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Today in Arts n’ Crafts there was a group of boys in our Lego room, all sitting around our new Lego tables each making their own works of art. Some made cars and raced them down our Lego track but everyone in that space was creating and having the best time.  I was watching them as they each worked alone and were completely focused on their project. This space allowed each camper to use their imagination as one camper said to me, “I built a triple decker firehouse, you wanna see what I made?” He was so proud showing me the trap door and the entrance for the fire trucks and it had a story. A few other boys came over to us and asked if they could add on to his firehouse which they all agreed how awesome it would be to connect all their pieces to create a city.  They got a plan of what this would look like and then the plan went into action. What started out as a single triple decker firehouse grew into an entire city. They started out alone and then were drawn together to work with one another. Right in front of my eyes, I saw their connection grow. They used these little colorful pieces to create a work of art and did it together. In a 45 minute period, these boys started out working alone and by the end were all together working in harmony, compromising with one another, negotiating, creating an entire city and this is what it is all about. These boys came to camp alone and are building cities together, with each other.

It was a great day for sports and tourneys at Chenny. We hosted a Collegiate Boys baseball tournament with Wayne, Westmont and Tioga.

Game 1: CAW 5 vs. Tioga )

Game 2: CAW 1 vs. Westmont

Game 3: CAW 8 vs. Wayne 1

Freshman/Junior Girls Basketball – CAW 30 vs. Tioga 2

Inter Girls Tennis – CAW 4 vs. Tioga 1

Collegiate Girls Soccer – CAW 2 vs. Westmont 1

Senior Girls Basketball – CAW 17 vs. Westmont 37

GC/CIT Girls Soccer – CAW 9 vs. Tioga 1

Senior Boys Tennis – CAW 3 vs. Weequahic 12

GC/CIT Boys Soccer – CAW 0 @ Starlight 2

We have so much talent here at Chenny and it’s just not our campers. Tonight out staff showed just how talent they are at our Staff Talent Show. They sang and danced and got up on that stage and were fearless. Our campers cheered for them with standing ovations and screams of pride. When one of us is on that stage, its as if each of us are on that stage. It what truly makes us a family. Another incredible day here in Paradise.

Chenny out.

To say the day was incredible would be an understatement. Waking up to the bluest sky, with the cleanest crisp freshest air, the warmth we feel from the sun shining down on us and the greenest rolling mountains that surround our summer home, gives each one of us a connection to nature and has this incredible positive effect on how we feel. You walk outside and you are just in an awesome mood. When an entire community starts their day with this much positivity, it is hard to have a bad day. That is one of the many reasons why life is great here. We are all embraced by the beauty of our surroundings and it allows us to feel so good, all the time. I try and observe our campers experiences so you at home can feel what is happening here inside our gates but today was that kind of day that deserved a description of the beautiful landscape we live in and how it effects each one of us in the most awesome way.

Our Super boys had a day full of baseball as we hosted Camp Westmont with a double header tournament. They were on the field all day long and loved every minute of it. CAW won both games with a 8-0 victory followed by 2-1 win. More than the win, it was the fact that the boys played baseball all day and they couldn’t have been happier.

As some things change some just stay the same and one thing we can always count on to stay the same summer after summer here at Camp Chen-A-Wanda is Sign & Song. This very long-standing camp tradition is celebrated by so may who came before and you can count on this camp favorite every summer for years to come. Each bunk decorates a plaque that will forever be placed on the bunk walls. It is a tradition that cements your summer here at Chenny. Your name will forever be up on our walls, that you can count on. When any Chen-A-Wanda alum come by for a visit, the first thing they do is find their bunk plaque and grin ear to ear. Each bunk on girls side performs a dance they have worked on all week long. From the cutest Freshman through our beautifully talented CIT’s, the girls put on quite a show tonight. Boys side was cheering them on and nights like this makes us a camp family. There is a winner for lower and upper camp plaques as well as winners for dance in both camps. Tonight was incredible and we didn’t envy our judges as they had a tough time choosing the winners but a huge congratulations goes to the bunks that we’re crowned winners:

Lower Camp Best Plaque- Boys Bunk E and Girls Bunk F

Upper Camp Best Plaque – Boys Bunk W and Girls Bunk W

Winner of Sign & Song Dance: Lower Camp – Girls Bunk H / Upper Camp – Girls Bunk S

It was an electric night and another amazing Sign & Sing is in the books. All campers are sleeping peacefully and camp is quiet but only for a few hours until we rise and do it all over again.

