Towns across America flock to county fairs every summer ready for a day of face painting, sweet treats, and pockets full of paper tickets for carnival games. Merrowvista hosts its own version of the county fair each summer to the delight of campers.

Merrowvista’s county fair has a variety of activities from rock impressions to face painting and photo booths to relay races. Music Jail was one popular station where campers could exchange a ticket for a chance to send a staff member to “jail.” The only way out? Karaoke for all camp to hear! In-camp leaders were challenged frequently, but everyone was excited to when Director of Camp Programs Steph Dasman had to serenade camp with her rendition of “Call Me, Maybe.”

The county fair at Merrowvista provided an opportunity for kids to get silly and to take some time to enjoy the people and the surrounding spaces. The county fair creates a space for campers to engage with all who call Merrovista home for the summer.

Camp is an exciting place with many moving parts. People go out on trips and shuttle between many different spaces. Campers build small communities within their villages and activities, and these small communities are an important part of relationship-building and growth for campers.

However, activities like County Fair where all the in-camp villages mingle help strengthen the Merrowvista community as a whole. This event is just one way the entire camp community comes together in pursuit of genuine connections and a better Merrowvista.