It was carnival day today and that means a day full of fun, rides, inflatables, cotton candy, popcorn, dunk tanks and more. The music was blasting and a giant dance party broke out in the center of carnival. The happy mood here always allows for some great random dancing. It’s easy to do that here. There is a freedom to let go and let loose here and as we boogie down to the Riff Off from Pitch Perfect 2. When you see a sea of people dancing and singing just because, it just puts a smile on your face and you cant help but join in. Not only was it a great day but the T-shirt give away was a hit as well. Every camper and staff member was given a cool T-shirt that read – There’s no WiFi and Chenny But the Connection is Strong. Our campers have thrived for 19 days without surfing the web and their heads in their devices. They proudly wore the shirts as they were outside playing all day long.

It was hard for our athletes to step away from the fun at Carnival but boys side had a few to play

Freshman/Junior Boys Basketball – CAW 8 @ Wayne 22

Collegiate Boys Basketball – CAW 34 @ Wayne 36

The fun continued into tonight’s evening activity with Wild and Wacky Races. We raced on hobby horses,  got pied in the face, played name that tune and giant word scrambler and of course, some of us got slimmed. It was just that kind of a day that we got silly, had fun and there wasn’t a worry in the world. When we think of the stresses that our kids have for 10 months out of the year with their crazy schedules, test pressures, college applications, running to practices and hebrew school, it is so nice that days like this exist for them. The best thing is watching our campers be free of stress as the biggest decision of the day is what toy to pick out as they cashed their carnival tickets in at the end of the day. It’s good to be a Chenny Kid!!

Chenny Out

The fun just continues here with our divisional day trips today. Everyone enjoyed their day out of camp.

Our Cherokee Camp (Freshman – Middies) spent their day at Nathaniel Cole National Park. They all boarded the buses and were excited to play at the park all day. It was a great chilled out afternoon as they built sand castles, played in the lake and relaxed with friends. When they rolled back into camp around 5pm, each camper came off the buses with huge smiles and loved their trip out of camp.  It was a fun night with a huge pizza party followed by Bingo! What could be better? They had a fantastic day and are all snug in their bunks getting ready for another incredible Chenny day.

Mohican Camp (Inters & Collegiates) spent their day at Dorney Park and they had the best day ever. They went on rides galore. It was a great day spent with friends riding roller coasters and having the time of their lives. Exactly what an ideal summer day looks like. When the buses rolled in and our campers got off the buses, smiles were as big as some of the giant stuffed animals they won at Dorney Park today.  It was a great day spent with great people.

Navajo Camp (Seniors-GC’s) spent began their day at Camel Beach for some fun in the water park. It was great way to beat the heat while having the time of their lives.  They swooshed down the toilet bowl, got lazy down the lazy river, slipped down the slip and slide and got bounced off the giant bungee blob. Then it was time to dry off and head out to the Crossings for some fun shopping and eating and that is exactly what they all did. It was a packed day of fun for our Navajo campers.

Our CIT’s enjoyed a packed day as they enjoyed breakfast at Binghams. If you have never been there, it needs to be on your bucket list as the world Best Breakfast!!! Then it was off to Camel Beach for an afternoon of water rides and even though these kids are CIT’s they love to play so it was off to SkyZone to jump around some more!!! A fantastic day and night for our CIT’s as they had a blast on their trip day.

All the campers are safe and sound back in their bunks, all exhausted from an amazing day out. What a successful  trip day, full of memories that will last a lifetime. Your children were absolutely fantastic and every place our Chenny kids were today, we received praise on how well behaved and respectful our campers are.  Gotta love that. We sure do.

Chenny Out

Do you ever have those days that feel great from start to finish? Those days that you wake up with s smile and go to sleep with a happy heart and everything in between felt just right? We have a lot of those days here at Chenny but today was that day. We all go t a little extra sleep after the past 3 days of intense Olympic competition and that extra sleep felt so good. As we are entering our third week, it feels like we have been here forever and just got here at the same time. It’s a feeling that you totally get when you live here and experience this Chen-A-Wanda bubble. We are all in full stride, feeling great and are part of an incredible community. It just keeps on getting better.

An awesome day for our Chenny Athletes. We are so proud of them and not for any of Win’s they get but how gracious they are on the courts and fields and how they play with such deep integrity. Chenny Pride runs deep.

Freshmen/Junior Girls  Basketball- CAW 18 vs. Shoshanim 11 (game was continued today due to rain delay)

Inter Girls Basketball – CAW 29 vs. Shoshanim 6

Senior/ Super Tennis Tournament @ Indian Head- Jayden Bier won entire tourney for her age division / Daisy Chaskin & Arielle Ashkenase made semi Final/ hannah Seigel made it to finals / Jess Leichter & Cami Oresky won entire tourney (doubles)

Senior/Super Girls LAX – CAW 10 vs. Westmont 8

GC/CIT Girls LAX – Caw 10 vs. Tioga 8

Inter Boys Softball – CAW 10 @ B’Nai Brith 2

Collegiate Boys Soccer – CAW 8 @ Westmont 0

Super Boys Baseball – CAW 12 @ Lohikan 0

GC/CIT Boys Tennis – CAW 1 @ Tioga 4

We love highlighting those campers who are a force to be reckoned with and our Campers of The Week deserve all the accolades. Congratulations to this weeks very special campers:

Freshmen – Addison Rubovitz & Austin Levitz

Juniors – Sydney Geller & Drew Schimer

Middies – Jillian Oresky & Justin Miller

Inters – Chloe Lebovitz & Alex Goldstein

Collegiates – Mariel Gaines & Mitchell Limsky

Seniors – Kaley Morabito & Kobe Koren

Supers – Sara Kay & Sam Rochlin & Bennet Goldstein

GC’s – Dani Zucoff & Jeremy Schier

CIT’s – Gabby Vargas & Zach Temin

Next, it was onto our first KINDNESS CAMPER AWARDS. We launched this program and had no idea how the campers would respond. We challenged the campers to do 2 kind things for other people every single day they are here at Chenny this summer and then asked the kids to nominate people who they saw do acts of kindness or had inspired them in some way. When we opened the box to sift through the nominations, we were shocked with what we saw and what we read. There were over 200 nominations,  each more sincere than the next and all so very inspiring. The box was stuffed to the brim full of acts of kindness we are doing for one another up here. It took our breath away and renewed our spirit in the importance of kindness and how easily good will spreads. As hard as it was to choose amongst all the amazing nominations we read, we chose 15 kids that stood out as this weeks Kindest Campers. Though we only chose 15 to receive Kindness Tshirts, everyone won because when you are kind, it just feels so good. A huge congratulations goes to these tremendously KIND kids:

Jake Schuster, Corey Ash, Drew Schimer, Sammi Leon, Eli Kroskin, Jared Paulen, Ryan Kertzner, Bari Klein, Dylan Bass, Sam Tavel, Elana Kessler, Main Hersley, Jess Leichter, Cami Oresky & Makayla Stapler.

We could not be more proud of our campers and how much Kindness really matters here at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

Chenny out.

After two and a half intense days of Olympic games, Gold Egypt brought home the victory. The morning was full of games and the Olympic spirit was 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.

After a full day of games and track meets, the scores were too close to call and in true Olympic spirit, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO SING. We loaded into Shields Hall tonight and each team presented their plaque and banner.  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, an Alma Mater and a March for the judges.  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 quite humbling. It was the following phrase, written and sung by Red Cuba in their Alma Mater that so perfectly relayed the feelings we all felt today:

Olympics 2015, has split us into three – Without you by my side, I’m not who I want to be – After these days, we will be one camp – One team, united from Freshman to CIT’s – No matter what they say WE ARE ONE FAMILY!!!!

What made this summers’ Olympic games so special was to see the elation of each team member on Gold Egypt 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 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. That is what these games are all about. I’m so proud of our campers for the spirit they posses, the sportsmanship they showed and the heart they each have. We are so lucky to spend our summer with such incredible kids.

Now back to regular business with an awesome week ahead of us. So much to look forward to and we all deserve the late wake-up tomorrow.

Chenny out.

What an incredible day we had today. The sun couldn’t have been brighter and everyone was feeling the rays of sunshine that covered us all from head to toe. Faces were painted, hair was sprayed, tutus were on in full force. The spirit on this camp was off the charts and our campers were in it to win it. It was a full day of Olympic games and activities and the competition was fierce, fair and fun. Every camper pushed themselves and pushed their friends to be the best they can be today. Just when you thought you gave it your all and you may have felt you were running out of steam, your entire team was cheering you on from the sidelines letting you know , YOU CAN DO IT!!!! That is what happened on every field and every court today. You CAN do it – That made all the difference. Our campers and staff dug down deep today and pushed harder then ever before.You saw it on their faces and in the grit of their effort.  To see the encouragement we give one another can move mountains. It’s the best part of our Olympic games. To watch a camper who thinks they can’t go one more step and see them get lifted up and encouraged by their team and that is where they soar higher than they ever thought they could. We become champions for one another and we learned how powerful we are together.