Chenny out.

We had another beautiful day here at Chenny. It was late wake up this morning and though we’ve only been here for 5 days, it has been a packed 5 days and the sleep-in was so great.  We’ve been playing hard all day and all night long so the extra hour felt amazing. Here at Chenny, we go to breakfast in our pajamas – just like were home. Roll out of bed and head to the kitchen and today was a camper favorite as we all filled our bellies with the best chocolate chip pancakes. A great way to start our day. So we have nourished our bodies and then it was off to play.  The sun was shining, the lake was glistening and camp was full of smiling happy campers.

So much happens in a day here. There were more team tryouts, theater auditions for our show Legally Blonde and the campers were so excited about this years Chenny’s Got Talent show. Campers auditioned for the show and brought their “A” game. There were singers and dancers, comedians, musicians, jugglers and other talents you just have to wait and see for yourself. As each camper took that stage to show what they got, it blew our mind how talented our kids are. Some went in groups and some rocked it all buy themselves. This years show will blow our minds, that you can bank on.

As the sun set over fiddle lake and campers enjoyed free play, which is the time of the day after dinner when kids get to roam around, be with friends and enjoy some unstructured time, we saw something that we had never seen before. Our Dance director had an impromptu Zumba class and there were well over 100 campers that jumped in danced to amazing music and worked up quite a sweat. It was insane fun and the campers loved it.

Evening activity was a blast as our campers played Deal or No Deal. It was electric and so much fun. One camper who played just would’t take a deal as he watched pizza parties and extra canteen for his bunk pass him by. He had his site set on one thing and was playing until he got it. The last case held what he wanted and as the crowd was trying to sway him to take a deal actually any deal for that matter, this cherokee camper wanted the new Chenny baseball hat and in that last possible move – a suitcase turned over and the prize was that hat. He cheered as if he won the lottery tonight and walked out of Shields Hall with the best looking baseball hat on his cute little head. A deal was made and our camper was happy. Doesn’t get better than that. A great day and an awesome night. What life at Camp Chen-A-Wanda is all about.

Chenny out.

Imagine for a moment a world where no electronics existed. There were no tears or heartbreak because you weren’t invited to that party you saw on someones snapchat story or because you weren’t tagged in a picture on Instagram. A world where group texts didn’t exist and that cold isolating screen was replaced with the warmth of your friend laughing at your jokes. You could see his face and feel her emotion when you have conversation. There is empathy that develops when you see how your words and actions can effect those around you. It isn’t just keys you press to communicate. Camp is the ultimate environment that brings us together rather than keeps us apart. I was watching our CIT’s tonight sit around a table after evening activity, some on each others laps, some leaning against one another but the entire circle was connected by human touch. I sat and stared at this group of 16 year olds talking about anything and everything. It reminded me of how things used to be and one of them said, “I am so happy we don’t have our phones – Look at us.” That said it all. Camp makes us better versions of ourselves.

The day was incredible and the campers are taking advantage of every corner we have here at Camp. Gaga games were full of happy kids, the biddy courts had campers playing on them, the spin room was spinning all day long. It just doesn’t get better than this. Today was our get together for our Littles and Bigs. We love this program where we paired up our new Chenny kids with campers who have been here for years. They pass the torch to the new kids just starting their journey and our camp family grows. When you watch the Littles and their Bigs, you see why Camp Chen-A-Wanda is so full of love, laughter, joy and kindness. We take care of on another up here. We are a family.

Love was in the air as our evening activity was a camp favorite, The Dating Game. We had bachelors and bachelorettes and it was a great night. The laughter coming from Shields Hall was deafening. It is a night we all look forward to. Starting with the freshman all the way to the CIT’s – the questions were awesome and the answers were even better. It was a day full of love here at Chenny. Just doesn’t get better than this.

