Today started like any other regular amazing summer day here and camp was full of happy campers. Imagine a world where you skip from activity to activity or where you walk up the road while holding hands with your best friend or just walking arm in arm with your buddy is the norm. This is what daily life is like here. We put our guard down and let people in. I often think if there is any correlation to being unplugged all summer and our desire to connect face to face with our friends here. We become available for pure human connection. It’s natural and normal to sit in the lap of our counselor or friends at line-up.  This place and experience literally embraces your children. In a world where being disconnected from one another is our reality and sending a text is how we communicate, you can only imagine how comforting and amazing it feels to hold hands, walk arm in arm and talk to one another. Soon, we will go back to our digital forms of communicating with one another but until then we have 2 more glorious weeks of this. The value of spending our summers here are just immeasurable.

It was Chenny domination as we won 4 Wayne County Championships today!!!!

Our dancers enjoyed a morning at Camp Wayne’s annual Dance-A-Thon. We competed in Hip-Hop and Lyrical and our dancers had a ball. Congratulations to all of our dancers who lit up the stage today.

Girls 7^th Grade Basketball – CAW Red 33 vs. Camp Nesher 8 – CAW WINS CHAMPIONSHIP!!!

Girls 7^th Grade Basketball – CAW Gold 16 vs. Poyntelle 8

Girls 8^th Grade Softball – CAW 8 vs. Morasha 4 – CAW WINS CHAMPIONSHIP!!

Boys 5^th Grade Soccer – CAW 3 vs. Wayne 5

Boys 5^th Grade Basketball – CAW 14 vs. Starlight 37

Boys 6^th Grade Baseball – CAW 3 vs. Starlight 2 – CAW WINS CHAMPIONSHIP!!

Boys 6^th Grade Soccer – CAW 2 vs. Trails End 5

Boys 8^th Grade Boys Baseball – CAW 11 vs. Westmont 7 – CAW WINS CHAMPIOSHIP!!!

We had a busy day on the fields and courts and we couldn’t be prouder of the effort each team gave and the true sportsmanship they had.

Our Wanderers safely arrived in Phoenix, their last destination. They spent the day in sun, resting and relaxing and having a great day at the resort.  They have spent the last week and half experiencing one amazing west coast adventure and getting do this with their camp family was dream like. We are so looking forward to their arrival back her at camp to hear about all they have done.

Tonight’s evening activity was a great night of Minute To Win It. Each division had one camper play for them and they were vying for an Ice Cream Party for the entire division. They played Tilt-A-Cup, Hanky Panky, A Bit Dicey, Bobble Head Challenge, Johnny Apple Stack and Volcano. The kids had so much fun playing the games and the campers watching had so much fun supporting their friends who were trying to win their division an ice cream party. In the end our lower camp winner went to Middy Camper, Sarah Haber and Upper Camp went to GC Jordan Birnholz. You put on one great show tonight and you each proved to the entire camp that you each have mad skills stacking apples, balancing dice on the end of a popsicle stick while in your mouth and able to effectively take every single tissue out of a tissue box with only one hand quicker than anyone else. Gotta love this place.

Chenny Out

Today in Arts n’ Crafts there was a group of boys in our Lego room and they were building a giant tower together. I was watching them in awe as they worked so beautifully together. They each contributed to this giant structure. One by one they contributed their ideas on how to make it bigger and better.  There was such cooperation and creativity, as this tower became a symbol of what it’s all about here. One camper said, “We have to make the foundation good and strong so it can hold everything we build on top of it.” This Lego structure is exactly what each one of us is doing here. With a good strong foundation, you can just keep building up and it will become more fantastic with all the different unique pieces you put on it. As the period ended, they all agreed that this tower was way too amazing to take apart and they asked the Lego specialist to put it away until they come back to build more onto their tower. She agreed to hold this masterpiece in a separate room for them and the excitement they shared was magnificent. They had no idea just how spectacular their tower was. They actually were all building a foundation that was good and strong and had nothing to do with Lego. They walked out of Arts N’ Crafts closer to one another than when they entered. This is what it’s all about.

