Letters From the Lodge

Wow. It is incredibly hard to believe how quickly this session has flown! Today will be my final first session recap email.

Yesterday was our last regular day of activities. For breakfast we had pancakes with bacon, for lunch, we had turkey Ruben sandwiches, and for dinner, we had spaghetti and meatballs with apple pie for dessert! For evening program we had MTV awards where groups were crowned with best dance, best lip sync, most creative, best costume, and best overall!

Today was our town day for first session! All campers were brought into Eagle River with time to shop at local stores and enjoy treats such as candy from the candy shop or get a squishmallow at the toy store. Campers had so much fun and explored in town! For breakfast we had breakfast burritos, we had quesadillas for lunch and for dinner, we had chicken cacciatore with tater tots and sherbert for dessert! Campers also had the opportunity to swim the lake!

Tomorrow will be a busy day! We will sadly pack our four-week campers to return home and have our final banquet with awards for activities as well as our final campfire!

For our campers who are staying for our full session and will be staying out over the visiting weekend, please visit the health center to pick up their medications for the weekend! Thank you!

It has been such an incredible session filled with fun, amazing memories, and love. We cannot thank you enough for trusting us with your girls and allowing us to create this special time with them.

I want to leave you with a story we will read tomorrow at our final campfire before we send off our four-week campers.

“Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young woman and that what she was doing was not dancing at all. The young woman was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young woman paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young woman replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But, young woman, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”

At this, the young woman bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, she said, “It made a difference for that one.”

In one action, you can make a difference in the world and if you add up all of those actions, they can create big change. 

Love the happy times,

Jami

Another fabulous two days have passed on Meta Lake!

Yesterday was our last Sunday of the session and it was a very exciting one! We began with our regularly scheduled lazy morning and breakfast. After waking up campers participated in switching beds and cabin meetings. During this cabin meeting, campers were able to reflect on their time here thus far at Marimeta and how they can make the most of the remaining time during first session. For lunch we had our potato bar filled with tons of options including cold cuts, salad, cheese curds, fries, chicken fingers, pizza, and more! In the afternoon, campers participated in our Total Camp Competition otherwise known as TC comp. During this competition, campers partook in events such as soccer, running relays, sailing races, canoe races, swimming races, tennis matches, and more! Campers cheered on their teammates, all working to earn points for their Mari Meta League team. The competition culminated with our annual captain’s events which starts with the hula-hoop race where the entire team holds hands and has to pass a hula hoop around the circle. When finished, the captains of the team work together to build the strongest fire. Captains must first run to collect firewood and then build a fire tall and strong enough to be the first to burn through the string above it. For dinner, we had our Sunday night picnic of burgers and ice cream for dessert! The evening concluded with a campfire up at Wilderness Point where our little captains and co-captains spoke about leadership and shared what they have learned in this session in their roles as captains. It is always incredible to hear the captains speak on their experience and the ways in which they learn and grow throughout leading their teams through friendly competition.

Today was a normal day at camp! We had regular activities and made the most of them as we only have one more day of regular activities for the session! We had chocolate chip muffins for breakfast, BLT sandwiches for lunch, and lemon chicken for dinner! For the evening program tonight we unfortunately had to cancel our Ojibwa social due to a rainstorm but instead pivoted to “Cabin Sing” an activity where campers work with their cabins to perform a song they make up!

Tomorrow should be a beautiful day for our last day of regular activities. On Wednesday we will have Town Day where campers will go to town to visit local shops! Then Thursday will be packing day for our four-week campers while our full-session campers will partake in Al Lewis activities!

Love the happy times,

Jami

We hope this email finds you well and that you’re as excited as we are about the incredible experiences our campers are having! 

Yesterday kicked off with a delightful breakfast consisting of eggs and sausage. At lunchtime, we served up a finger-licking feast of chicken wings. For dinner, our talented kitchen staff prepared a delectable dish of tender chicken with flavorful fried rice. 

In terms of activities, yesterday was a normal day where our campers were engaged in a variety of exciting activities on their regular schedule. They were busy during general preparing for their MTV performances tonight; honing their skills, and unleashing their creativity. 

