Natalie Merchant Visits Lakewood Camp
by: Tracy Rzepka
Natalie Merchant walked through Camp Yawaca in Lakewood looking like she truly belonged in the girl camp setting.
She was dressed in regular street clothes, her hair was brushed back in two long braids and sunglasses were planted firmly on her head, but the group of young girls anxiously awaiting her arrival proved this was no ordinary woman.
Ms. Merchant visited the camp Thursday afternoon with her guitarist, Erik Della-Penna.
The camp for young girls is maintained by the YWCA and is child-care licensed. Camp activities stress confidence building and trying new things. According to Leslie Bennett, YWCA interim executive director, Ms. Merchant has made donations to the YWCA camp over the last couple of years to allow less fortunate girls an opportunity to attend through camperships.
Ms. Bennett said the singer stays in contact with the camp.
Ms. Merchant is in town for tonight's concert and she agreed to visit the camp Thursday to meet the children. Della-Penna said that Ms. Merchant occasionally does activities like this, but this one is special because it's in her hometown.
For the visit, Ms. Merchant's chair was set against the wall and the girls formed a semi-circle around her. She motioned the group in closer with a "scooch in, scooch in."
The afternoon began with the entertainer asking the girls questions about the camp, such as what activities they most enjoy. She followed with sing-along songs Sit Down, Sister, Soldier Soldier and Senor El Gato.
Ms. Merchant showed off some of her skills with Soldier Soldier by jump roping while singing to demonstrate the song. Accompanied by the guitar, the pace of the rope hitting the ground established the beat and therefore the pace of the song.
"Nobody has ever performed the song like that," Della-Penna shouted out jokingly.
After her brief lesson, Ms. Merchant sat down out of breath and asked for volunteers. One by one, youngsters tried their turn at the jump rope, each one trying to last as long as possible.
Ten-year-old Nicole Badgley of Jamestown was one of the early participants.
"I was really nervous that I would fall," she said. "But I put all of my fear aside and just did it."
Ms. Merchant next sang Thank You, in which the children joined in. [webmaster's note: do they really mean Kind & Generous?]
The campers seemed to enjoy Ms. Merchant's visit.
Joelle Bennett, 9, of Fredonia, Ryanne Spallino, 9, of Jamestown, and Chelsea Greiner, 9, of Columbia, S.C., gave Ms. Merchant "two thumbs up."
"She was awesome," Ms. Bennett said.
"I like Natalie because she's beautiful and she sings wonderfully," Ms. Spallino piped in.
Eleven-year-old Jamie Feld of Jamestown also had fun. She said she is hoping that the 20 pictures she took of Ms. Merchant will turn out.
The tables were turned when the girls entertained Ms. Merchant.
The campers gave her a special treat by singing her hit single Wonder, which they learned in one day.
"We practiced it like six million times," said Gerry resident Laura Fellows, 9.
Beth Grant, an assistant director, was pulled out of the crowd to play Zum Gali Gali. Usually, she plays the song on her guitar and the children sing along.
"I was a little embarrassed. I'm a very amateur guitar player," she said. "I've been playing for five to six years, but I haven't gotten any better."
After the campers sang their last song, Ms. Merchant stayed for half an hour to meet the girls individually and sign autographs.
"I asked for her autograph," said Jamie Prunty, 8, of Jamestown. "I'm going to put it somewhere so that I can't spill anything on it. Maybe I'll put it in my closet or in a box or some type of container."