It’s that time in the summer when everyone is thinking Color War and wondering when it’s breaking. at Chenny, we are known for our breakouts and equally famous for our Fake-Outs. Keeping kids on the edge is what we do and this summer did not disappoint. The campers kept checking the calendar posted at Headquarters and were desperately trying to figure out which day it’s happening. There was a general consensus that it was most definitely breaking after Carnival on Thursday or Friday morning early or even Friday at snack call. The theories were flying everywhere and we LOVED it!!! Nobody, not anyone thought we were breaking on Wednesday night. We love when a plan comes together and this day, this plan, this Color War Breakout was seamless.

All of camp was focused and excited for Head Staff Lip Sync Battle. The show was perfection and all of camp was together in Shield’s Hall having the best night. There is something magical that happens when the entire camp is together, enjoying a traditional camp event, just being one camp family. The energy was high all throughout the show and after we crowned Haley Kushner and the CIT’s, Head Staff Lip Sync Champions – the  Fakeout bagan. We showed a trailer of Barbie vs. Super Mario Bros clips and ended with that famous word , FAKEOUT! For a few moments, the campers were thinking this could be it – as the chants and cheers got louder and louder and louder. Our kids wanted Color War but it was not happening yet, until……….

As soon as we stated dismissing everyone from the hall, they could hear loud music down at the beach. WAS THIS IT????? As the kids ran from the hall to the beach, the excitement was at an all time high and we all knew something spectacular was about to happen. The most incredible and impressive drone show took our breath away as we all watched in awe the magic of this night. Maybe it was the most perfect weather or maybe it was the music or the theme we picked or the insane drone show that was happening over Fiddle Lake or a combination of it all, last nights Color War breakout was INCREDIBLE!!! Your kids experienced a night that they will never forget.

Red New York vs. Gold LA – It’s On!!!!!!

This is it, our last trip day for Summer 2023. Crazy to think that there are only 11 days left to our magical summer here at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

Our Freshman, Juniors and Middies started their day at the Leahy’s Fun Park. They played in the arcade, went on bumpers cars, had a ball driving the go-carts and enjoyed mini-golf. There was just so much to do . Then if that wasn’t enough fun, it was off to the ice rink for some fun on the ice. The campers loved ice skating in the middle of summer.  We ended the day back at camp with a movie in Shields Hall. It was a perfect day and a perfect way to end this summers trip days for our youngest campers.

The Inters & Collegiate’s, Seniors, Supers and GC’s loved their day spent at Dorney Park. Nothing defines summer more than a day spent at an amusement park with your besties. A day full of rides, games, more rides & so much park food was the ideal way to spend their last trip day of the summer.  They all rolled off the buses with giant stuffed animals they won at the park. It was all smiles and great vibes from our upper camp kids. They just enjoyed an amazing day at Dorney Park.

The CIT’s enjoyed their last trip spent all together as a division at Lake George. They had 3 glorious days spent at the most beautiful and scenic place. They did a little bit of everything and it was perfection because they did it together.   As their bus rolled into camp tonight, they all knew this was the last time they would roll through out gates as Chenny campers. The emotions were definitely there for every single one of them. One our CIT boys came off the bus and said to me, “I just rolled by the Chenny sign coming back into camp for the last time ever as a camper. I never thought I would feel this way about this place. It’s home to me.”

Trips are done and WE ARE ALL IN – Our house in Full. Now onto the last and best 11 days of Chenny. We have a Color War to get to……..

Life is so GREAT at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

It was another spectacular day here at Chenny as we hosted 2019 World Series Champion, Matt Adams for our first MLB Day. His impressive powerful home runs paled in comparison to his approachable connection to the kids and staff. Matt spent the entire day here at Chenny, signing autographs, taking pictures and of course hitting dingers out of the ball park. Everyone here is a Matt Adams fan and we can say with confidence that Matt is a fan of Chenny. He loved playing ball with us today and after the Home Run Derby, he had a personal request to go tubing and ATV’ing and that is exactly what he did. No matter if you are a World Series Champion or a Chenny camper, when you are here, tubing and ATV’ing are a must do. A great day was had by all and we know that no matter how much time passes, our kids will always remember when a true MLB hero came to visit their camp that sunny beautiful day.