Chen-A-Wanda hosted the first annual Little Peach World Series Softball Tournament for our Freshman and Junior Girls. Camp Wayne and Tioga spent the day here as each tem played 3 games. Camp Wayne placed 1^st, CAW placed 2^nd and Camp Tioga placed 3^rd. The girls had the best day. Little Peach World Series was a homerun!!

Girls 9^th/10^th Grade Soccerama @ Bryn Mawr. Our girls played in 4 games in this full day tourney. CAW beat Bryn Mawr, lost two bouts to Indian Head and Trails End and tied with Camp Wayne.  They had a great day full of soccer.

Boys 5^th Grade Soccer – CAW 12 vs. Tioga 12

Boys 5^th Grade Tennis – CAW 0 vs. Wayne 5

Boys 10^th Grade Baseball – CAW 0 vs. Westmont 10

Our Campers of the Week were announced at line up and there is always such excitement as we honor these standouts.

Freshman – Marin Hersley & Tyler Jurist

Juniors – Sami Siegel & Will Yallowitz

Middies – Emily Kushner & Colby Frankel

Inters – Avery Paulen & Jacob Futterman

Collegiates – Sami Miller & Jack Abel

Seniors – Sydney Schechter & Tommy Quinn

Suoers – Hailey Zion & Jeremy Gaines

GC’s – Bari Adwar & Brett Wolff

Our Wanderers are still wandering as they spent their day on a jeep tour exploring Arizona and Montezuma’s Castle. They are having a trip of a lifetime as they have seen so many wonderful things the west coast offers. We are excited to hear about all their adventures when the return to camp in a few days.

Girl’s side got to enjoy a giant ice cream party tonight as they celebrated the win of Wiffle Cup. It was super sundaes with all the fixin’s . They had their sundae social in the Lodge and loved it!!! It was dodge ball, wiffle ball and kickball under the lights for boy’s side. They equally enjoyed their evening as well. There was laughter and lots of it all around camp tonight.

Tomorrow marks exactly 2 more weeks we have here in paradise and we can promise you that we are going to make every moment count.

Chenny Out

Imagine a day so perfect each moment seemed to stand still. The weather resembled those made in movies or manufactured to create a perfect mood. The sky was so blue and the water so warm. It was almost not real, but it was so very real because we all got to experience the magic of this day. It had a lazy day feel and that was exactly what we all needed. We had a brunch morning so the bugle didn’t wake us up until 9:45am. The extra sleep felt great and very much appreciated. There is something quite special to see the entire camp roll out of bed into The Lodge still in our pajamas.  In every sense of the word, this place truly becomes our home. There is no pretending or trying to be something we are not. It is just all of us being authentically who we are, in our pajamas heading to breakfast still having sleepy dust in our eyes and sheet marks on our cheeks. No pomp and circumstance here. It’s us being us. Even the mundane routine things we do feel better doing them up here at camp… because we are together.

Our Basketball and Baseball Academy’s continued today and our campers thoroughly enjoyed participating in them.  It was a huge turnout for both and from watching our kids practice their skills and running the drills, this summers academy’s were a big success.

Girls 7^th Grade Basketball – CAW 39 vs. Lohikan 6

Girls 7^th Grade Soccer – CAW 1 vs. Tioga 6

Girls 8^th Grade Basketball – CAW 14 vs. Lavi 41

Boys 3^rd/4^th Grade Wiffleball  – CAW 20 vs. Westmont 19

Boys 4^th Grade Baseball – CAW 5 vs. Westmont 1

Boys 5^th Grade Baseball – CAW vs. Island Lake (Won by forfeit CAW moves on to finals)

Boys 7^th Grade Softball – CAW 3 vs. Seneca Lake 4

Boys 8^th/9^th Grade LAX – CAW 2 vs. Starlight 10

Lights Camera Action. Our thespians have been working so hard on the big show and tonight they shined bright. Willy Wonka and the Chipwhich Factory came to life as our actors and actresses put on one amazing show. They sang and danced and amazed us with their acting. They lit up the stage with their huge smiles and bigger hearts. As they put it all out there on stage, we are constantly reminded of how connected we all are to one another as the cheers and applause stayed consistent and loud. As each song was sung or scene was acted, our audience screamed out with support to their friends who so bravely and sweetly entertained the whole camp tonight. To watch the cast who worked so hard on tonight’s show, take their final bow; we are reminded that above all what matters most is to just have fun. And that they did! We could not be more proud of what they all did on that stage tonight. Bravo!! Bravo!!! Bravo!!!!

