It’s hard to believe that there’s less than a week remaining in our first session! July 11, 2011 Dearest Marimeta Families and Friends, This season at camp has been like no other! I cannot even believe that visiting weekend is just days away! We have discovered one flaw in me doing letters from the lodge… I often get so busy with camp business, activities and spending quality time with our campers… that it leaves me must moments for doing these letters. On a daily basis… I have to admit, as much as I love filling you in on the events at camp.. the pictures tell thousands of words… and I believe my time is better spent with your daughters, than talking about them. I will try to be more prompt as the season continues. I was away on a trip with our 14 year old campers for 3 days last week in Mackinac Island and the surrounding areas! WOW! What a great time! One especially fun fact for me was that in 1976 I took a group of boys there as a counselor at Camp Menominee and one my campers this year is the daughter of one of those boys! How about that for a fun fact! This past week was great with the trips out and then the weekend was a whirlwind of excitement. We had first session portraits and cabin pictures. Activity pictures were taken by mobile photo. Camp was also excited with the arrival of Frankie and Scotty, who have arrived to teach volleyball. They spent the first part of the summer training for the National Volleyball championships! They took 15th our of 52 teams! So they are now here for great instruction and the girls were all very happy to see them! Of course as Frankies dad, I too was a bit teary eyed! We had everyone’s favorite capture the flag and then a wonderful 5 year campfire. Saturday was a busy day in preparation for our annual Mari-Meta MTV! One huge treat was that several old campers had brought their daughters to see camp! A wonderful part of that was that the visiting alumni were in the very first Marimeta MTV! This was extra exciting as everyone in the audience agreed that it was the BEST MTV EVER!!! I love it that things seem to get better with time! Sunday, Marimeta was the site of the annual TC Competition. This is an event that encompasses every activity that the girls take. The Maris and the Metas have campers assigned to each event where they ski, play tennis, climb the wall, shoot archery and riflery etc… This was followed by a spectacular captains event that also involved the entire camp. All ending in a “rattlesnake” line to the lake to take a refreshing dip prior to an Alexanders Pizza dinner! We have less than a week to be enjoying the final part of our first session. Marimeta Morals have played a key part in keeping everyone together as a group, respecting each other and appreciating all that Marimeta and her girls have to offer! I can’t think of a time that was like Saturday night at MTV… where we didn’t have to ask the girls to quiet down in between the acts! They just did so on their own! So much is learned here… so much is gained all at camp! I will try to keep you updated as visiting weekend approaches! As much as we love every day.. it’s sad that some of our girls have will be leaving us as many others will join us after the weekend! I love having 4 week sessions, as it gives more girls the opportunity to enjoy camp, yet no one is ready for this session to end… especially me! I wish they all could stay all summer long! As their summer dad, I am so proud of them and look forward to each and every moment! Love to all, Sandy