Camp Merrie-Woode facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Camp Merrie-Woode
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Camp Merrie-Woode Cabins
Location in North Carolina Show map of North Carolina Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	US 64 N side, 1.6 miles N of jct. with NC 1120, at end of 1-miles-long dirt rd., near Cashiers, North Carolina
Area	15 acres (6.1 ha)
Built	1919 (1919)
Architectural style	Adirondack
NRHP reference No.	95000674
Added to NRHP	June 2, 1995

Camp Merrie-Woode is a fun summer camp for girls aged 7 to 17. It's located in the beautiful western mountains of North Carolina. This camp has been around since 1919, offering a special place for girls to grow.

The camp sits near a mountain called Old Bald and next to Fairfield Lake in Jackson County. Girls come from many different states and even other countries to attend. At Camp Merrie-Woode, young ladies build confidence by trying exciting activities. These include horseback riding, sailing, hiking, and rock climbing. They also enjoy theatre and river trips on rivers like the Chattooga and the 'mighty' Tuckaseegee River.

The area around Camp Merrie-Woode is very special. It's known for its beautiful forests and open grassy areas. This land is recognized as a U.S. National Heritage Area. It's owned by different groups, including the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service. Camp Merrie-Woode itself is a non-profit organization. This means it focuses on education and helping girls, not on making money.

Since 1919, Camp Merrie-Woode's amazing natural setting has helped thousands of girls and young women appreciate the beauty of the world. It's a friendly place where everyone is valued. The camp is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's important for its history and its unique Adirondack-style buildings.

Camp Merrie-Woode's Story

The First Leaders: Dammie Day and Mary Turk

Camp Merrie-Woode started in 1919. For almost 30 years, it was led by Mrs. Jonathon C. Day, who everyone called Dammie. She was from New York City and Richmond. Dammie was born in Britain, and she brought old English traditions to the camp.

Dammie chose the name "Merrie-Woode" because she wanted something imaginative. She wrote, "one night the name came so clearly to me- Merrie-Woode...for it is a merry wood and campers will always make it so." Dammie taught campers to appreciate simple living and to "see" the beauty in the world. She also focused on activities that showed the importance of helping others.

The Orr Family Takes Over

After the 1951 summer, the camp was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Orr from Atlanta. They, along with their son Fritz Jr. and his wife Dottie, ran Merrie-Woode until 1978. The Orrs loved the outdoors. They especially helped to build strong canoeing and wilderness programs at the camp. Their grandson, Fritz Orr III, grew up at Merrie-Woode. He later became a four-time national champion in whitewater canoeing.

The Merrie-Woode Foundation

When the Orrs retired in 1978, a philosophy professor named Hugh Caldwell stepped in. He had been a staff member at Merrie-Woode since 1952. He helped former campers create the Merrie-Woode Foundation. This is a non-profit corporation that now owns and runs the camp.

Thanks to generous support from the Merrie-Woode community, the Foundation bought the camp in December 1978. This means the camp is now owned and operated by its former campers. Dr. Caldwell was the first director of the Foundation until 1985. After him, Art and Carolyn Kramer were directors from 1985 to 1989.

The Strayhorn and Dunn Families

From 1990 to 2002, Laurie and Gordon Strayhorn served as the Executive Directors. They worked hard to keep the historic buildings looking original. During their time, many camp buildings and cabins were updated.

From 2002 to 2022, Denice and Jim Dunn were the Executive Directors. They continued the camp's long-standing traditions. Jim had a background in education, and Denice in engineering. Their different skills helped Camp Merrie-Woode continue to be successful.

The Walker Family

In 2022, Robin and Frost Walker became the new Executive Directors of Camp Merrie-Woode. Robin first came to Merrie-Woode as a camper in 1989. She later became a Captain and worked as a cabin counselor and boating instructor. Frost loves the outdoors, too. He discovered his passion for rock climbing at another camp and became an expert climber and outdoor adventure guide.

Life at Camp Merrie-Woode

The cabins at Camp Merrie-Woode are simple wooden buildings. They have screened windows and electricity. A typical cabin has four to six campers of the same age and one or two counselors. These cabins share two modern bathhouses nearby. Older campers live in bigger cabins with eight to ten campers, two counselors, and their own bathrooms.

All girls at Merrie-Woode wear a camp uniform. For the longer June and Main sessions, campers wear a gray middie blouse, a green tie, and dark green shorts. For the shorter August session, the uniform is a gray Camp Merrie-Woode T-shirt and dark green shorts.

The camp has special traditions inspired by its founder, Dammie Day, who was British. The camp is built around the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. This includes the story of the Knights searching for the Holy Grail. Many buildings at camp are named after these legends. For example, there's a cabin called Camelot and the gymnasium is King Arthur's Court. At the end of each session, the oldest campers or staff perform a play called Follow the Gleam. It tells the story of the search for the Holy Grail.

Fun Activities to Try

Camp Merrie-Woode offers more than 20 different activities. There's a good mix of traditional camp fun and outdoor adventures. Campers choose eight activities for the June and Main sessions. For the August session, campers pick five activities.

Traditional activities include sports and nature studies. There are also visual and performing arts. Sports activities include archery, tennis, and tumbling. The camp offers many arts classes, such as ceramics, jewelry making, knitting, and photography. You can also try weaving, sewing, and stained glass. For performing arts, there's dance and drama.

Adventure activities include boating, swimming, horseback riding, and mountaineering. Many activities have special programs where you can earn different levels of achievement. For example, there's the Captains program in boating and the Horsemaster program in horseback riding. The King's Player program is for drama. These programs are optional, but many campers enjoy working towards goals.

Sessions and Costs

Each summer at Merrie-Woode has three different sessions:

• A three-week session in early June.
• A five-week Main session that runs through the end of July.
• A ten-day August session, which is great for younger or first-time campers.

The camp experience is mostly the same for each session, with only small differences.

Here's a look at the typical dates and costs for each session: