It was brunch day and we all needed that extra sleep. Getting to sleep in after the effort and intensity of our Olympic games was needed and appreciated by all.  The sun was shining bright today at Chenny and it was perfect weather here. Not too hot, not too cold and 100% no rain. Everyone seemed so positive and upbeat because the weather was just ideal.

Our Supers were off for their camping overnight at Hickory State Park. These kids are having an experience that they will never forget. They pitched tents, enjoyed beautiful hikes, roasted hot dogs, made S’mores and enjoyed making jiffy pop popcorn right on the open fire. You know that Jiffy Pop that has the foil that pops. They loved it. What could be better than sitting around the campfire with your friends on a warm summer night, roasting marshmallows and laughing until your stomach hurts? These summer moments are just the absolute best.

There is nothing quite like dressing up in your Halloween costume in July. We were all so into our Halloween costume parade as each camper strutted their stuff down the catwalk. They showed off their costumes and had the greatest night. Everyone was in on the fun and loving celebrating Halloween together. After the parade, it was off to trick or treat and campers went station to station as they filled up their bags with oodles of treats. The spooky halloween music playing all over camp set the stage for our ghouly evening. In true Chenny tradition, the Senior girls made a haunted spook house in the Dance Studio that spooked and creeped out everyone who dared to enter. It was a great night and one that won’t soon be forgotten.

We wanted to give our GC’s a night they would never forget as we celebrated all our Sweet 16’s. It was their night and it was remarkable. This group, these kids are AMAZING. They had the greatest night as they danced, took pics, ate amazing food, danced more, ate more, laughed more and had the absolute best Sweet 16. The venue was incredible and rustic and beautiful. The food was beyond delicious but it was the people there that made this night as special as it was. The GC group is one special group. It is more like a family who truly love being together. You can see it and you can definitely feel it.  It was just as perfect of a day as you can dream of. Best news, we get to do it all again tomorrow.

After two and a half intense days of Olympic games, Gold Belgium brought home the victory. Blue United Kingdom and Red Mexico were fierce competitors. The morning was full of games and the Olympic spirit was so strong. Everyone gave it all they had. No matter if it was a game of steal the bacon, kickball or basketball the intensity and desire to win was there. Each team fought a great battle to the very end.

It all comes down to SING!

We loaded into Shields Hall tonight and each team presented their Plaque, Banner and Songs.  The artwork was spectacular and will forever be a part of Chen-A-Wanda Olympic history, as we proudly will display them for years to come. Each team presented a Cheer, March and Alma Mater.  The lyrics they wrote and sang, the meaning and the heart in which they were performed made everyone in the Shields Hall feel as if they were part of something special. All singing in unison, these words will never be forgotten and will leave an indelible mark on all of us. To be present for such a display of sportsmanship, honor and camp pride is a feeling that stays with you forever.

What made this summers’ Olympic games so special was to see the elation of each team member on Gold Belgium as they worked so hard over the past few days and reached their goals.  There were tears of joy for winning and there was heartache of defeat for the teams that didn’t win but in the end these three separate teams came back together as one camp family and showed respect for the games and honor for one another. We played fair, we played hard, we played with integrity and most importantly we had so much fun. With our Olympic games, there will always be a victorious team, but everyone in Shields Hall won tonight.  After the winning team was announced, the energy inside the Hall was unreal. The spirit and elation could have literally moved a mountain. Your children experienced something insanely magical tonight which will be hard to explain to you at home but will forever be a part of who they are here at Chenny.

It will be hard to come down from our incredible night we all just experienced but tonight your children will sleep well. It’s late wake-up tomorrow and the kids couldn’t be happier. Olympics 2022 is in the books and boy was it a great one.

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

Our Olympic games stands out as a true picture to why Chen-A-Wanda is truly a remarkable place. Victory is not defined by wins or losses. It is defined by our effort. Today our campers gave it everything they had. Every camper put their heart and soul into each battle and gave it their all in every competition. The battles were fierce, they were fun and in the end it was the undeniable effort that made today such a standout day. We played hard, had fun and in the end supported one another. When you walk around camp, in the midst of hearing all the chants and cheers during all the games, you also heard “great job, amazing effort, proud of you.” There is something equally valuable to encouraging those around us that actually feels better than getting the win.

