Category: Uncategorized

  • Life is Great – Circle of Chenny

    Today was Rookie day and we hosted a great group of potential Chenny Kids. They arrived all eager and excited to start their journey. With that first step into sleep away camp, I sat watching their faces as they separated from their parents, all excited, some nervous but with an eagerness to explore this next step. What was interesting throughout the day was to watch the older kids notice these new young kids, start their Chenny journey. I over heard one of our older kids say to his buddy, “remember when we were rookies?” They smiled to one another as to acknowledge this journey goes so quick. Faster than you can imagine. I watched these rookies from their very beginning. Some I’ve seen over the years at Visiting Day as they visit their big sister or big brother and now it’s their turn. Some are brand new to Chenny but equally amazed about this whole experience. I see the beginning and I see the end and everything in between. When you pick the camp for your children, it is such a huge decision as you are making a choice on where they will grow up and that will change who they are, forever. I had so much joy in my heart today watching their first steps, these rookies who spent their day with us. They may have rode the Great Big Mable in Fiddle Lake today, or hit a wiffle ball way over the big red monster this afternoon but what they really did was take their first step into what will most definitely change the course of who they become. It was an absolute honor to be part of that process. Was a great day at Camp Chen-A-Wanda as we were able to introduce it’s magic on a whole new group of amazing kids.

    Our dance team took 2nd place at the Wayne dance competition today. We are so proud of our contemporary dance group as they dazzled the judges with their beautiful lyrical performance. There were so many amazing performances today and Chenny just blew everyone away. Our girls are graceful and had the time of their lives today.

    A GIANT congratulations to or Collegiate Girls Basketball team as they are Wayne County Champions defeating Morahsa with a  41-24 victory in todays Championship game. In true Chenny form, it was a jump in the lake after the win!!! Our girl swede fierce and played one heck of a game.

    Middy Boys Soccer – CAW 0 vs. Wayne 10

    Super Boys Basketball – CAW 28 @ Island Lake 45

    Congratulations to our Campers of the Week – They were spectacular camper wall week long.

    Freshman         Skye Housenbold  &  Alex Minkoff

    Juniors              Eden Lebovitch   & Jonah Burke

    Middies             Sydney Sacks  & Zach Marasia

    Inters                 Shaya Roth  & Max Gutman

    Collegiates         Lexi Gruberger   & Zach Goodman

    Seniors               Sarah Haber   & Aarn Marasia

    Supers                 Kaley Morabito  & Andrew Larheim & Drew Korn

    CIT’s                     Mel Borker  & Reed Dooskin

    It was a great week to be kind here at Chenny. Our Kind Campers are: Ally Schwarz, Addy Goldstein, Samara Goldman, Dylan Grabow, Sloane Irizarry, Elaina hammy, Emily Kushner, Elana Kessler, Sammie Pariser, Addy Rubbovitz, Alex Mallor, Alexa Selter, Hailey Nydish, Gracie Murphy, Skyler Fensterstock, Abby Nussbaum, Tyler Agulnick, Alex Berman. Ethan Coulthard, Alex Gatto, Noah Kule, Benji Herzog, Jagger Morgan, Jared Simpson & Bradem Schwartz.

    Tonight was Head Staff Lip Sync Battle and they show was insane. It was a night to remember and our Dance and Fitness Director, Sandra Belleiu was crowned the unanimous winner of the battle and won for the entire Middy division. She took control and put on 2 performances that brought us out of our seats. It was a night that nobody will forget.

    Chenny out.

  • Girls Rocked the House

    There seems to be a vibe on camp that is quite contagious. As we are quickly approaching the last two weeks of camp, there is a renewed appreciation of where we are. We are all noticing how fast our summer is going by so we aren’t sweating the small stuff here. Everyone is relaxed and fully embracing the home stretch of summer 2016. We are trying to stretch the days and lengthen the nights. With each bugle that rings it means that time is passing and soon we will be heading home so we are getting it all in while we can and making every second matter. Friendships are becoming deeper and more meaningful by the minute. In just two weeks our hugs and long talks face-to-face will be replaced with texts that read ilysm (I love you so much – for those of you who don’t know text talk). The smiles we see everyday will soon become a little happy face emoji we type into a screen. It’s unreal that what we experience here everyday has to end in just fourteen days but what we are left with are hearts full of great memories and a summer that embraced us all.

    The afternoon brought rain so even though it was a wet day, it didn’t damper the mood of what was happening tonight at camp. There are so many new things here at Camp Chen-A-Wanda and then there are those things that stay the exact same. Girls Sings is one of those very long standing Chenny traditions that we can count on summer after summer. The pride, the joy and the honor of this night is tremendous. Each division worked so hard and it showed. When boys side can sit in awe for 2 hours, you know something special is happening. 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.  Each division picked a theme, danced and sang from their heart. The emotion that was felt by every single camper and staff inside Shield’s Hall could have moved the building. There were chills upon chills upon chills as each division wrote and sang their alma mater to a very captive audience. They held hands and did it together and by the time the CIT’s performed an extremely heartfelt performance, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

    Congratulations goes out to the Middy girls for winning lower camp and our CIT’s brought home the win for upper camp. Even though winners were crowned, this night was not a loss for anyone. Girls side grew closer as they shared something with their division that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. As the CIT’s captivated the audience with their very emotional performance, the reality set in that this was their last Girls Sing as a camper. The tears were flowing in Shields Hall tonight and you just couldn’t help get caught up in it. When you watch the Freshmen begin their journey and see the evolution of how strong these friendships become,  you just feel so grateful that our kids get to experience this. There are just no words but an enormous amount of love.