The night belonged to the Apache Relay and everyone had a part in the ultimate goal. Regardless if you leaped frogged from the lake to Chenny Central, threw 5 cards into a hat or had to sing Take Me Out To The Ballgame, we all mattered and everyone counted.  The Apache Relay is an incredible race of teamwork, endurance and an enormous amount of fun. The entire camp is used from top to bottom and everything in between. To participate in Apache is something that you will never forget and is a constant reminder that every single person on this campus, is important and an integral member of the team. Tonight, Blue Fiji crossed the finish line first followed by Red Cuba with Gold Egypt just behind. After the first full day of competition it’s too close to call. There is another full day games tomorrow and as we all know it all comes down to SING!!!!!!!

We are fortunate enough to have incredible alumni that will forever have Chenny in their hearts and today we had a big group of them visit. As they walked around camp on this Olympic day, most, if not all cried happy tears as they were witnessing a page in their youth. Seeing young campers run the same race they did years ago. Watching with envy to be able to that again and wanting to start their Chenny experience over. A very special alum who has been away from camp for a handful of years and is now in the real world with big girl job, looked at me with all sincerity and said, “I am the best me at Camp Chen-A-Wanda. I would do anything to be back in this world.” Her words resonated with me as I knew exactly what she meant. She walked around camp reliving the years spent here. I was watching her look at our young campers starting their journey here at Chenny, with a smile on her face as if she knew the road they were on and where it will take them.

Chenny out.

There was a buzz all around camp today about when Olympics would break out. Campers were trying to figure out if today was the day or maybe tomorrow. The anticipation was intense and so much fun. Every announcement was looked as a clue and every move our Head Staff made was a sign but the morning went by without a break and it just added to the excitement to what was coming. You could actually feel the energy in the air but the day just went on as business as usual.

Even amidst the Olympic craze, we were able to get a ton of games in today. We played hard and we couldn’t be more proud of the effort set forth from our awesome Chenny athletes.

Freshman/Junior Girls Soccer – CAW 9 @ Wayne 0

Inter Boys Soccer – CAW 2 @ Wayne 6

Collegiate Girls Softball – CAW 9 @ Westmont 8

Freshman/Junior Boys Hockey – CAW 4 @ Wayne 8

Collegiate Boys LAX – CAW 5 vs. Wayne 14

Super Boys Basketball – CAW 41 @ Island Lake 32

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 out from Chenny Central came our Head Counselors with a lit torch symbolizing Olympics is upon us. The entire camp followed them up the hill to our little league baseball field where the Olympic rings waited their arrival.  We announced the Captains and highlighted what the games are all about. 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! The Olympic rings were lit and the games of 2015 officially began. Our camp is now split in three equal teams, Red Cuba, Blue Fiji and Gold Egypt.

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.

Chenny out.

Today at girls line up, I watched a group of Middy girls sitting in each others laps, all looking up at the blue sky telling each other what shapes they see form from the puffy white billowing clouds above them. One saw a unicorn and another was convinced it was a gummy bear holding a book. There were giggles and laughs as they each were describing what they saw. If you can imagine the sweetness of this scene in a time where our children rely on their devices, camp has given us all a period of time to sit back, look up and watch the clouds roll by. Experiencing this from the inside never gets old and we treasure watching your children look up. They have truly unplugged and re-engaged in life without electronics and spend their day connecting with one another. The skill of connecting with peers and the world around them is so essential and necessary and by sending them to summer camp you have given your children the most wonderful gift. We see it everyday as they work through problems, make compromises, tolerate their frustrations and make solid friendships that exist with texting.

Another great day for Chenny Sports:

Freshman/Junior Girls Basketball – CAW 8 vs. Shoshanim 6 (Rain stopped game at halftime and will be finished next week)

Inters Girls Softball – CAW 14 vs. Tioga 13

Collegiate Girls Tennis – CAW 0 @ Bryn Mawr 5

Senior Girls Soccer – CAW 0 @ B’Nai Brith 7

Super Girls Softball – CAW 3 vs. Nesher 1

GC/CIT Girls Softball – CAW 3 @ Nesher 1

GC/CIT Girls Tennis – CAW 5 vs. Tioga 0

Middy Boys Basketball – CAW 43  vs. Lohikan 20

Inter Boys Tennis – CAW 4 vs. Lohikan 1

Collegiate Boys Softball – CAW 6 vs. Nesher 5

Senior Boys Soccer – CAW 5 @ Poyntelle 1

GC/CIT Boys Soccer – CAW 3 vs. Cayuga 3 (lost 3-2 on penalty kicks)

When we say Chenny’s Got Talent, we aren’t kidding. Tonight was the Chenny Voice Team reveal and the talent was insane. Campers were in Shields Hall as they were mesmerized and watched the auditions. We are proud to announce the contestants for our ive Chenny Voice show next week. It’s the battle round and each team captain will have their acts battle one another in the live show and they will decide who goes onto to the next round. We congratulate everyone who auditioned and are so excited  to those campers who made it to the live show.

