We have been here for a week now and some amazing things have happened. Friends we met just 7 days ago are now connected to us forever. We have spent seven days, which in camp life is an eternity and that is time enough to create these very connected relationships. This bond is hard to describe but it is the core to why we are here. It’s crazy to watch these friendships develop and blossom. There is one phrase we always hear about these very special relationships and that is, “my camp friends just get me.” When you live together, everything is exposed and everything is accepted. We see each other when we are up and when we are down and that vulnerability lends it way to a closeness that stands the test of time. From those who have traveled down this road before know what I am talking about. Camp friends stick because they “just get us.” Our new campers are forming those bonds as they all have this shared experience of being away from home for the first time. It’s a closeness that cannot truly be described but it is surely enjoyed.

As we see these budding friendships with our new campers, you can look down the road a bit and take a gander at the family our oldest campers have made. Today, the Chen-A-Wanderers began their journey as they left camp for their new Chenny journey. This amazing group of kids, together ventured out for their first trip to Canada. We are so excited for them and our new travel program.  Chen-A-Wanda has given them roots, and now they can fly with their wings. Off they go. They all arrived safely into Canada today and we can’t wait to hear about the amazing adventures that are headed their way.

It was picture day today and smiles where all around. There is something quite special to gather with your bunk, knowing you are freezing a moment in time as a snapshot will capture who you traveled through summer 2013 with.

Sports, Sports and more Sports….. It was a nail biter watching our 3^rd/4^th grade boys Roller Hockey game vs. Equinunk. We went into overtime with a 6-6 tie as Equinunk pulled out the W in a shoot out. What a great game and we couldn’t have been more proud of hard our boys played.

7^th Grade Boys Basketball – CAW 59 vs. Indian Head 48

8^th Grade Girls Softball – CAW 17 vs. Wayne Girls 0

To say our day was simply awesome, would be an understatement. Lights are out and all are asleep. Sweet dreams are all around and we get do this again tomorrow. How lucky we are….

Chenny out

Camp was buzzing with activities but everyone was focused and excited for the nights evening activity, Sign & Song. This event is a long-standing camp favorite where each bunk makes a plaque and Girls side prepares a dance for the entire camp. It is serious fun and each side got crazy creative with their plaques. Each plaque has every campers name on it and they will forever be placed on the walls of their bunk. Each summer, we have alumni come back and the first thing they do is look for their plaques. It’s their mark that they were here then and it’s their connection that will be here forever.

Girls’ side brought it tonight as they wowed us with their dances. From the cutest Freshman dances to the amazing choreography that the Wanderers delivered, it was just a magical camp night that we will never forget.  All eyes were on our stage and after each dance, the applause was outstanding and the feeling was incredible. That is what we do here, we love to perform and we love to support. It was standing ovations after each performance and you could see the joy on the girls faces as they felt like they were just superstars up there.

The competition was tough but our Group Leaders picked the winners for Lower & Upper Camp Plaques and Dances. Congratulations to our winners. You were outstanding.

Lower Camp Girls Plaque – Bunk I

Lower Camp Boys Plaque – Bunk E

Upper Camp Girls Plaque – Bunk Q

Upper Camp Boys Plaque –  Bunk W

Lower Camp Girls Dance – Bunk J

Upper Camp Girls Dance – Bunk K

Girls side put on quite a show tonight; one that will go down in the books as one of the best Chen-A-Wanda Sign & Songs ever.

Our Athletes were busy having fun on the fields & in the rink today. It was an awesome day of competition and sportsmanship.

Boys 6^th Grade Softball – CAW 15 vs. Camp Perlman 1

Boys 8^th/9^th Grade Softball – Equinunk 6 vs. CAW 3

Boys 10^th/11^th Grade Roller Hockey – Equinunk 11 vs. CAW 5

Just another phenomenal day here at Chenny.

Chenny out

Each new day seems to bring new amazing adventures. No day is exactly alike here but they all are packed with their own unique specialness. There was one camper who was determined to get up on the trapeze today, though he was terrified of heights. He watched each camper before him get up with ease and everyone could see he wanted so badly to get up that ladder. The encouragement he got from his friends and counselors gave him the courage to try. They all knew he could do it and with that support, he put on the belt and climbed up that ladder.  The fear seemed to dissipate with each step as he could hear them chanting his name and with that, he took a leap of faith. As he grabbed the bar and trusted, that camper flew on the trapeze today with eyes wide open. To see his face as his entire group embraced him when came back down was watching something special. He showed us all that no matter how scary we think things can be, with support and encouragement, we can fly, we can actually soar.