Being part of a community that comes together and supports one another regardless of the outcome is what makes Chen-A-Wanda Olympics so spectacular.  Tonight was Contest Night and everyone from our Rookie campers to our GC’s played an integral part. The fun they had took center stage and the only word that can accurately describe tonight was Electric. The energy was incredible, absolutely awesome.  We sincerely hope that the pics and videos we post on our social media platforms gives you at home an up-to-date snap shot of much fun your kids are having. Olympics brings the best out in us all. There are so many valuable moments each and every day here but Olympics feels different. We are watching the joys of winning and the sting of defeat. We are seeing your kids put everything they have into making this Olympics incredible. The spirit, the heart, the dedication, the emotion – it’s all here front and center.

It was Contest Night tonight and if you happened to catch our Facebook and Instgram stories, you would have seen a snip of Freshman camper Zach Capon riding that turtle bike with a determination on his face, that said it all. He was focused and in the zone. His counselors and Captains Ben & Connor were right by his side, cheering him on. They were doing it together and it was magical. As Zach crossed that finish line first, Conor picked him up and put him on his shoulders as the entire team surrounded him chanting his name. It was a scene right out of Rudy. He was a champion and felt like a hero. The race was so close and Zach brought it home with a win for the gold team. A moment he wont forget, and neither did anyone who was lucky enough to watch it too.

When all is said and done, it’s not the shots that won the championship that we will remember, but the friendships we made along the way that will stay with us forever. All are sleeping peacefully as we rest our bodies for another amazing day of Olympics. Doesn’t get much better that this!!!

There was a buzz all around camp today about when Olympics would break out. A rumor began and the chatter turned from when Olympics would breakout to if we were having Olympics at all this year. Questions were flying and the excitement was building. You could actually feel the energy in the air but the day just went on as business as usual.

Well, our campers did not have to wait long as the entire camp was enjoying snack call when a very familiar song began to play throughout camp. The Olympic Fanfare sent chills up our spine and every camper ran to Shields Hall. There were chants and cheers and the Olympic spirit was alive today at Chenny. As every camper and staff were inside Shields Hall, the energy got bigger and the excitement was indescribable. We started with a highlight video from Olympics 2019 and it got every single person so pumped up to see what the next 3 days will bring. We announced the Captains and for the first time in Chen-A-Wanda history, we have chosen Sergeants from our GC division to help run Olympics and their contribution to the leadership team in invaluable. The addition of Sergeants will now become a Chenny tradition for years to come.  We will compete, we will play hard, we will show spirit and dedication, we will play fair but most importantly we will have fun in our Olympic Games!  Our camp is now split in three equal teams, Red Singapore, Blue Brazil and Gold Jamaica.

Just when we thought that camp could not possibly get any better, Olympics takes us to a whole new level. Tonight was a great night as we started our battle with Tugs of War. There has never been a Camp Chen-A-Wanda TUGS OF WAR WITH MORE SPIRIT AND INTENSITY.  It was an electric night. We are so proud to be part of these games as we watch your children thrive and be the best they can be. Best news is we get to do this again tomorrow. There is no place like CAW.

It was a sunny beautiful day here at Camp Chen-A-Wanda and your kids took full advantage of  it all. There wasn’t a field or court that wasn’t full of happy kids. Each activity area was just packed with smiling happy campers. From Gaga to Mini Golf to the lake and every other corner, camp was hoppin’ today. Not everyday can be a 10 but today was really close. It was one of those days where it just felt good. The weather was ideal and the day was just so much fun. Good vibes were all around and you could feel it.

The Collegiates and Seniors had their own special day as they left camp and headed for a day at the bowling alley. Good old-school fun, going bowling with your friends. It’s not the bus ride, It’s not the destination, It’s not the bowling that made today remarkable – It was being with friends and feeling free. They played arcade game and laughed with friends. They bowled and laughed with friends. They snacked and laughed with friends and the most important part is that they were with friends. It’s not where you go but who you are with that matters. These kids made memories today and had fun along the way.