GIRLS SIDE SPORTS

Inter Tennis Finals – CAW 1 vs. Wayne 4

Super Softball Finals – CAW 10 vs. Lohikan 3 – CHENNY WINS CHAMPIONSHIP

BOYS SIDE SPORTS – No games played today

Boy, did we put on a show tonight as our Circus show took our breath away.We had tumblers and acrobats, adagios and lyra performances. There were single trapezes and spanish web and our kids dazzled us with their abilities on the triple trapeze. To watch our kids create a performance that defies gravity and takes total 100% concentration and are able to execute with such ease and grace is a testament to our Circus staff. From start to finish our minds were blown as we watched our kids do things that they only learned here at camp. They were brave and fierce, talented and composed.  You just can’t imagine how spectacular your kids were as they were the main acts. To watch you kids pour their heart and soul into this program and show us all what dedication looks like is truly what it’s all about. There is nothing they can’t do when they apply themselves and try until they nail it. So many kids may look at that huge trapeze and see it’s enormity as something they can’t do but this summer, our campers saw what they can do and we could not be more proud of each one of them. So many kids in the audience were in awe and said to me afterwards that next year they DEFINITELY trying out for the Circus show. They soared tonight and literally flew to new heights. They worked so hard and it showed. The show was phenomenal, funny, entertaining, electric and just awesome. Here is to our incredible team who taught our children to dream big, fear less and go for it. Bravo Bravo!

We have 12 more days at this glorious place together. Twelve more days to do extraordinary things. Twelve more days to wake up with our best-friend next to us. Twelve more days to feel this free and happy and twelve more days that we will make count. There is so much to look forward too and though we are getting closer to the end, there is an enormous amount of action we will experience in our last 12 days. The buzz has definitely started about Color War and everyone is on alert. Truly the best part of camp is in front of us. It’s hard to believe the best is yet to come but that is exactly what we have to look forward to – the best part of camp is approaching and everyone can feel it. Everyone here may not recall every detail to every day, they may not remember scores of the games they played but I promise you this, everyone here will remember the way this place  and the people inside camp made them feel. It’s why you don’t ever want to stop coming back, because the feeling when you’re here makes you want to stay. So the plan is to go BIG these next twelve days and no matter how tired we may be or how exhausted our bodies are, we have more magic go make and more memories to create.

GIRLS SIDE SPORTS

Middy Tennis – CAW 4 vs. Westmont 1 – CHENNY WINS CHAMPIONSHIP

Inters Softball – CAW 5 vs. Westmont 6

Collegiate Softball – CAW 3 vs. Westmont 10

Collegiate LAX Finals – CAW 12 @ Westmont 3 – CHENNY WINS CHAMPIONSHIP

Senior Soccer Finals – CAW 1 @ Westmont 5

Senior Basketball Finals – CAW 26 vs, Nesher 18 – CHENNY WINS CHAMPIONSHIP

BOYS SIDE SPORTS

Inter Baseball – CAW 0 vs. Starlight 4

Senior Basketball Finals – CAW 40 vs. Lavi 34 – CHENNY WINS CHAMPIONSHIP

We have the most talented kids and tonight’s performance of Matilda brought the house to its feet. The acting, the singing, the dancing was superb. Our cast worked so hard on this production and it showed. The pride on the faces of the kids in the show was incredible to see. All that hard work paid off and our entire camp watched in awe. The audience clapped and sang along and showed great support and so much respect. You would been so0 beyond proud of your kids in the show as they dazzled us with their talent. What jumped off that stage tonight was your kids having fun, actually having a total blast. They were all part of something special they created together and put on a show that blew us all away. You know an experience makes an impact when you overhear a few cast mates after the show say to one another, “I am definitely doing the play next summer.” The show was fabulous, your kids were incredible and my cup is so full!!!!