Chenny out.

It’s only day three here and when you look around it is the strangest feeling like we’ve been here for weeks already. The comfort you feel when you are here is unexplainable. Being at Chenny is like wearing the most comfortable pair of warm slippers you just slide right into and never want to take off. Friendships start fast and last long. I was in a girls bunk today at rest hour and was watching these connections develop right in front of my eyes. There were a few girls dancing, another group playing jacks, another circle of painting nails and a group sitting on one bed reading jokes to one another cracking up. It was the happiest place on earth in that moment. As I was sitting getting my hair braided by a very talented and sweet Inter girl, I was in awe of witnessing this moment. A group of girls living together, all very different but each adding something incredible to this melting pot of friendships. I thought how lucky they all are to experience this every day for the next seven weeks. There were new campers that were added to this bunk this summer and they were accepted into the group as if they had always been there. It was magic and my heart skipped a beat as I saw the best part of your children today. Acceptance, Inclusion and Kindness – They way it’s supposed to be for our children. The bugle rang letting us know that rest hour was over and it was onto the next but I didn’t want it to end. I could have sat in that bunk all day long watching your kids exchange ideas, laugh and giggle from their core and see how much they crave these connections.  These girls I spent rest hour with were so happy and as they all ran out of the bunk, full of giggles and smiling faces it reminded me the power of this experience and how it changes every one of us.

There were so many sport tryouts today and our courts and fields were packed with kids giving it their all and most importantly having the time of their life. Sports at Chenny is unlike the experience at home for many. There is no pressure, no stress, no disappointed coaches, no cuts, no bad feelings, no feelings of self doubt, no initimidation and no nerves. There is an enormous amount of encouragement, support, lots of incredible training, insane amounts of fun and a feeling of why playing sports can and should be approached in this manner. I will never forget a few years back when a camper came to me and had tears in his eyes as he begged me to tell everyone at home who would listen how sports can be played without stress, fear and intimidation. You see, he is the star pitcher of his team back home but after his love for the game was being destroyed by the amount of stress that he was feeling, he wanted me to tell everyone how we played up here at camp. That he loved playing ball again because when he played, he was encouraged without stress and the game he loved so dearly was here for him. That same camper comes back each summer and you can find him on field with the biggest smile on his face. I watched him today as he was killing it at his tryouts and what was so impressive was that he was inspiring the new younger kids to have fun up here. I overheard him saying to a new camper, “You’ll love playing ball up here. The game will be fun, you will learn a lot and nobody will be disappointed when you get an error.” We can’t wait to watch these kids PLAY!!

For our Cherokee and Mohican campers it was an incredible night of BINGO… Prizes galore and so much fun. Pizza parties, ice cream socials and a few Beats head sets were given away. Our older kids had an optional evening activity. Some got into a great game of Wiffleball while others opted to hangout in the new canteen, playing card games, listening to music and just having a perfect summer night. We aren’t counting the days up here, we are making the days count!!!

Chenny out.

The bugle rang at 7:45am and reville rang throughout camp waking everyone up to start our amazing day. The sun shined bright and the day was off to a great start. Imagine where you begin your day and everyone is in a good mood, skipping to breakfast in your jammies, smiling from ear to ear while everyone you pass says good morning and have a great day. That is real and that happens here at Chenny. There is just no way to explain how happy we all are to be here and it starts as soon as we all wake up. This is how your children begin their day and the vibe of happy positive feelings is everywhere. You can’t escape it and it feels so good.

It was a full day of activities and camp was hopping. Campers spent their entire day playing. What could be better than that? Outside, in the sun playing with their friends and counselors and loving every minute of it. It felt like a million miles away from our kids sitting in front of the T.V., eyes glued to their phones, disconnected from the world. They were engaged with one another laughing and playing. Exactly what kids need to do. When we take those devices away, they soar. No texting one another but talking to each other. It was a sight you want to see everyday and for the next 49 days, this is where your kids live – In a world where they are connected to the people around them in a very meaningful and profound way.