But the night belonged to our mitzvah kids. It was a party in their honor. There was a montage and an amazing DJ. There was Kona-Ice and Churros. There was incredible music and so many fun gift give-aways. It was a perfect night as the kids partied hard. They was singing and dancing with everyone letting loose. With everything they missed, we were determined to give your mitzvah camper and every other camper here a night to remember. Right before we sent our youngest campers to bed, we all heard that familiar Olympic fanfare song and the place erupted and the kids went bananas. Shields Hall was electric. They could smell Olympics and it was breaking tonight. As the song played on the campers and staff got more excited. .Only to be disappointed  that they need to wait a little longer for Olympics to break. Tonight was a Fake Out!!Tonights vibe was incredible and just was the perfect ending to a spectacular day. The great news: We get to do it all again tomorrow.

When you become a Chenny camper, you get a First Friend or a Big and this connection pairs a new camper with a seasoned veteran who is in essence a first friend. We love this program so much and today showed all of us that were watching the Bigs and Littles, juust how important of a program this is for both new and returning campers. When you send your first time camper away to Chenny, your world gets bigger. You share connections and build bonds with an entire community who loves to share their love of this camp with the kids just starting out. Girls side met in Shields hall while the boys were at the Canteen hangout. Bigs and Littles sat together, got to know each other better and created a handshake together. Then in front of everyone, performed their special handshake that only belongs to them. As I looked around the Hall, all you could see were little kids creating bonds and friendships with our older kids and the older kids felt a sense of pride and purpose. They remember their first few weeks of camp too and now they are part of someones journey who is just starting theirs. It’s the connection that makes this place feel like a home. On Girls Side, you didn’t see a Big without her Little in her lap or holding her hand. Boys side were busy making the coolest hand shakes and more importantly, making connections. That is where the magic happens, when our circles get bigger and we bring more people into our lives. Today was just so incredible for every one of our Bigs and Littles. We are in the midst of creating this unique, fun loving, supportive community that is connected, spirited and built on trust. That is truly the secret sauce of this experience – the place is amazing but the people make it family.

We all get wet, wacky and wild with Powerhouse Studios for our evening activity. We did crazy silly races, got pied in the face and some got slimed by the giant booger blaster.  It was just over the top hilarity. Everyone had a ball with the rubber chicken toss and hobby horse races. What a fun night we all had. It was Road Rally for our GC’s and they took over camp. The spirit was alive tonight. There were campfires and S’mores everything campy. Just a great ending to an incredible day.

Our Supers and GC’s headed out to Leahy’s Fun Park where they spent the morning playing mini-golf, arcade games and go-karts. It was old school fun for our oldest kids they loved it. After a morning of fun and games, it was off to Sky Zone for some jumping around at a trampoline park. The kids had an absolute great day hanging with friends, playing arcade games and jumping around. There is just everything right when you have day spent like this. It’s not where you are but who you are with that makes all the difference.

Back at camp, it was Game Show Game Day and the campers spent their day playing games. We had Family Feud, Minute To Win It, Lets Make a Deal and so many other games they played. There were Zombie Road Rallies, Manhunt, Pictionary and our Game Night extravaganza ended with a Giant Game of Alphabet Hunt. It was a total day of play for every single camper.

Watching your kids thrive as they get so into every game, every match , every encounter that lets them just be kids. No worry or stress, just play. That is what I saw today as your kids just spent their day playing. It was joyful  and it was exactly what we all wanted so desperately for our kids. To play silly fun games, feel free and connected and laugh all day long. It was an absolute great day today. We are so so lucky!!!

Today was a great day. We were dodging the rain but got in every activity period. From Gaga to Wiffle ball and everything in between, our kids were playing, swimming and just so busy being active. And the rain doesn’t even kill the mood. Tonight after evening activity it was misting and then that turned into a drizzle  and that then turned into rain and our campers could care less. The little kids headed back to their bunks and older kids were outside singing in the rain. Jumping in puddles and having a ball. Your kids didn’t have a care in the world and a little rain couldn’t dampen their spirits. Nothing could. These are the nights that standout and are oh so memorable. Summer nights, friends by your side, getting wet in the rain and feeling free. This is exactly what all our kids needed and is exactly what all our kids are getting.