Chenny Out

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. 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 with their camp sisters. A sweet moment I feel privileged to have seen.

Our campers continued to enjoy the Basketball and Soccer Academy’s.  There was intense instruction in each sport and campers were on the field and courts learning to better their game. Both Academy’s were of great value to our athletes as they sharpened their skills and had a ball doing it.

Girls 5^th Grade Softball – CAW 2 vs. Westmont 13

Girls 5^th / 6^th Grade LAX – CAW 7 vs. Westmont 11

Girls 7^th Grade Softball – CAW 6 vs. Wayne 7

Boys 8^th Grade Baseball – CAW 16 vs. Starlight 8

The night was all about Wiffle Cup. Girls side was determined to bring home the win tonight but Boys side wanted the repeat.  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. Boys lead the way the entire game but in true Chenny form, It ain’t over till it’s over and Girls side came up from behind and pulled ahead with a 27 -22 victory over Boys side. The game was incredible and everyone was involved. You didn’t have to be on the field to feel the craziness. We were all part of the fun. So proud of our kids. We just wanna have fun and boy do we know how to do that here at Chen-A-wanda!!!! Another incredible day down but we still have more to go!!!

Chenny out

It was Academy Day here at Chen-A-Wanda and our campers loved the instruction. Our Soccer Academy was held in the morning and campers were welcomed to participate and experience serious soccer training.  The afternoon was dedicated to our Baseball/Softball Academy. The Academy’s were full of campers getting very specific and intense instruction. Some campers spent their morning in the Soccer Academy only to spend their afternoon at our Baseball Academy. A full of Academy’s are a great way for your kids to better their skills and get the their next level.

Girls 8^th Grade Soccer – CAW 2 vs. Wayne 5

Boys 3^rd/4^th Grade Hockey – CAW 5 vs. Trails End 3

Boys 4th/ 5^th Grade Tennis – CAW 4 vs. Equinunk 1 (CAW moves on to the Finals!!)

Boys 5^th & 6^th Grade LAX – CAW 8 vs. Starlight 4 (CAW moves on to the Finals!!)

Boys 7^th Grade Baseball – CAW 18 vs. Island Lake 17 (CAW moves on to the Finals!!)

For our dancers it was a day spent at Tyler Hill at their annual Dance Competition. There is something that is so much fun on being at these competitions not just getting to perform a dance we have worked so hard on but seeing your friends from home is as exactly thrilling. I went the girls today and watching them run to heir friends and each would tell how their summer is going. They even cheered one another on as each took the stage. It is less of a competition and more of a reconnection with friends from other camps and of course a chance to dance. Our girls did great and more importantly they had such a great day. After spending an incredible day dancing all the girls were eager to get back home because it was HALLOWEEN at Chenny!!

There was a chill in the air and it really felt like a fall night. A perfect evening for a costume contest, a Haunted House and of course Trick or Treating!!! Our kids strutted their stuff and showed incredible creativity with amazing costumes tonight. What is more fun than Halloween in July? We danced, cheered, laughed a lot tonight. Our Head Staff picked the best of the best tonight and our costume winner were:

Scariest Costume – Elaina Hamuy

Best Group Costume – Girls Bunk J Holidays

Funniest Costume – Sibling Swap Weiss,Fensterstock & Chaskin

Best Celebrity Look-A-Like – Adam Caplan

Most Original – Dani Mazen, Rachel Mahler, Emily Locker, Emma Baskind & Corrine Packel

After our contest it was Trick or Treat time. Each group went station-to-station collecting candy and having a ball. There was spooky music playing all throughout camp that added to the Halloween vibe.  With the crisp summer night weather, it not only looked like Halloween but felt like it too. As one camper looked inside her brown bag full of candy, she turned to her friend and said “can camp get any better?”  And as I overheard her, I couldn’t help but reply, YES IT CAN!!!!