We are amazed at the enthusiasm and dedication our campers have shown in their preparations for their MTVs. It’s inspiring to witness their progress and witness the friendships that are forming as they collaborate and support each other through this process. 

Today was another normal day of activities on Meta Lake. The sun was shining and the air was cool, a perfect Northwoods weather day! We started the day with avocado toast, had a make-your-own salad for lunch, and had Dirkee Chicken with potatoes for dinner! 

After dinner, it was time for the big event; MTVs! We have been looking forward to this moment all session and watching our campers perform their dances is always a highlight. Groups went one by one to perform for the whole camp where we were able to witness their costumes, backdrops, choreography, and enthusiasm. The entire production is entirely camper-led, no staff participates in the planning or execution. Campers work together to cut music, make costumes, design backdrops, choreograph dances, and get performance-ready. Watching each group perform their final product gives me the chills and brings me to tears each summer. To watch a group of campers, of all different ages, come together to work toward a shared goal and have fun is an incredible thing to witness. To me, it encapsulates exactly what makes Marimeta so special. At Marimeta, campers of all ages and abilities can come together to have fun, cheer each other on, and take leadership roles. Our oldest campers put in an extreme amount of planning, effort, and dedication to include and support campers of all ages. They find innovative ways to feature campers with various talents, get creative with their backdrops, and cheer on their competitors. The spirit and teamwork that goes into the performances is electric and inspiring. We can’t wait to share the performances with you soon!

Tomorrow will be a very fun and special day with our Total Camp Competition (a relay for Mari Meta League)!

Love the happy times,

Jami

It has been a wonderful two days here on Meta Lake and we cannot believe how quickly the session is flying by. 

Our day yesterday started with French toast and went into our regular K-day activities. For lunch, we had grilled chicken sandwiches with strawberry salad and cream puffs for dessert. Dinner was pasta caprese! After a normal day of activities, campers had canteen and then had MTV practice during general. MTV performances are on Saturday and we cannot wait to see all of the hard work that each and every camper has put in to learn their dance, create their costumes, and make an amazing backdrop.

Last evening for the evening program our Pioneer campers went bowling at the bowling alley while our dude and rancher campers played Hatchet Hunt a camp favorite. During the Hatchet Hunt campers work with their cabins to decipher clues given about where a paper hatchet is hidden around camp. After being given a short time to discuss the clues, campers are given a short amount of time to run and look for the Hatchet. If they are not back before the whistle blow, they lose their opportunity for a runner in the next round. 

For breakfast today, our campers were treated to a scrumptious feast of fluffy pancakes accompanied by crispy bacon. At lunchtime, we dished out a delicious Mexican fiesta! Tacos were the star of the show, with amazing toppings to choose from. 

Dinner was a special Mari and Meta event of Silent Dinner.  Our kitchen staff prepared tender and flavorful ribs, complemented by a medley of colorful and nutritious vegetables. To add to the excitement, we served everyone’s favorite side dish – tater tots! As the grand finale, our campers indulged in a delightful strawberry crumble for dessert, savoring every spoonful of the sweet treat. During dinner, however, campers must be absolutely silent and have to use alternative ways of communicating to pass items on the table or waitress their table. It is part of a competition for our league to earn points for the team who can be the quietest. 

In terms of activities, today was a normal “G” day, and campers had a blast participating in a wide range of thrilling experiences. For the evening program, we had our regular Friday activity of Capture the Flag, which included an exciting twist. All the campers came together for an epic all-camp capture-the-flag event, fostering teamwork, strategy, and friendly competition. It was a joy to witness the campers’ enthusiasm and camaraderie throughout the game. Tomorrow evening we will head over to Horseshoe for a social which is why we played Capture tonight! 

Last, but not least, we wanted to share with you some photos from our photo day last weekend. You can view the cabin portraits and all camp photo at this link. 

Thank you for entrusting us with the care and happiness of your children. It brings us great joy to witness their growth and enjoyment during their time at camp. 

