This summer, we welcomed an incredible new camper named Rachel to Chenny. Unlike many of her peers, Rachel joined a division where most campers had spent multiple summers together—tight-knit, familiar, and full of shared memories. It’s not easy to walk into a group that already feels like a family, but Rachel did it with grace, courage, and an open heart. From the moment she arrived, she jumped into every activity with excitement, connected quickly with her counselors, and embraced all the fun that camp has to offer. She’s been smiling through swim, rocking it at sports, and is already counting down to upcoming trips and events.
In her division of four bunks, there were so many opportunities for friendship, but over the first few weeks, Rachel realized something important: the strongest connections she was forming were with campers in a bunk she didn’t live in. And at a place like Chenny, where relationships are the heartbeat of everything we do, that realization really mattered. Rachel showed incredible emotional maturity when she shared what she was feeling—bravely opening up about how she was navigating this new space. It was never about not fitting in—it was about finding the right fit. And for Rachel, her gut told her it might just be next door.
With compassion and care, we presented Rachel with the option to move into the bunk where she felt the strongest sense of connection. We guided her through the process, making sure she felt empowered every step of the way. The most beautiful moment came when we shared the news with the girls in her new bunk. Their reaction was instant and full of joy: “We’re so happy she’s in our bunk now!” When Rachel walked in, she looked at her new friends and asked with a smile, “Okay guys, which one is the good shower in here?” Without missing a beat, her bunkmates leapt up, laughing, and excitedly pointed her to the best one. It was as if she had always been there.
There’s so much to learn from moments like this—from Rachel’s courage to speak her truth, to the empathy and inclusivity of her new bunkmates, and the shared understanding that sometimes, change is exactly what’s needed. Camp isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s about finding your people, your rhythm, your place. And today, Rachel found hers.
Chenny Game Recap:
Freshman/Junior Boys Intra Camp Basketball Tournament – CAW Red 21 vs. CAW Gold 20
Junior/Middy/Inter Boys LAX – CAW 6 vs. Wayne 1 – CHENNY WINS CHAMPIONSHIP!
Collegiate Boys Softball – CAW 13 vs. IHC 0
Super Boys Soccer – CAW 4 vs. Island Lake 2
Freshman/Junior/Middy Girls Basketball Tournament – CAW Gold 16 vs. CAW Red 22
Middy vs. Inter Girls Intra Camp Tennis Tournament – Middy’s 1 vs. Inters 6
Collegiate Girls Soccer – CAW 8 @ Starlight 0
Senior/Super Girls LAX – CAW 16 @ Starlight 10
Love and laughter were in the air tonight as we gathered in Shields Hall for one of camp’s most beloved evening activities—The Dating Game! With charming bachelors and bold bachelorettes from every division, the energy was electric and the comedy nonstop. The laughter pouring out of Shields Hall could be heard across camp—it was that good. From the Freshmen all the way up to the CITs, the questions were creative, the answers were hilarious, and the spirit was pure Chenny magic. It was a night full of fun, friendship, and feel-good moments. Days like this remind us why we love it here so much.