The days seem to be moving more quickly as we have only 2 ½ weeks left in paradise. But these last weeks are by far the best.  We are not done yet, not even close!!!!

Chenny Out

When the big kids are away….the little kids will….Have the most insane Color Mudder EVER!!!! To quote our campers who got experience the Mudder,”Iit was the BEST day ever!” We got to slide down the Chenny Zoom to get super wet then off to the giant mud pit where we crawled over and under the rope obstacle course.  After getting super muddy from head to toe, literally, we ran back down the hill only to get doused with colored powder all over our every part of us. Then it was right into the lake to rinse off.

If you have ever seen a Tough Mudder or a Color Run, this was our version of both and the kids LOVED it!!! There really isn’t anything more fun than rolling in mud and not getting in trouble for it. Actually being encouraged to jump in and get dirty. There was more laughter and smiles at the mud pit today it was contagious. Even the kids that were hesitant at first couldn’t stop themselves to jump in the pit.

As a mom of three, I am always telling my girls to avoid stepping in puddles when it’s raining because I don’t want them to walk around all day in squishy wet shoes.  I am sure I am not the only one of us out there who feels the same.  You should have seen your kids faces as they were covered in mud and nobody telling them they need to stop because they will have squishy wet shoes. They played with a sense of pure uninterrupted freedom today and they even taught an old dog like me a new trick; it’s really ok to sometimes have squishy wet shoes. We were all mess and it never felt so good. Sometimes you just gotta let go, play in the mud and walk around in squishy wet shoes.

Our Seniors had a blast at Hershey today. They loved sleeping at the hotel last night and getting a full day at the park. It was day filled with rides, arcade games and a boatload of chocolate. It was s a chocolate heaven and they couldn’t have been happier.

The Supers & GC’s spent their morning touring Boston on a Duck Tour. They spent the day at Faneuil Hall shopping and lunching. The evening was spent on a harbor cruise around this beautiful city, then back to the hotel for a pool party. Could it get any better? Yes it can, as the kids will have a blast at the Red Sox Game.

Our Wanderers spent their day at the greatest place on earth, Disneyland!! Our oldest campers are having the time of their lives. There are no worries, no tests, no pressures just the joy of It’s a Small World. As they depart from Anaheim, California it’s off to Universal City tonight. They will get to experience the fun of Universal Studios tomorrow. These are the best times of their lives and we couldn’t be happier for them. They are enjoying every second!!!

It was an amazing day all around from our Freshmen to our Wanderers. The kind of day that you don’t want to end. As my day comes to an end and I head up to my house,  my wet muddy sneakers are outside my door and all I can do is smile.

Chenny Out

Our Supers, GC’s had an early start as their buses rolled out of camp by 7:00am en route to Boston.  It was straight to Harvard Square and dinner at Hard Rock Café. After a great first day, it was off to see Blue Man Group and our campers were amazed & entertained.

Our Wanderers have fully embraced Cali and spent their day at the beach then off to Sea World.

The Seniors boarded their bus for an overnight at Hershey Park. It was straight to Hershey World for some chocolate. It rained a bit but that didn’t damper their spirits as they all headed back to their hotel full of chocolate goodies and getting a great night sleep . They start their day early tomorrow and off to park for a full day of rides and definitely more chocolate.

Freshman through Collegiates had camp all to themselves today and loved every minute of it. We got some great games in today and played our hearts out.