It’s that time again for Camper of The Week and there is just something so special when you are recognized for being AWESOME!! The following campers have proven that they are positive, kind and uplifting people who spread joy all around camp. We thank them for all they do to make camp so incredible.

Girls Side /   Boys Side

Rookies -Jolie Schissler / Ryder Diamond

Freshman – Charli McClure / Emmet Rosenberg

Juniors – Ella Goldberg / Jackson Glenn

Middies – Maya Kushner  / Mason Slater

Inters – Morgan Bassuk / Jake Marin

Collegiate – Callie Nadel / Josh Kaftol

Seniors – Taylor Gold / Sam Brief

Supers – Morgan Gary / Drew Schimmer

GC’s  – Ava Golden / Jack Einzig

I always find myself at the right place at the right time and at 7th activity period today, I happened to walk by our new gaming truck and stumbled upon a group of Super Girls all dancing and playing Just Dance together. What struck me was the pure joy this group of 7 girls had experienced together. They were laughing so hard and and smiling so big. It was so much fun to watch them – a group of 15 year old girls who decided to jump in, grab a remote and let loose in front of anyone who walked by. There is loss of inhibition here, there is a sense of acceptance here and that combination makes it so easy to let loose, be silly and not care if the entire camp is watching. It is pure joy getting to watch your kids experience these moments.  Total and complete comfort to be free. Doesn’t get much better than that.

Oh what a night! Sign and Song was incredible and Girls side blew the roof off the house. An absolutely spectacular show put on by every single girl camper who worked so hard and delivered a brilliant performance. Tonight is all about Chen-A-Wanda tradition and leaving your mark. Every boy bunk and girl bunk made a plaque, decided on a name and created a plaque that will be hung in the bunks till the end of time. Every campers name is on the plaque and that is cemented in Chenny history. There isn’t an alum that comes for a visit that doesn’t search for their plaque as soon as they get here. It’s just what you do – look for your plaque. Once they are hung in the bunks, they are there forever. The artwork was fantastic and the competition was fierce but there could only be one plaque winner for Lower Camp boys and Lower Camp girls and only one winner for Upper camp boys and Upper Girls. A giant congratulations goes to Girls Bunk H and Boys Bunk C for winning lower camp best plaques. Girls Bunk U and Boys Bunk N took home the title of Upper Camp Plaque Winners! When you are a Chenny kid, this means everything.

The main event is the Girls Side dance and boy did they deliver. Events like these are just simply magical. Something special happens when we are all together, doing what every Chenny camper has done before us and what every Chenny kid will do for years to come. Each girls bunk puts on a dance related to their bunk plaque name i.e. Bunk B Boxers put on a dance that was the most adorable dance ever as they all were little boxers. Couldn’t have been cuter, but hopefully you get the point to how they create their dances. They coordinate costumes around their theme and girls side just rocked tonight. It went from the cutest, newest most adorable rookies to the wildly talented and show stopping GC’s who were just incredible. You know you have a great show when all of boys side were so supportive, cheering after every group. They cheered on girls side and the room was electric. It was so campy and it felt so good. Even the counselors that were off duty, came to see the show tonight. It was an absolute packed house with standing room only in Shields Hall. Every counselor was cheering on their kids. During the girls of Bunk M’s dance, I was sitting next to their counselor who was screaming, “Those are my Girls!!!!!” She was standing on the bench, singing along at the top of her lungs. It was total pride and total connection! She turned to me and said,”I cant believe I met these girls 2 weeks ago, they are all my little sisters”. This is what happens here, we celebrate, sing and dance together and bonds are made. It happens that quickly. Two weeks and it becomes the start of a sisterhood and brotherhood, 8 years later and its connections for life. A major congratulations to Girls Bunk L for winning Lower Camp Song and the GC’s in Bunk U dominated with a win for their Song. The night was just right. It was an experience all our new kids loved to see and be a part of and it was something our returning kids yearned for over the past 2 years. It’s what they looked forward to and planned for and it didn’t disappoint. Sign &  Song 2021 is in the books and part of Chenny history. Plaques will go up tomorrow in each bunk and your campers name, hangs on the wall as its their mark that they are forever part of the Chnny family.