Love the happy times, 

Jami

Today was a day of mixed emotions. As I bask in the smiles, cheers, decorations, and fun we experienced today, I can’t help but remember just one year ago when we were in the middle of celebrating the fourth of July to receive news of a mass shooting in Highland Park, so close to home for many of our campers and Marimeta families. 

Today felt normal which we are incredibly grateful for. As we know from our experience and from experts in the field, normalcy and routine are the best ways we can support our community through traumatic experiences and today we did just that. The day started with a patriotic breakfast in which we sang the national anthem for grace. We indulged in waffles with blueberries, strawberries and whipped cream! We then went into raising the flag and our captains and little captains of Mari Meta League participated in our Captain’s Duels; a water balloon fight where the goal is to stay dry. Campers watched and supportively cheered on their teammates as well as the opposing team, showing our value of sportsmanship. This turned into a water balloon fight amongst campers and staff and then segwayed into lunchtime.

Our Fourth of July lunch is a Marimeta Favorite; BBQ chicken, brisket, pulled pork, baked beans, cole slaw, corn on the cob, cornbread, and bomb pops for dessert! After lunch, we had rest hour before our annual game of Message to Martha. The goal of the game is to get your team across camp (wearing white t-shirts) without getting squirted with colored water by the opposing team. This game takes an immense amount of strategizing and planning, led by our senior cabin campers and is always a highlight of the day. 

Following message to Martha, campers partook in the Meta Lake boat parade before heading off to get ready for our social with Camp Menominee. For dinner, we had steaks with asparagus, potatoes, and ice cream for dessert. After dinner, Menominee arrived and we socialized over freeze pops and fireworks. For our campers and staff who did not feel comfortable with fireworks, we distracted them with a movie in the rec hall, knowing that the sounds of fireworks can be upsetting for our campers given recent events. For those who wanted to enjoy the fireworks, we gave them a fantastic show over Lake Meta! 

As I reflect on a fun day, filled with laughter, costumes, and decorations, I can’t help but think about one year ago. I can’t help but think about the victims and their families. I also think about those who ran in fear for their lives. I think about the loss of innocence for our campers who must partake in active shooter training at school and at camp. I can’t help but think about all of the gun violence that exists in our world among the other issues we currently are dealing with politically and otherwise. 

I am able to go to sleep tonight after a happy day when campers came together to celebrate life. I look to the future knowing that every day at Marimeta is a day dedicated to shaping your girls into strong young women who will go out and create a better tomorrow for our world. I continue to promise you that our team will put our all into creating an environment that allows your girls to grow into adults who will advocate for what is right, even when it is the hard thing to do. We will continue to strive to create a community that supports one another, celebrates each other despite differences, and leads with love. 

Love the happy times, 

Jami

First session is flying by! We’ve had another two days filled with fun and love here at camp!

Yesterday was our last day of activities for our first two weeks of programming. We began the day with french toast, eggs and sausage which was followed by our first three activity periods. For lunch we had pita sandwiches with macaroni and cheese and for dinner we had shrimp with rice, cauliflower, and broccoli. Evening program last night was a very special night at camp, 5 Year Night! For 5 Year we celebrate our campers who are here for their fifth summer at camp. Each camper receives a special letterman jacket commemorating their summers spent on the shores of Meta Lake. At the ceremony we sing songs, have readings and light candles to celebrate what Marimeta stands for; friendship, sisterhood, and love. 

Today was our second Sunday of the session which began with a lazy breakfast and a sleep in for our campers. We then had our photo day where campers got their individual portraits taken as well as cabin pictures and an all camp photo! While campers were waiting, they participated in Sunday clubs! For lunch we had lox and bagel with eggs and hashbrowns! After photo day finished, our youngest campers, the ranchers, went to town to see Elemental! In the afternoon, cabins participated in cabin activities and we finished the evening with a cookout with burgers and ice cream for dessert! 

Tonight’s evening program was a campfire in which we talked about sportsmanship and teamwork. Campers from cabins 6 and 7 gave speeches about the ways in which they have learned to work together as a team in their time at camp. Campers mentioned amazing lessons such as giving their all while competing in Mari and Meta events but being “oink” (orange and pink combined) in the cabin. It was inspiring to hear the way that campers have already learned some of our important values at camp. We sang camp songs throughout and I read a poem we read every summer at camp titled, “Don’t Quit” by Edgar A. Guest. I have included the reading below:

When Things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and debts are high,

And you want to Smile but have to sigh.