Sure our campers will tune up their soccer skills or practice their swing on the field but it’s their ability to cope that will greatly enhance their lives. They will overcome homesickness and they will actually tolerate being in a bunk bed or sleeping across the room from whom they wanted to sleep next too.  It’s the lessons of coping with things that they find hard to deal with that will stay with them throughout their lives. Chen-A-Wanda is an awesome place to learn these valuable life lessons and we all feel privileged to assist your kids in the art of not sweating the small stuff.

Wayne County Inter Camp Games began today.

6^th Grade and under boys Roller Hockey– CAW 4 vs. Trails End 2. Way to go boys!!! You roller rocked it and your sportsmanship was outstanding.

It was a beach party night as we all had night swim in the pool. As the sun set on Fiddle Lake, we were jumping off the diving board, sliding down the slide and swimming with our friends. There is nothing quite like a summer nights swim party. Just another remarkable evening here at Chenny!!!!!

Chenny Out

Imagine starting your day, eating a delicious breakfast in a room full of energetic, positive people all who are singing and dancing in unison. That is what your children do everyday here. It is how we start off our morning and as the food fills our bellies, the energy and enthusiasm fills our souls. You can’t walk out of The Lodge without feeling good inside. It is electric, contagious and freeing. You can stand on your seat and just dance and sing. There is a freedom of expression here and it is highly encouraged. The energy this morning was off the charts and gave us all an amazing start to a fantastic day.

There were more tryouts and activities happening all day. Campers would go from the soccer fields to mountain boarding to tetherball city, to an insane wiffle ball game and all this happened before lunch. It is a packed day filled to the brim and we wouldn’t have it any other way. There is just so much to do here.

The talk throughout camp today as all about tonight’s evening activity, Chenny Jam. It was Girls side vs. Boys side and the competition was fierce. There was a lot on the line, as this intense staff basketball game would bring pride to either Boys side or Girls side. The campers brought the energy and were cheering on their players. Girls wore everything pink as the fellas wore their favorite black duds. Our faces were painted, the tutus were worn and the spirit was insane. Both sides wanted the win but with only 6 seconds left, Girls side hit a last minute shot to seal the deal and bring home a victory. Actually, everyone won because the fun was off the charts to make this night, a camp favorite. Girls bunk M and Boys bunk W were awarded pizza parties for bringing the most spirit to tonight’s game.  Their spirit was contagious.

The night ended and as the sun set on Fiddle Lake, everyone couldn’t help notice the nights sky. It was array of pinks, gold’s and blues. And in the midst of celebrating an awesome evening activity, we all couldn’t help but notice the pure beauty of where we are, even for a moment.  You couldn’t help but appreciate this masterpiece that was in front of us all. Beauty is all around us up here and tonight was spectacular. The night ended as equally as beautiful as the day started. How lucky we are to experience what we do up here. Feeling gratitude all around.

Chenny out.

It was a fantastic day today as all the campers got right into regular activities. From the trapeze at circus all the way to the lake, you saw happy campers playing. It is quite a sight to see kids playing outside all day long in the bright sunshine, just being kids. No television or computers, no texting or posting on Instagram. This is where we all get outside and play together. As the world has become so technically advanced and somewhat isolating, today we played together all day long and loved every minute of it.  There is something so powerful about what we do here and none of us take it for granted.

We are building a true community here and these special magical moments happen at every turn. There was a camper sitting in center camp and having a small moment of missing home as another new camper saw and went directly over and said it so plainly and simply. “Do you want to play with me? I was sad a bit too but if I can get through it, I know you can too.” This is the essence of what this crazy experience is all about.  To witness these moments takes my breath away.

Sign and Song is just around the corner and girl’s side is getting ready. All across camp were groups practicing their dance for the show on Wednesday. Arts and Crafts was packed with campers getting their bunk plaques ready. There is such great pride with these works of art that are left hanging in the bunks forever. It is the stamp that we were here summer 2013. Girls practiced their dance over and over to get it just right. It is a collaboration and teamwork as they create their perfect dance to show the entire camp. A long-standing Chenny tradition and from the looks of it, this year will not disappoint.

We had our official first friends event and everyone loved it. Both Girls side and Boys side participated and all our new campers loved getting together with their first friend. Our big kids took such great pride getting to show the new campers the ropes. We really are one big family here and both new and old campers treasure these connections. It is the foundation to what makes our house so strong.