There is nothing quite like camp traditions and this one is on the top of the list. Girls Sing is the ultimate camp tradition on girls side. Girls have been practicing for days and the pride each division has for making it great is unreal. For days now, you see groups of girls rehearsing their dance, perfecting the moves and memorizing their songs. It defines Chenny and there isn’t a girl on campus that isn’t fully engaged with this event. The big night is tonight and from what we see, the show will be a night to remember. We love everything about Girls Sing!!!

GIRLS SIDE SPORTS

Middy Basketball  – CAW  8 vs. Westmont 16

Middy Kickball – CAW 11 vs. Westmont 4

BOYS SIDE SPORTS

Fr/JR Soccer – CAW 3 vs. Westmont 6

Junior Newcombe – CAW defeats Westmont

Inter Hockey – CAW 2 vs. Starlight 12

GC/CIT Softball – CAW 4 vs. Equinunk 3 – Chenny heads to Finals!!

The night was all about Girls Sing and it was INCREDIBLE. It is a summer favorite and defines our camp tradition and spirit. Each division worked so hard on their dances and songs and it showed. When boys side can sit and support girls side for 2 hours, you know something special is happening. The support boys side gives girls side is just breathtaking. From the cutest and most darling freshmen through our crazy talented  and passionate CIT’s, they all brought the house down. I could never bring justice to describing the bonds these girls have with one another but watching them up on stage perform together allows us all to witness it for ourselves.  It is a true sisterhood that will stay with each and every one of them throughout their lives.  Each division picked a theme, danced and sang from their heart and from their soul.  There were chills upon chills as each division wrote and sang their alma mater to an audience that listened to every single word.  This shared tradition, creates memories that will never fade. They will sing their songs for years to come and will never forget a word. It was a night, a spectacular night that is most definitely one that will be remembered as a summer 2023 favorite.

Congratulations goes out to the Inter girls for winning lower camp Sing this year. It was Inter A Whole New World and they dazzled us with their Arabian themed performance.  Simply stunning! There is something here at camp called the GC curse as this division has not won Girls Sing since 2002. Tonight our GC’s broke that curse and brought home the Win for upper camp. The GC Family was breathtaking and blew everyone away. They were phenomenal, in sync and showstoppers. Everyone in the hall couldn’t look away as  their take on the Adams Family was just incredible. Congratulations to Girls Side for the BEST Girls Sing we have had ever!!! Now matter where each girl will go in their life, being a part of Girls Sing is an experience that is etched in their minds forever. They won’t forget the songs they sang or the themes they chose. Life is Great on Girls Side!!!

It was anything but a typical day today at Camp Chen-A-Wanda as the Corn Man came to Chenny and he hit it out of the park with his delicious sweet roasted corn on the cob. He started roasting the corn early in the morning and that yummy sweet smell covered every corner of camp all day long. Mid afternoon came, it was time and the campers were ready. You have no idea how much your kids LOVED the roasted corn. It was the sweetest most yummy corn I have ever had and there wasn’t a camper who ran up to myself and Jon asking for the Corn Man to came back every summer, which he will. We are all hooked. One Junior boy, in between bites said “My mom will never believe me when I tell her I ate Corn on the Cobb.” What a treat!!

GIRLS SIDE SPORTS

Freshman Soccer – CAW 1 vs. Westmont 7

Juniors Kickball – CAW 21 vs. Westmont 7

Collegiate Soccer – CAW 2 vs. Starlight 0 – CHENNY WINS CHAMPIONSHIP!!

Seniors Softball – CAW 4 vs. Westmont 6

GC/CIT Softball – CAW 8 vs. Westmont 9

GC/CIT LAX –  CAW 6 vs. Starlight 3 – CHENNY WINS CHAMPIONSHIP!!

BOYS SIDE SPORTS

Fr/Junior/ Middy LAX-A-AMA @ Wayne – game 1. CAW 1 vs. Equinunk 3 / game 2/ CAW 4 vs. Wayne 1 / Semi Final CAW 2 vs. Equinink 3

Freshman Baseball Tourney @ Westmont – game 1. CAW 3 vs. Westmont 2 / game 2. CAW 2 vs. Starlight 1

Middy Hockey  – CAW 6 vs. Wayne 1 – CHENNY WINS CHAMPIONSHIP!!