For our Cherokee (Freshman, Junior and Middies) and Mohican (Inters and Collegiates) campers, they enjoyed an amazing evening activity in Shields Hall. Audiobody dazzled our kids with their light drum show. The kids were engaged and entertained. It was just awesome. Our Navajo campers had optional evening activities as some spent their night having a beach bonfire, eating s’mores and hanging out while the other Navajo campers enjoyed their evening in our new canteen just spending time with one another, being social and  having a perfect summer night. It was a spectacular day and your kids are having an amazing start to their summer. Best news yet, we get to do this all again tomorrow!!!

Chenny out.

At 7:45am, your kids were woken up to the bugles playing  reiville throughout camp and for the next 49 days they will hear Associate Director Brian Leahy call out, “Goooooooood Mooooooooorning Camp Chen-A-Wanda. There is truly no better way to wake up than to hear that announcement. The air was crisp and cool and everyone rolled out of their beds in their pajamas and went straight into The Lodge for breakfast. You know you are home when you head straight to breakfast in your jammies.

The afternoon was spent in activities as Arts & Crafts was full of campers making friendship bracelets and rainbow looms,  soccer fields and courts  were busy with games, the Cookhouse was packed with campers making delicious treats and kids were rocking out in The School of Rock. It was great to get activities underway and the campers loved their first full day of camp. Dinner was a blast with a sing-a-long session that could blow the roof off the building. Singing in unison all together in the Lodge is one of the greatest experiences we all have together. Throughout the day, we are all doing different activities and having different experiences but when all eat together and sing the same songs, it unites us and creates connections that just feel so good inside. The Lodge has a personality of its own and we are so lucky to get to experience this three times a day.

It was a magical night in Shields Hall as master illusionist Elliott Zimmet entertained us with his tricks that blew our minds. He made tables elevate and birds appear in front of our eyes. We were in shock as each illusion unfolded and loved the show. As the campers headed off to bed, we were all still scratching our heads and asking, how did he do that???? It was a great night. There is no trick or illusion here; tomorrow we get to wake up the bugles, hear Brian’s Goooood Moooorning annoouncement and have another awesome day at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

Chenny Out.

After all the countdowns and get togethers, preparing and packing, play dates and sleepovers, Camp is finally here. I sit in awe of each of our families as I watch you hug your campers so tight, tell them how much you will miss them this summer and send them on their way.  You have given them a gift that will enhance and change their lives forever. What lies ahead of every single one of them is magical and life changing. They will make new friends and try new things they thought never would. They will laugh and they will cry. They will sing and they will dance. They will find their voice and they will gain confidence and a sense of independence they didn’t know they had. They will win and they will loose. They will be part of a summer family that will change the way they view the world. They will make friends with people from all around the world who will inspire them to be the best they can be. They will navigate their way through this amazing place they will call home for the next 50 days. Your kids journey starts today!!!

No amount of rain can damper the spirit of this place and as your kids got off the buses, the returning campers jumped into the arms of their friends and hugs to the familiar staffers they have missed all year long. Our new campers were met with open arms and an excitement that was contagious. The campers got checked for lice before running to they bunks to see where they will be living for the next seven weeks. Since the rain didn’t allow for outside play, it was hanging in the bunks for an afternoon of getting to know you or reconnecting. Card games and mad libs were out in full force and real life connecting was in motion. Tagging on Instagram was quickly replaced with real face-to-face conversations and Likes on Facebook pails in comparison to holding hands and piggyback rides. It was afternoon full of connecting, what our children crave and so desperately deserve.

After our bellies were full of delicious food from dinner it was time for a true Chenny dance party and that is exactly what we did. We boogied down and danced on the tables. We sang out loud and let loose. This is what we all do at Camp Chen-A-Wanda, we sing loud and dance without hesitation. The energy in The Lodge was electric and the mood was insanely fun. Your kids let loose tonight and it was AWESOME!!!!

Thank you for the bottom of our hearts for sharing your beautiful children with us. They are the heart and soul of this place and the minute they rolled through our gates, camp began too beat.

Life just got Great at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

Chenny Out!!!

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