We all headed into Shields Hall tonight for a camp favorite, The Dating Game. Each division had a bachelor or bachelorette ask questions to 3 potential suitors. Freshman through our Wanderers were up on stage and there wasn’t a camper who didn’t fully love tonight’s activity. The best shows at camp are when our campers are up on that stage. Camp pride here runs deep. It was lots of laughter, chants and cheers tonight. A great ending to an amazing day.

Chenny out

There is just no better way to wake up than hearing reveille. And as the bugle rang throughout camp, all our campers popped out of bed knowing that today was the first full day of activities. It was electric. The biddy courts on boys side was packed with basketball games before breakfast and girls were on their porches and playing tetherball. The sun was shining and everyone was eager to start the day.  We all joined together in The Lodge and had a delicious breakfast together. The most important meal of the day to start us off right for the activities we all were ready to begin.

The sun was shining and the temperatures were raising and we could not have asked for a better day to take our swim tests. The lake was packed with happy campers, as the water trampoline was the place to be. The pool was full and kids were loving zipping around Fiddle Lake as we water-skied and experienced tubing on the Great Big Mable. It was an absolute awesome first day of water activities to cool off.

The waterfront wasn’t the only thing popping. It was a full day of team tryouts. The courts and fields were packed with campers trying out for their favorites sports.  This is where playing sports is the way it was meant to be, to have fun playing a game you love. Even if you never have played before, you learn here without any pressure, just pure joy and love to play. There was a new Freshman girl who tried out for the basketball team here and has never played before. Her smile told a story that makes it all worth it. She picked up a ball and as our amazing basketball staff taught her how to shoot, she made a basket after trying the whole period long. You could hear her little voice tremble with excitement as the ball made it in the hoop. “I did it, I made a basket” As the activity period ended, you saw her run to her new friends and share her accomplishment. That one basket she made brought her so much pride. A little girl who did something she never had done before and the pride she felt ran deep. Those moments happened all over camp today. That is the magic of this place.

Our actors and actresses auditioned for the play today and boy do we have talent. We sing, we dance, we act and these groups of thespians will soon wow us as they put together Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory.  Can’t wait to see them in the spotlight.

We all rocked out tonight with Julius C on stage as each division sang with a full rock band behind them. There was dancing and singing in Shields Hall tonight and it was loud and it was insanely fun.  We just rock out here at CAW.

Our first day of full activities was a success and everyone is soundly sleeping from an amazing day. The greatest part is we get to do this again tomorrow. Doesn’t get much better than that.

Chenny out

We have waited all year long for this day to happen and it’s here. There are no more countdowns or marking off days on our calendars. There are no more Wanda Wednesday pictures that remind us of where we all want to be. We are actually here, in camp and our summer has begun. There is no place we all would rather be. Even through all the nerves, excitement and anxiousness, we all did it. We loaded those buses and headed to Camp Chen-A-Wanda, our home for the next 51 days.

The weather was ideal and as the sun shinned down on all of us, you couldn’t help feel the love here at CAW. Watching old friends reunite with pure joy just to see one another is a sight to see. It warms you from the inside out. And as our new campers walked out of the bus, some nervous, most excited but they too saw and felt the love they were walking in to. There were counselors waiting for them with open arms, smiles on their faces and an excitement that was off the charts. Today was perfect in every way.

The afternoon was spent playing icebreakers and group games. As you look all around camp, you plainly see why we are all here. There was so much laughter, there were tons of piggyback rides, there was hand holding, there were friendships that started today and there was a feeling of being home.

It was off the The Lodge to have our first meal together. The energy could have blown the roof off the building. It wasn’t too long before we all sang on the top of our lungs and danced to the rockin’ music that was played. From the Freshman to the Wandereres, we all sang and danced together as if we have been doing this forever. If you ever have sang in unison with packed house, it’s quite overwhelming and awe-inspiring. We all became one tonight at dinner. The bond began and it’s just the beginning. Nobody walked out of The Lodge without a smile on his or her face.

We all loaded into Shileds Hall tonight as we watched a video of highlights from last summer. It was sneak peak to what amazing things lie ahead. We will make new memories and we cannot wait to get started. It was an ideal first day. Everyone is fast asleep and we cannot wait for the sun to rise so we can play all day tomorrow.

Thank you for sending us your children. It is them that has given this camp its heartbeat.

Chenny Out.

All of our campers are safely here at camp! We already out playing and having a great time!

Camp starts in 100 days, and we could not be more excited!

Click here for a special video!

Summer 2013 can’t come soon enough!!!