Senior Baseball – CAW 2 @ Starlight 4

What a beautiful night we had outside at the Amphitheater under the lights, all together at our camp favorite Chenny Globes. This is the night where we get dressed up and enjoy an evening of superlatives.  The night was beautiful, the mood was perfect and the kids and staff absolutely loved the Globes. The categories ranged from Most Likely to Be A Color War Captain to Most Camp Spirited to Most Likely to Be President to name a few. This night was fun for everyone and felt like a true awards show. The cheers and hollers when the winners were announced from all their friends was deafening. The pride on the winners faces when they heard their name called, was precious. They ran up on stage and accepted their award (made in Chenny Tech BTW) .It was a perfect summer night, just perfect!!

Today marks only 2 weeks and 2 days left at our glorious summer home. Our GC’s that have spent the last 8 days out west on their amazing travel journey, are back at camp happy and exhausted. After a canceled flight and a very long travel day, we have them back. As the buses rolled into camp, we were there waiting for them and couldn’t wait for their return. Some staff and campers made posters with WELCOME HOME and WE MISSED YOU plastered for them to see upon their return. Our GC’s literally rolled back into camp with a giant warm hug waiting for them. That’s how we do it here and thats why everyone in this place is so connected to one another. I was walking behind a group of GC girls as they were headed to their bunk and one said it so perfectly, ” Guys, that was the most incredible trip but I am so happy to be home” We are their home and this place and the people in it make it feel like home. There is no bigger compliment than our kids feeling comfortable, confident and home here at Chenny.

Girls Side Sports

Middy Soccer Championship Game – CAW 8 vs. Lohikan 1

Inter Tennis – CAW 2 vs. Lohikan 1  – CAW moves onto finals

Dance Competition at Camp Wayne – CAW places 1st in Lower Camp Hip Hop

Boys Side Sports

Senior & Under Hockey Tournament @ Lokanda  – game 1.  CAW 8 vs. Wayne 2  / game 2. CAW 3 vs. Timberlake 4 / Semi final CAW 9 vs. Wayne 3 / Final CAW 1 vs. Timberlake 6

We had our 2nd Camper Talent Show and like the first, it truly shows what kind of camp we are and what kind of kids we have here. The support, the love, the talent and the courage to take center stage that is on display here, is truly breathtaking. When one of us is up on stage the rest of us are singing along with them. We literally are the best place in the world to showcase our talents to. Tonight we had, dancers, singers, magicians, musicians, comics and rappers. This is a night that everyone loves because it is just all about great vibes and great talent. To watch our kids take the stage with such confidence and poise is magic. They may have nerves but you would never know it and once that curtain opens, you kids shine so bright. These moments are the ones that transforms our kids from looking fear in the face to finding courage to perform in front of of camp to embracing their own greatness. Nights like this one, fills up our cups.

It was another showstopper day up here at Camp Chen-A-Wanda. The sun was out but there was a breeze that ran through camp that kept us all cool as we played outside all day long. Today in center camp, there was a group girls that caught my eye. They were all lying on the ground with their heads in the center of a circle as they lay face up. They were all looking up towards the sky and were watching the clouds pass them by. Each girl picked a cloud and described what they thought it looked like. Just lying on the ground without a care in the world watching the clouds go by. What could possibly be sweeter than that? I can guarantee that this group of girls may not remember every little detail that happened during this summer but they will definitely never forget the time they laid in a circle, watching the clouds  go by with their camp sisters. It was such a sweet moment and just highlights the true magic of what camp does for our kids.

GIRLS SIDE SPORTS

Our dance team had an incredible time at the Tyler Hill Dance competition. We performed in 3 categories – Hip Hop, Jazz and Contemporary. It was great day for all our girl dancers.

BOYS SIDE SPORTS

Middies Soccer – CAW 8 vs Westmont 2

Middies Flag Football – CAW 20 vs. Westmont 7

Collegiate Basketball – CAW 37 vs. Wayne 33 CAW WINS CHAMPIONSHIP!!