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As everyone of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about,

When he might have won if he’d stuck it out,

Don’t give up though the pace seems slow,

You might succeed with another blow.

Often the struggler has given up,

When he might captured the victor’s cup.

And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,

How close he was to the golden crown,

Success is failure turned inside out,

The silver tint of clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems afar,

So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,

It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.

It is our goal that each camper takes the lessons we teach and reflect on at campfires into their camp experience and back home with them after camp. We love being able to talk about important values and our Marimeta Morals each week and to hear campers live them as they thank each other in our Keylog Ceremony. 

Tomorrow we will start our second two weeks of activities! Campers are excited for their new schedules and we are excited for all of the fun ahead!

Love the happy times, 

Jami

It has been another fabulous two days here at Marimeta! 

Yesterday, we had an olympics themed day for our ranchers and dudes campers. We started the day with donuts, eggs and avocado and then headed into dressing up for our team colors. After campers were all decked out they participated in an all camp relay, various strength and fitness challenges, an egg drop, a cheer competition, and tug of war. Each event could earn their team points for the day! For lunch we had soup bar and right before dinner our Pioneers returned from their respective trips! We welcomed the pioneers into camp with ravioli for dinner! Our evening program was the Marimeta talent show where campers put their many amazing talents on display. 

Today we continued with our regular activities! For food today, we started the day with make your own breakfast burritos, had tacos al pastor for lunch and chicken flautas for dinner with incredible homemade churros for dessert! After lunch, campers were given the chance to re-sign up for their activities for the next two weeks of camp! Campers ranked their activities in the same way they did at home, prior to coming to camp (just on paper this time)! For evening program we had Capture the Flag, as we always do on Fridays, where campers ran their hearts out and cheered their teammates on from the sidelines! 

Tomorrow will be another normal day of activities followed by a very special 5 year night ceremony and celebration!

We can’t believe how quickly the session is flying by and have tons of fun packed into the remaining two weeks!

Love the happy times, 

Jami

Greetings from Meta Lake! 

The past two days at camp have felt slightly different than normal as our oldest campers (Pioneers) are out on trips! With a smaller group we have had a lot of fun and are excited for our Pioneers to return to camp tomorrow! We look forward to hearing about the amazing adventures they had white water rafting, at Mackinac Island, and sailing on Lake Superior!

Back at camp yesterday, we started the day with eggs, bacon, and English Muffins! After breakfast we headed into cabin clean up and once our trips were off campers participated in “Al Lewis’ ‘! Al Lewis is when campers are able to sign up for open activities for a period. We had a smattering of offerings during the morning and afternoon including skiing, tubing, swimming, arts and crafts, soccer, basketball, tennis, walking, and more! For lunch campers indulged in a make your own sandwich bar and for dinner we had lemon salmon with cauliflower and rice! For evening program, campers played a game called Ring of Fire. On teams with their cabin and dressed up in different colors, campers were given various tasks such as crab walking, wheelbarrowing, and more and had to do so around the circle to compete against the other cabins. The fastest camper group would win the round!

We lucked out today with our weather at camp. Though rain occurred throughout the day, it happened at times when we were already inside (breakfast, rest hour, and dinner) allowing us to be outdoors all day again for Al Lewis! Breakfast started with Oreo Pancakes, for lunch we had Italian Beef and for dinner we had Chicken Kiev with corn on the cob and broccoli! Tonight for evening program, campers created Commercial Skits with their cabins and performed them for the whole camp. For commercial skits, a cabin is given an everyday item such as a mirror or a hanger and they need to use their imagination to come up with another use for that item. They then create a commercial about it and perform it for the camp!

All in all, it was an amazing two days. We can’t wait for our camp to be full again tomorrow and for the very special Olympic day we will have for our campers here at camp!

