, as well as lots along the entrance road, some of which protected the view from chapel. Through skillful negotiating, the Foundation was also able to acquire the 100 acres along the lake down to the dam and over Little Bald. After completing her term as Board Chair, Nancy answered the call once again to serve as Co-Chair with Bobby Hassinger of the Campaign Committee for “The Place of Rarest Beauty – The Final Piece Campaign,” which concluded in 2009 and allowed Merrie-Woode to retire its debt

Centennial Co-Chair Liz Counce Irwin (72-79) looks on while Nancy Conkle Swann (55-58) speaks at Merrie-Woode’s Centennial Events Weekend.

on the land purchases. With so many accomplishments behind her, Nancy could have spent these last few years enjoying her welldeserved status as a legendary alumna. Instead, she graciously agreed to take the herculean task of Co-Chair, along with Liz Irwin, of the Centennial Celebration. With her leadership and deep knowledge of the Merrie-Woode family, Nancy guided the many leaders of the Centennial Celebration through three years of work that included producing the Centennial Book and Centennial Ripple, developing the Centennial Archives, planning and executing the Centennial Events Weekend, and surpassing the goal for the Centennial Campaign. Here are excerpts from an interview with Nancy about her experiences at Merrie-Woode and her belief in the importance of the Kindred Spirit Society, Merrie-Woode’s planned giving program. How did you become acquainted with MerrieWoode? “My mother was a 22

Merrie-Woode counselor in the 1930s, and when my family moved to Cashiers in 1946, when I was 2 years old, Dammie Day was one of the first people to welcome us!” What are some of your most significant memories as a camper and as a leader for the Foundation? “I loved so many things about camp – campfires, Sunday hikes, riding, river trips, making Captain – but most of all the friends I made – many of them life-long friends. My proudest accomplishment as Board Chair was finally securing the 100 acres along the lake after working to obtain them for 10 years!” What do you think is the most compelling part of the MerrieWoode experience? “Teaching young girls to be strong, compassionate and confident leaders for the rest of their lives.” What do you think will be Merrie-Woode’s future challenges? “One possible challenge would be the decision to make schools operate on a year-round schedule, but I hope

Jim Dunn (02-present), Denice Dunn (99-present), and Nancy Conkle Swann (55-58) cutting Merrie-Woode’s 100th Birthday cake at the Centennial Events Weekend.

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

this never happens as I do not want to even try to imagine how different my life without MerrieWoode would have been! I think Merrie-Woode, through the hard

work of its Executive Directors and recent Boards, is in a very good position to face the future, but one way every alumna could really help would be to become

a Kindred Spirit by leaving a gift in her will as a lasting thank-you for all that Merrie-Woode has meant to her life.�

Mothers and Daughters at Merrie-Woode Just as Spring appeared in the North Carolina mountains, a most-enthusiastic group arrived to open Camp with one of our favorite programs, Mother Daughter Weekend! This event has become extremely popular over the last five years, and once again, it was completely full with the maximum one hundred registrants. Mother daughter pairs arrived during the afternoon of Friday, May 3 and received their cabin assignments at the Program Office. Everyone wanted to be out on the lake as soon as possible, and the waterfront was soon buzzing with activity during the first Free Boats session before dinner. That evening many daughters experienced their first Merrie-Woode campfire, learning the words to Follow the Gleam and many other favorite songs, like Flicker of the Campfire, Linger Longer, and Remember. After many rounds of singing, the moms and daughters made s’mores around the fire. Everyone slept well that night listening to the croaking of the bullfrogs. The next morning a fabulous breakfast awaited everyone in the Dining Hall. With an impending lightning storm, our Old Bald hike changed to a Lake Trail hike.