CIT Hockey – CAW 10 vs. Lavi 0

Our night was all about Wiffle Cup. Girls side was determined to bring home the win tonight but Boys side felt confident as well.   Girls side was decked out in everything neon as boys side was showing their solidarity wearing all black. There was chants, cheers, dances and of course a crazy fun game of wiffle ball. The game was so much fun and everyone was involved. You didn’t have to be on the field to feel the craziness. We were all part of it. The W went to Girls Side tonight with 4-1 victory over Boys Side. So proud of our kids and their contagious spirit they bring. We just wanna have fun and boy do we know how to do that here at Chenny!!!! Another incredible day down but we still have more to go!!!

Chenny

We have a saying here at Chenny that has stood the test of time and has become part of our ethos; Be the River, Not the Rock. When you approach life as the river, you are capable to roll with life’s ups and downs and can go with the flow. When you are the rock, you get stuck and moving forward seems impossible. Today, our campers were most definitely the river.

It was our trip day and we had some fun trips that the campers were really looking forward but the weather had its own plans. Each trip had to pivot and though there were some initial disappointment, our campers went with the flow and still were able to have a remarkable day. The Freshman, Juniors and Middies were set to spend their day at Camel Beach enjoying the water park but the rain moved in and we moved out. It was off to the movies, to catch the latest summer blockbusters. The Inters, Collegiate’s and Seniors were set to enjoy their day at the movies followed by Gorilla Grove for some fun zip lining but the weather had some different plans for this group too. It was an easy swap to go rollerskating and everyone just rolled with it.

The GC’s in Arizona, had their flight home canceled so they too pivoted. It appears that every group had to be River today. They went with flow and allowed the day to truly unfold. Your kids showed patience and helpfulness today a desire to part of the solution that allowed the moves. to be made without a hitch. You would be so proud knowing that all our campers were most definitely the River.

Each summer we have the privilege to witness the best parts of your children and today didn’t disappoint as I saw kindness and love rise to the top in a very special way. We have a camper who has been coming to Chenny for years but this year, nerves knocked on her door and it hasn’t been an easy ride. From her smiling face, you would never know that on the inside she was feeling insecure and unsure of herself. But she kept it inside and just didn’t want anyone to know. When she sat with me today and cried and saw a huge mountain in front of her, I asked if she shared these feelings with her friends to which she shook her head no. I told her the only way to get over that huge mountain in front of her was to trust her friends and let them in and talk about it and that support would get her through the times she felt alone. I knew she needed backup and she couldn’t do it alone, nobody can do it alone.  She named 2 friends to which she thought could be her support and with her permission agreed for me to fill them in. Feeling shy and nervous about revealing her feelings, I sat with these two amazing girls and brought them up to speed on what their friend was facing and how she was keeping it all inside. Without hesitation, they wanted to help their friend whom they had no idea how sad she was feeling on the inside. These two incredible kids showed compassion and kindness and said it so perfectly, “We got her. She’s not alone.”  You see, this girl who has been here for years just didn’t want to burden anyone with how she was feeling and her friends had no idea but when they heard that she was struggling, they stepped up, grabbed her hand and put their arms around her. I saw the three of them on their way to dinner and when they saw me they stopped and gave me a look as to say, Don’t worry, we got her covered.  The camper who was having a hard time earlier today looked happier than I have seen her since summer began. A smile so genuine and a look as she shed the weight that was heavy on her heart. She opened up, trusted and let her friends help. It was magical and she wasn’t alone. She is climbing that mountain with her friends right by her side. Sometimes you have to take a leap before you are able to fly.

GIRLS SIDE SPORTS:

Middy Soccer Soccerama Tourney @ Westmont – CAW played 3 games – won 1, tied 1 and lost 1

Lower camp Gymnastics meet @ Bryn Mawr- CAW placed 2 overall

BOYS SIDE SPORTS:

FR/JR Basketball  – CAW 19 vs Starlight 11

Middy Basketball – CAW 25 vs. Westmont 10

GC/CIT Flag Football Laz Bowl Tourney at Tyler Hill – game 1. CAW 6 vs. IHC 20 / game 2. CAW 14 vs. Timberlake 6