Girls 6^th Grade and below Gymnastics Tournament at Bryn Mawr – Our girls had a great time and finished 10^th Place overall

Girls 7^th Grade LAX – CAW 8 vs. Bryn Mawr 15

Girls 7^th Grade Soccer – CAW 7 vs. Wayne (CAW moves on to the Finals)

Boys 3^rd/4^th Baseball – CAW Red 10 vs. Equinunk 0 and CAW Gold 2 vs. Equinunk White 3

Boys 5^th Grade Soccer – CAW 5 vs. Tioga 2 (CAW moves onto the finals)

Boys 5^th Grade Basketball – CAW 29 vs. Lohikan 20 (CAW moves on to the finals)

Tonight was one of those night’s that standouts above all the rest.  We had so much talent that the campers that weren’t able to perform in our first camper talent show, displayed their unique and entertaining skills for all us tonight. We had 26 acts and every single one of them was outstanding. There is something that happens here that does not exist outside our gates: it’s true genuine overwhelming support for one another. Regardless if you sing, dance, tell jokes, do cartwheels or play piano, you have an entire Rec Hall of friends behind you. No matter if you miss a step or sing off key, it just doesn’t matter here. Your courage to take that stage overrides what you do on that stage. Its awe-inspiring to witness and life changing to be a part of it. Where in the world can you ever go to get this support and encouragement?  We are brave, we are talented and we lift each other up here.

You have to see it, actually you have to experience it as we all did tonight. That’s what we do here, we lift one another up.

Chenny Out.

Today was one of those summer days we wish wouldn’t end. Having been here for 4 weeks, we have passed the mid way mark and it seems that each day passes quicker than the next. How can we make time stop or at least slow down? We all wait so long to spend 51 days here and it seems to be going way too fast. At this point in the summer, everyone seems to cherish the little things that truly matter the most. Our relationships have grown stronger by the day and our new friends have officially become our family and old friends have continued to enrich our lives.

There is something that sticks out to me every summer I watch these relationships grow and that is benefit of a hug. Something so simple and easy as a hug or a piggyback ride or holding a hand is just what we do, daily. It’s human connection that we all crave and here that itch is scratched. We may not even realize how much we need it until we get here and standing next to your friend or counselor seems awkward without sitting on their lap, holding their hands or giving them a hug. It’s the thread that makes us closer and it fills us up. Doesn’t matter if you are a boy, girl, younger, older or staff, we all need that human contact and here is where we get it, freely and openly. How different the world be if getting and giving hugs happened like they happen here at camp. You can’t help but smile as you watch campers walk arm in arm to an activity. It brings our friendships to a very different level than with our home friends. It is why our friends here become our family.

We played hard today. Our athletes gave it everything they had.

Girls 5^th Grade Basketball – CAW 13 vs. Westmont 21

Girls 8^th/8^th Grade LAX – CAW 13 vs. Starlight 10

Boys 3^rd/4^th Grade Soccer – CAW 0 vs. Starlight 3

Boys 9^th Grade Soccer – CAW 4 vs. Westmont 3

Our Freshmen had an incredible night at camp as they started with a blindfolded candy grab and watched The Incredibles in the Chen-A-Plex in their pj’s follwed by warm cookies and cold milk then off to bed. It was a perfect night for our youngest and most adorable campers.

It was off to the movies for our Juniors, Middies and Seniors. They munched on popcorn and relaxed watching the latest summer releases.

Our Inters and Collegiates spent their night at a bowling alley enjoying their fun filled evening. When they were done bowling, it was into the arcade for some more fun and games.

Seniors, Supers and GC’s were back at camp packing for their big trip to Boston tomorrow and in true Chenny tradition, they had a Road Rally followed by a giant ice cream party!

Our Wanderers landed safely in California today and have officially begun their West Coast adventures.

It is an exciting time here at camp and the fun just keeps going on. We packed a lot into this Super Sunday and with 30 days down; the best news is we still have 21 more amazing days ahead. Call us the lucky ones.

Chenny Out

A new camper asked me a question this morning that I just couldn’t answer but I completely understood what she meant. She asked me how does this place make her feel so good all the time? Her sweet innocent face summed up what we all feel, everyday here. Then she and her friends ran off as they laughed and giggled all the way to the swings.  As I sat and watched her and her friends on the swings, I witnessed the magic of why this place makes us feel good all the time. It is moments like these, daily moments that bring the magic to this place. They are playing jacks with your friends, they are sitting in the lap of your counselor at line up, they are having dance parties on your porch, they are having a catch with your buddy and they are telling your deepest secrets to your friends who will never judge you. It’s as simple as running to the swings with your friends who push you higher and higher.  It isn’t the buildings or fields but the human connections we make each day that make us feel good all the time here. This new camper, only being here for 4 weeks got it and once you get it, it will always be with you.