The entire group loved seeing the campout spots and the views of the front line from across the lake. Lunch in Lily Pad was a huge hit, followed by a relaxing Rest Hour. After a peaceful nap in the cabin, the mothers and daughters headed out for their afternoon activities: riding, canoeing, climbing the wall, archery, and arts and crafts. Each activity brought challenges and opportunities to learn new skills. With rain holding steady into the late afternoon, our group gathered in the Dining Hall for a wild game of Bingo, lots of dance party music, and Congo lines. The excitement continued after dinner, when the mothers and daughters competed in an exciting and hilarious Minute to Win It evening program. Laughter filled Castle, as one after another, the moms and daughters tackled silly challenges to see who could stack cookies, balance cups, and other games that entertained us all. Sunday morning brought our group together for 23

a final period of reflection and thankfulness for what MerrieWoode has brought to our lives. We worshiped and rejoiced while absorbing the steadiness and grandeur of Old Bald. When it came time to return to the city, mothers and daughters hugged their new friends and made plans to stay in touch. A new spark had been lit in the members of the next generation of Merrie-Woode girls and rekindled in those who had returned to their beloved Camp again. In future years, MerrieWoode looks forward to offering Mother Daughter Weekend every other year, alternating with Alumnae Weekend. This Spring will be an Alumnae Weekend, May 15-17, 2020, followed by Mother Daughter Weekend in May 2021.

Mothers Brooke Ruggles, Hannah Miller, and Wimberly Comer, with their daughters, August Session campers Miller Ruggles, Sabine Miller, and Gorman Comer, during the Lake Trail hike.

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

Answering Your Fundraising Questions For this edition of the newsletter, we want to go back to basics and answer a few questions about Merrie-Woode’s finances and fundraising. If the information below sparks additional questions for you, please reach out to Robin by phone (828) 743-3300 or email robin@merriewoode.com. Q: Why does Merrie-Woode need to fundraise? Doesn’t camper tuition cover all of Merrie-Woode’s expenses? A: It would be wonderful if that were the case, but tuition from the summer sessions does not fully fund Camp’s operating budget. There are several sources of revenue that make our Camp operations possible. The Annual Fund generates a significant part of Camp’s budget, currently about 7% and continuing to grow each year. In addition, Camp now receives income from the Merrie-Woode Endowment that supports different parts of the budget, including camperships, programming, staff training, conservation, building maintenance, and general operations. Finally, Camp

Gifts to the Annual Fund provide resources to maintain treasured spaces in Camp, such as Chapel.

Support from the Annual Fund allows Merrie-Woode to complete special capital projects during the off-season, such as these stone retaining walls along the cabin line.

receives some grant funding for specific projects, as well as limited special event revenue from wedding rentals and other events on property. All of these sources, together with the camper tuition, fund Merrie-Woode’s operating expenses. When you give to the Annual Fund, you ensure that Merrie-Woode has sufficient resources to maintain its status as a premier camp with exceptional programming, staff, and facilities. Q: What is the difference between the Annual Fund and the Endowment? A: The Annual Fund provides critical financial support for Merrie-Woode’s annual operations. Each year the cost of maintaining Camp’s property and equipment, as well as the cost to hire and train an exceptional staff, increases. In order to balance increasing expenses with the needs of families to keep tuition at a manageable level, Camp relies on support from alumnae, families, and friends through the Annual Fund. The funds raised for the Annual Fund 24

each year go directly to pay for general operating expenses in the following year. These funds also provide the financial support necessary to tackle certain improvements, such as rebuilding the docks or enclosing the area of the Dining Hall behind the fireplace, that are beyond the typical expenses each year. The Endowment is designed to serve as an asset generating income each year for MerrieWoode’s long term strategic goals. The principal of the individual endowment funds is held in perpetuity within MerrieWoode’s Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. The investment income generated by the individual endowment funds supports the specific purposes of those funds, which include general operations, camperships, programming, building preservation, and conservation. The Endowment generates a return on the invested corpus each year, which allows for both long term planning for future needs and serves as a safeguard for Merrie-Woode during periods of economic instability. You can designate your gifts to either the Annual Fund or the Endowment – all gifts are greatly appreciated and serve to preserve MerrieWoode for future generations! Q: Who oversees Camp’s finances? A: The Merrie-Woode Foundation, Inc.’s Board of Trustees and the Executive

