Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B
A Christian summer camp for girls in the Blue Ridge Mountains offering a variety of activities.
▌ Editor's read Camp Merri-Mac is an ACA-accredited overnight camp for girls, with their accreditation expiring in 2025, as evidenced by the ACA logo and link on their homepage. The camp has been operating for over 90 years, founded by Hugh and Elizabeth Bell, as stated in their 'About Us' section. They maintain a staff-to-camper ratio of 1:4, which is prominently displayed on their 'Staff' page. The camp explicitly states that all staff undergo background checks, as found in their 'Safety' section. Merri-Mac is a Christian camp, integrating faith into its program, and offers a wide range of activities from horseback riding to watersports. The camp's ownership appears to be for-profit, given its long-standing family operation and lack of non-profit designation.
★
ACA-accredited~300 standards audited
⌬
Since 193690+ years operating
Who thrives here Ages 6–16
Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B sits in the upper-elementary to middle-school window where specialization starts to mean something. Kids in this band often want to go deeper on one thing rather than rotate through five, and many camps begin offering pre-CIT (counselor-in-training) tracks here. The right overnight/sleepaway fit at this age depends on whether the child wants more autonomy or still wants the safety of a structured rhythm.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Overnight camp
- ACA accredited
- Yes
- Established
- 1936 (90 years)
- Operator
- Private business
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Published by camp see camp site →
Details
- Category: Overnight/Sleepaway
- Ages: 6–16
- Hours: 24-hour residential
- Address: 132 Merri-Mac Rd, Black Mountain, NC 28711
- Phone: 828-669-8766
- Email: [email protected]
- Cost notes: $5,350 for 12 nights
Runs 24-hour residential, 7 sessions (0 one-week, 7 multi-week blocks), from Jun 1 to Aug 7.
Sessions ⛓
Bookable units published by the camp. Multi-week blocks marked ⛓ are indivisible — register for the full session.
- Session 1 Jun 1 – 26, 2026 · 4 weeks · $9,150
- Session 1A Jun 1 – 13, 2026 · 2 weeks · $5,350
- Session 1B Jun 14 – 26, 2026 · 2 weeks · $5,350
- Second Session Jun 28 – Jul 10, 2026 · 2 weeks · $5,350
- Main Session Jun 28 – Jul 24, 2026 · 4 weeks · $9,150
- Third Session Jul 12 – 24, 2026 · 2 weeks · $5,350
- Junior Session Jul 26 – Aug 7, 2026 · 2 weeks · $5,350
↗ What parents like
- Christian summer camp
- Brother camp nearby
↘ Watch for
- Waitlist for many sessions
- Minimum two-week sessions
Logistics
- Lunch provided: Yes
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: mixed
Frequently asked about Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B
- What ages does Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B accept?
- Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B is open to children ages 6–16. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B cost?
- Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B publishes $3,121/week for the standard session. $5,350 for 12 nights Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B's hours?
- Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B runs 24-hour residential. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Is Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B accredited?
- Yes — Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and has been operating for 90 years. ACA accreditation means the camp has been audited against ~300 health, safety, and program-quality standards covering staffing, supervision ratios, emergency response, and program design.
- Who runs Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B?
- Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B is operated by a private business, with 90 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B provide lunch?
- Yes — Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B includes lunch in the program. Confirm whether it's a hot lunch, cold lunch, or a snack-plus-bring-your-own setup, and ask about allergy accommodations if relevant.
- How does Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B compare to other overnight/sleepaway camps in Black Mountain?
- Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B is one of 5 overnight/sleepaway camps in Black Mountain that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Day camp vs. overnight camp · Decide whether the format fits your child and schedule.
- Packing list and camp prep · Plan gear, medication notes, labels, and drop-off prep.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside Camp Merri-Mac Session 1B.
- Camp Crestridge · Ridgecrest, NC · Ages 6–17 · $1,775/week
- Camp Crestridge - Bear Paw · Ridgecrest, NC · Ages 6–8 · $1,775/week
- Camp Crestridge - Bluerock (In-Camp) · Ridgecrest, NC · Ages 14–17 · $1,775/week
- Camp Crestridge - Bluerock (Wilderness) · Ridgecrest, NC · Ages 15–17 · $1,775/week
- Camp Crestridge - Cumberland · Ridgecrest, NC · Ages 12–13 · $1,775/week
- Camp Crestridge - Fox Creek · Ridgecrest, NC · Ages 8–9 · $1,775/week
- Camp Crestridge - Hawksbill · Ridgecrest, NC · Ages 11–12 · $1,775/week
- Camp Crestridge - Roan · Ridgecrest, NC · Ages 13–14 · $1,775/week