Love the happy times, 

Jami

Yesterday we had our first Sunday of the summer! Sundays at camp are like our camp weekend! We begin the day with a sleep-in where campers can sleep until 10 am. For our campers who are up early in the morning, we have a games area with giant tether ball, 9-square-in-the-air, giant jenga, gaga, connect four, and axe throwing or campers can hang out in our lodge and play cards, write letters or play jacks! We have a self-serve breakfast and after campers are woken up they got to participate in our first Sunday clubs! Because yesterday was a rainy and wet day, we had a reading club, letter writing club, language club, card games, bracelet making, and Zumba!

For lunch, we had our famous Marimeta potato bar with a smorgasbord of options including tater tots, pizza, wings, chicken roll-ups, and more! After lunch cabins participated in cabin meetings and switched beds within their cabins. On Sundays, all of our campers switch beds in order to change up cabin dynamics, try something new, and meet new people within their cabin. We pair this with a cabin meeting facilitated by your camper’s counselors in order to discuss what is going well in the cabin, what needs to be improved upon and goals they have for the upcoming week. These processes all tie into what we hope your camper gains from her experience at camp; lifelong friendship, new communication skills, and the ability to live in a community and work to make it better each day! After cabin meetings, our Ranchers and Pioneers participated in cabin activities they signed up for while our Dudes went to the movie theatre to see Elemental!

Dinner was a cookout with hot dogs, veggie dogs, and brats! For evening program we held our first campfire of the season (albeit indoor due to the weather). The theme of the campfire was friendship and our five-year campers gave speeches about the incredible friendships they have made over their summers at Marimeta. Between the speeches and readings, we sang camp songs and finished with a new way to appreciate each other at camp, a Key Log ceremony.

The story goes that way back when, before camp was founded, in order to move wood across the state, lumberjacks would harvest trees and float them down the river to get them to major cities. During this process, one log would get stuck and cause a jam and pile up for all the other logs. That log was called the “Key Log”. The lumberjack who had to climb atop all of the other logs to unstick the pile-up was brave as it was a very dangerous task. To unstick the log, the lumberjack would risk his life for the greater good, to allow the logs to continue to flow down the river. So in our Key Log ceremony, we throw in a Key Log (a piece of wood) to thank someone for doing something for us. It was heartwarming to hear our girls recognizing each other for the ways in which they have been helped thus far at camp. Campers were thanked, counselors were thanked, and we lived by our Marimeta moral to thank everyone who has helped us along the way.

Today has been a regular day of activities! Breakfast was blueberry muffins, eggs, and bacon and for lunch, we had chicken fingers. During general we had MTV practice and for dinner, we had pasta primavera with spinach and corn! Tonight, campers are participating in Team Competition. Within each Mari or Meta team, campers are also on a little team where they compete against other little teams. Campers are rotating through games such as Steal the Bacon, Marimeta Dodgeball, Sideline Basketball and more!

It has been another two fantastic days at camp!

Love the happy times,

Jami

Another two amazing days have gone by at camp! Time is already starting to fly!

Yesterday, we began the day with honey butter chicken and biscuits and then headed into our second full day of K-day activities! For lunch, we had a make-your-own bowl with assorted veggies, quinoa, assorted meats, beans, and toppings! It was very hot in the Northwoods so after lunch we held General Waterfront! General waterfront is when we open the entire waterfront for activities for cooling off including swimming, skiing, tubing, paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, slip and slide, water balloon nucum and more! Dinner was chicken with baked potatoes and broccoli with homemade m&m cookies for dessert! For evening program we played our first game of capture the flag! We play each Friday evening and campers compete with and cheer on their Mari and Meta league teammates.

Today was another day of G-day activities! For breakfast, we had French toast and bacon with our yogurt and cereal bar! Lunch consisted of grilled cheese and tomato soup and for dinner, we had steak, green peppers, quinoa, mashed potatoes and garlic bread. For dessert, we had homemade carrot cake! For evening program we played Marimeta Jeopardy where camp was split into teams to answer trivia questions! It was so much fun.

We had another beautiful day today and campers are looking forward to our first lazy Sunday of the summer with sleep-ins, clubs, village activities, switching beds, and more!

Love the happy times,

Jami