Team Rachel:1. Elaina Hamuy, Jordan Ruderman & Maya Grill 2.Hayden Minkoff  3. Abby Leeds 4. Maya Hoffman & Rachel Knee 5. Natalie Blee 6. Ashley Sukoff

Team Megan: 1. Kylie Gosky 2. Julia Knobloch 3. TeminTunes 4. Mia Sutton, Jordan Ash, Ally Heller 5. Matt Leviss 6. Summer Housenbold

Team Chris: 1. Charlie Feldman 2. Lanie Bishop 3. Sara Kay 4. Bunk K Boys 5. Sara Akerman 6. Jordan Leeds, Daisy Chaskin

Team Grossman 1. Dylan Bass 2. Josh Polansky 3. Arielle Ashkenase 4. Emma Goldenberg 5. Alex Brandoff 6. Maddy Grabow

Stay tuned and see our stars shine. It’s incredible that we get to do this again tomorrow. Life is Great here!!!!!

Chenny out.

The entire camp headed out to the Scranton RailRiders (Yankees AAA).  We all spent the morning in our regular fun activities but everyone was so excited about heading out to the ballpark. We got a few games in before we all headed out this afternoon.

Senior Girls Softball  – CAW 17 vs Tyler Hill 1

Inter/Coll Girls Tennis Tournament @ Tyler Hill – Made it to semi-finals

Middy/Inetr Boys LAX – CAW 11 @ Westmont 12

Senior Boys Basketball – CAW 44 @ Nesher 35

The evening was all about baseball and we had a ball.  Our entire camp filled the stands with Gold Chenny shirts in PNC stadium where we watched 7 great innings of baseball. The night started out amazing as we cheered on Freshman campers Dani Glickman and Landon Miller as they threw out the first pitch. An awesome sight to see our Chenny kids on the field and for Dani & Landon, a night they will never forget. We cheered for our favorite players, we sang songs in the stands, we did the wave and we all had a great summer night together as it was Chenny takeover at the Scranton Yankees RailRider game.  What could be better than hanging out with your friends, eating ice cream and watching a ballgame on a hot summer night.  The spirit was high and the energy was just so much fun tonight. Another standout night spent with great friends.

Chenny out

To say that this was one of the best days so far this summer couldn’t be more accurate. Our campers had an awesome day all around. Let me explain what your kids experienced today and it will all make sense why today was a summer standout for each and every one of them.

Freshman through Collegiate campers were at camp today and experienced our Chenny Color Mudder. All the campers lined up at the gates and the when the whistle rang, they were off.  They ran up camp road and headed into the Zone where they were dodging counselors hiding behind the huge inflatables with water guns soaking the kids running by. This is where the laughter started. Then it was off to the tennis courts for an insane obstacle course. Our campers had a workout as they hopped over hula hoops, skipped through tires, scooted on flying monkeys and crawled through tubes. No time to rest as they ran the go-kart track, twice and headed down to the giant Chenny Zoom (slip and slide). Running on adrenal and excitement it was straight into the mud pit course and boy did they love the crawling in that mud. It was over mud tower and then belly crawling into the pit. There wasn’t a camper who didn’t love this. They got dirty and messy and loved every aspect of getting muddy. When was last time our kids where given license to play in the mud? It was in their hair and everywhere and our campers were ecstatic but that wasn’t the end. They each headed back down the hill where they were doused with color powder. It stuck to their faces and was bursts of rainbow happiness all over your children. They ran a race that was challenging, fun, exciting, wet, muddy, exhilarating and at the very end as they crossed that finish line, they jumped into the lake with a pride so deep, it will be a camp memory they will have and cherish forever. After showers and getting the mud off us, it was straight into our jammies and off to a night of movies for these kids. Freshman were relaxing to Shrek and the Juniors were loving watching Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 while the Middies, Inters and Collegiates threw it back old school with Who Framed Roger Rabbit. A perfect end to a perfect day.

Our Seniors, Supers and GC’s spent their incredible day at the State Park bathing in the sun, relaxing with friends, playing in the lake and having a picture perfect summer day. It was one of those days you don’t want to end and it didn’t have to because after their day it was off to the movie theater for a night watching summer blockbusters. What could be better than a full day spent with great friends, a beautiful lake, warm sun and then topping it off with a movie? The busses rolled in and all said it was the greatest day and they can’t believe they did so much in just one day. Our CITs had their day off  shopping, eating and watching movies. As the big kids on camp, they make their own schedule and had a ball. Campers wait a long time to get off days as CIT’s and this group had a ball. They did everything they wanted to and spending days together is just awesome.

There isn’t a camper awake on camp right now. Lights are out and everyone is home safe, sound asleep. Each exhausted with a day spent well. What a great day!!!

Chenny out.