It was a good day for some Chenny games and matches.

Girls 3^rd /4^th Grade Soccer – CAW 9 vs. Wayne 0

Boys 3^rd/ 4^th Grade Baseball – CAW 0 vs. Equinunk 1

Boys 9^th Grade Tennis – CAW 5 vs. Weequahic 0

Boys 10^th/11^th Grade LAX – CAW 0 vs. Equinunk 12

Congratulations to our Campers of The week. You have earned the highest honor and we are proud of you all.

Freshman – Jessica Jeffe & Jared Lichetn

Juniors – Brooke Kanganis & Sam Rouder

Middies – Brooke Marshall & Tyler Konigsberg

Inters Jordana Leff & Matt Haber

Collegiates – Haylie Baum &  Eli Kellner

Seniors – Juliette Kaplan & Max Secular

Supers – Amanda Scheman & Andrew Santoro

GC’s – Steph Roth & Jordan Birnholz

Wanderers – Julie Mendelson, Sophia Malkosis & Josh Cohen & Kyle Stern

The night was all about Girls Sing and it was spectacular. The pride, the joy and the honor of this night was tremendous. Each division worked so hard and it showed. When boys side sat is awe for 2 hours, you know it was entertaining and awesome. The support boys side gives girls side is just breathtaking. From our adorable freshmen through our crazy talented 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.  They have all created a sisterhood that will follow them throughout their lives. The decision to pick winners for lower and upper camp was beyond difficult, after an agonizing discussion from our boy Group leaders Middies and CIT’s were named the best of the night.

It’s nights like these that will stick out as one of summer 2013 best nights as it defines all that is good about Chen-A-Wanda. The only word that comes to mind after watching the true affection we have for one another is as simple as it gets… it’s  just LOVE!!!

Chenny Out

We spent the day in our swimsuits and played in the water all day long. It was Water Day at CAW and the wetter we got the more fun we had. Campers spent their day in the lake, pool, the Zone but the highlight was the Chenny Zoom. Our newest addition blew everyone away as they zoomed down the 150’ slip and slide. Cannot fully describe the extent of the fun we all had on the Zoom. It was insane, fast, wet and all you could do was laugh as you sped down this crazy ride. There wasn’t a camper who didn’t love our newest attraction. It was all the talk on camp today and everyone can’t wait to Zoom tomorrow.

Not a terribly busy game day at camp but we did have one match. Congratulations to our 9^th Grade Girls Tennis team who beat Westmont 4-1.

The night belonged to boys side who brought down the house with a long standing camp tradition, Boys Lip Sync.. Each division dazzled us with their performances. From the adorable Freshman to the talented and thought provoking Wanderers. You see the amount of time and energy each group dedicated to make tonight a success. Though each group was outstanding there was only one winner for lower camp and upper camp. Tonight’s winners for lower camp went to the Inters as the performed a medley from Justin Timberlake’s life of love lost and found. The Wanderers won for the journey they took us on what life is like as a Chen-A-Wanderer.

As I sit in wonder of this event year after year, I often am reminded that it is their right of passage that documents their journey here.  One Wanderer said it so perfectly as he read a letter at the end of their performance, as this tight group sit together arm in arm. “We came here to Chen-A-Wanda years ago all as individuals and now we are finishing our journey as a family.” You could feel the emotion they had as they just completed their last Lip Sync as Chen-A-Wanda campers. They aren’t afraid to show their deep appreciation for what this experience has brought into their lives and for boys this is truly amazing. To see a stage filled of boys letting loose, dancing in unison, singing together and having the best time is just an awesome sight. Where life today is usually very different for boys as the norm may be intense competition, hiding their emotions or struggling to fit in, tonight was a celebration of our boys just being playful happy connected boys. It was an honor to watch this collaboration of all things fun and all things boys!!!!  The benefits of Chen-A-Wanda are some things we can see and some things we can only feel in our hearts.

Chenny Out.