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

Directors, Denice and Jim Dunn, are responsible for MerrieWoode’s finances. The Treasurer of the Board of Trustees works directly with Denice, Jim, and Debi (Camp’s bookkeeper) to ensure that Merrie-Woode properly accounts for all funds. In addition, Merrie-Woode’s finances are independently audited by an outside accounting firm each year. The Board of Trustees approves the annual budget and reviews the audit findings annually to ensure that Merrie-Woode is fiscally sound and following the best practices of financial management. Finally, the Board of Trustees oversees management of the Endowment Fund, which is held at the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. The Board follows its Endowment Income and Spending Policy when determining the use of Merrie-Woode’s endowment funds.

Q: What is the current value of Merrie-Woode’s Endowment? A: As of September 30, 2019, the total value of Merrie-Woode’s Endowment is $1,535,015.07. Q: Do certain gifts automatically go to the Endowment? A: Yes, pursuant to a policy of the Board of Trustees enacted in the fall of 2013, gifts of $10,000 or more are automatically placed in the Endowment (unless specifically designated by the donor). Additionally, all bequests to Merrie-Woode, regardless of value, are placed in the Endowment, unless the donor specified a particular use for their gift. Q: What are Merrie-Woode’s future fundraising goals? A: Our first near-term fundraising goal is to secure funding to complete the master

site plan work recommended by Reed Hilderbrand. This work includes completing stormwater and drainage improvements, adding plants to prevent erosion and return the campus to a more natural wilderness-like setting, and continuing to implement the recommendations of the Forestry Management Plan to support the health of the woodland areas. Another immediate priority is to bring the Conservation Endowment funding to $120,000, the amount targeted during the Centennial Campaign. Our longterm goals include growing the Endowment to $5 million by the 50th anniversary of the MerrieWoode Foundation, Inc. in 2028, and increasing participation in the Kindred Spirit Society, Merrie-Woode’s planned giving program.

Centennial Ripple This special edition of the Lake Fairfield Ripple showcases the best of one hundred years of Merrie-Woode’s treasured literary magazine. Including poetry, prose, songs, and artwork, the Centennial Ripple is a charming and nostalgic glance through camp life over the past century. Price: $15.00 All proceeds will go to the CMW Endowment. Order online: merriewoode.com/alumnaes/publications/

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Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

Movie Night in Castle! bold look at social relations in a small southern town that strongly resembled her hometown of Jasper, FL, where she was born in 1897. Writing from her home in the north Georgia Castle transformed into a proper movie theatre this October! mountains, where she lived most of her life, Smith was On October 17, Camp deemed a traitor to the South for Merrie-Woode hosted a film her stance on racial and gender screening in Castle of the new equality. A central theme in documentary, Lillian Smith: her work was that segregation Breaking the Silence. This 50 amounted to “spiritual lynching” minute film tells the story of to both whites and blacks, as prominent author, civil rights she wrote in numerous articles activist, and camp director and in her controversial semiLillian Smith. Smith directed autobiographical book Killers of Laurel Falls Camp in Clayton, the Dream (published in 1949 GA during the 1920s – 1940s. She was also a good friend and colleague of Camp MerrieWoode’s founder, Dammie Day. Both were progressive, likeminded women on many issues, including race relations and gender equality. Lillian Smith received Film director, Hal Jacobs leads a Q&A national attention in the 1940s session in Castle after the screening. and 1950s as the first prominent and reprinted in 1961). Before the southern author to speak out Civil Rights Movement took off against segregation. Her name in the late 1950s, she was a voice and books are mostly forgotten of reason in the North. Here was now except by southern a southern woman who remained historians and activists. Yet from in the South and wasn’t afraid to the 1940s through the early speak her conscience against the 1960s, this southern writer was demagogues, Klan and mobs. a force to be reckoned with. Smith was lauded by Her first novel, Strange Fruit luminaries such as Eleanor (1944), was a national bestseller Roosevelt and James Baldwin, that dropped like a bomb on and she was an inspiration to wartime America because of its 26

leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. She was a trusted friend and correspondent of Martin Luther King, Jr., who, in his impassioned Letter from Birmingham Jail, included her as one of a small group of those who “have written about our struggle in eloquent and prophetic terms.” In fact, in 1960, when King was pulled over in DeKalb County for an alleged traffic violation, Smith was riding in his car. He was driving her to Emory Hospital for the treatment of cancer that plagued her for over 10 years and would eventually take her life in 1966. Breaking the Silence explores how this child of the South became a formidable opponent of the southern way of life protected by segregationist politicians, church leaders, and newspaper editors. The documentary tells the story of Smith in her own voice and seldom-seen interviews. It also features the voices of friends and family, pioneers of the Civil Rights Movement, and leading academics. When Merrie-Woode’s resident historian and camp archivist, Lindsay Hostetler, realized this documentary was in the works, she reached out to its director, Hal Jacobs. During her work in the CMW Centennial Archives, she had come across a series of letters from Smith to Dammie Day in the 1940s and many photographs of Smith from Dammie’s personal collection. Several of these photos were

Camp Merrie-Woode, Fall 2019

used in the final cut of Breaking the Silence, as well as one particularly important letter detailing an invitation to an interracial dinner party Smith was hosting at her home. This letter describes in wonderful detail both Lillian Smith: Breaking the Silence held its NC the risk Smith took by premiere in Castle this October. hosting such gatherings at the time, as well as her philosophy this October marked the North in the importance of doing so. In Carolina premiere for Breaking the letter, dated 1943, Smith writes the Silence. Hal Jacobs hosted to Dammie, “All the movements an engaging Q&A session after in the world, all the laws, the the film ended and was met by drives, the edicts will never do positive remarks from the Castle what personal relationships can audience. Future screenings are do – and must do…The tensions already planned for Washington, today are most acute and troubling DC, Alabama, and throughout – something must be done, and I Georgia in 2019 and 2020. It believe this something will quite is the hope of Hal and Henry probably come from the women of Jacobs, the father and son team the two races long before it comes who directed and produced this from the men.” Jacobs remarked documentary, that Smith’s life that while he had heard of these and words will inspire more social gatherings Smith would dialogue, more fearlessness, and host, he had never seen a letter more people breaking the silence such as this in all his research. well into the future. We feel We were thrilled that our archives Dammie would have been proud could contribute and add historical to see her courageous friend’s significance. story told in Merrie-Woode’s The film screening in Castle own Castle.

CMW Star Trail Poster These beautiful posters of photographer Billy Howard’s iconic image of stars swirling over Old Bald are now on sale in the CMW Stock Shop! Order yours today! Star Trail Over Old Bald Poster: $15.00 Star Trail Over Old Bald Poster (signed by artist): $30.00 Email annette@merriewoode.com to order. 27

2019 Board of Trustees Clair Freeman Marshall, Chair Raleigh, NC Holly Pierce Ambler Boone, NC Alan Clark Charlotte, NC Martha Dockery Clark Charlotte, NC Mathilde Villere Currence New Orleans, LA Jane Curtis Houston, TX William (Bill) Curtis Houston, TX Mallory Dimmitt St. Petersburg, FL Julie Harrower Diaz Dallas, TX Tweed Cline Eckhard Tampa, FL Mary Leland Davenport Hutchison Lookout Mountain, TN Creecy Chandler Johnson Raleigh, NC James (Jay) McKnight Nashville, TN George Pillow Killen, AL Carter Coker Simpson Washington, DC Daniel (Dan) Wilbanks Knoxville, TN Dorothea (Dorothy) Moss Williams Washington, DC

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

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Holiday Gift Ideas from the CMW Stock Shop Green Tumbler: $20.00 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. Email annette@merriewoode.com to order.

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