    Chenny out

  • ‘s Got Some Serious Talent!!!

    It was late wakeup and we all loved the extra sleep. The pace of camp is fast and furious so when we get to sleep in we all love it and today was that day. It was off to activities and a full day of crazy Chenny fun. The campus was buzzing between Chenny’s Got Talent Finals tonight and Girls Sing tomorrow night. There is so much going here and everyone is involved. You just gotta love camp and you gotta really love Chenny. This place where your children spend their summers is full of so many things happening you can go form one incredible activity to the next in the matter of moments. It is truly one incredible place we all call home and with only 2 more weeks to go, we are getting it all in and enjoying every single minute. Life is just great here and we have 14 more days to live it up at Chenny and that is what we plan on doing.

    Now onto our sports scores of the day:

    Middy Girls Basketball Championship Game – CAW 10 @ Lavi 13

    Inter Girls Soccer – CAW 4 vs. Westmont 2 – Chenny is going to the Championship Game

    GC/CIT Girls LAX – CAW 12 vs. Starlight 16

    Middy Boys Basketball – CAW 12 @Tioga 21

    Middy Boys Soccer Tournament – CAW took 3rd Place in Tourney

    GC/CIT Boys Baseball – CAW 15 vs. Poyntelle 0 – Chenny is going to the Championship Game

    We have so many talented campers here and they put on quite a show tonight. It was Chenny’s Got Talent Finals and boy do we have some incredible talent.  All 6 of our finalists took the stage and wow’d us with their incredible talents.  They were fearless and phenomenal. They engaged us and entertained us. They were just brilliant and tonight was all about their special talented abilities. Congratulations to Emma Goldenberg, Ashley Suchoff, Sam Rochlin,  Drew Schimer, Arielle Ashkenase and the Three Muskateers (Zoe Grabow, Jesse Gatto and Brooke Bortnick). After all the finalists performed, the vote was in our campers hands and tonights winner went to the amazing and dazzling, we cant believe it with our own eyes, Magician SAM ROCHLIN. His card tricks were so outstanding, we couldn’t believe what he was dong right in front of our eyes. We are so proud of every one of our campers who competed tonight and took that stage and gave it everything they had with such confidence and poise. What a night we all had. Chenny has got some serious talented kids. We know that one day we will say, we knew them when……

    Chenny Out

  • It Takes A Village

    We have heard that phrase before and at camp it certainly does take a village. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t sit in awe of what kind of village we have here. The term village applies to every aspect of this experience. People who just met only 5 weeks ago are now family. You cant walk by people here without feeling the strongest connection. There was a camper that was having a hard moment today. She was sad and stuck and immediately had 10 people around her. I watched not only her bunk mates and counselor but 3 older campers and a specialist that wasn’t even in her division , go to her and give support. She had a a team of people to pick her up. Whatever disappointment she was feeling was immediately seen by anyone who walked by and was drawn to help her. They listened to her, hugged her and got her through this moment. I want you to know  that this is how your kids get through the tough spots here. It is the magic of leaning on others that give a helping hand. It is a village who cares for your kids here. There is nobody that doesn’t receive this support here. Can you imagine feeling sad and have people, lots of people rush to you and tell you its going to be alright while they are literally putting their arms around you? This actually happens here on the daily here. I often tell our kids here that the only way to move that mountain in front of you is to lean on those around you and they will carry you through. It works.. I see it everyday as your children get support and provide it for others. There is this caring thing that is alive and well here and we get to experience this for 50 days, all summer long. feeling pretty grateful that there is a place where this attention too caring for others is front and center.

    It was time to play some games today and that we did.

    Middy Girls Soccer – CAW 0 @ Starlight 5

    Senior Girls Soccer – CAW 2 vs. Westmont 5

    Senior Girls Tennis – CAW 0 @ Wayne 5

    GC/CIT Girls Soccer – CAW 5 @ Westmont 2

    Freshman/Junior Boys Hockey – CAW 4 @ Starlight 20

    Inters Boys Softball – CAW 3 @ Seneca Lake 4

    Collegiate Boys Baseball – CAW 6 @ Starlight 4

    Senior Boys Baseball – CAW 1 vs. Westmont 9

    Magic Cube entertained our lower camp kids with an awesome game show full of trivia, games and a pie in the face. Our kids loved it and had a great night. There was so much laughter coming from Shields Hall tonight. Navajo campers were in the Lodge and played QUEST. They were all separated onto teams wearing different colors competing against one another in crazy quests. They loved it too. It was just an awesome camp night with all our campers having fun. It’s going to be hard for these kids to go back home after spending every night here being engaged and entrained.. The life of a Chenny kid is uber fun!!

    Our Supers rolled back into camp full of memories they just made that will last their lifetime. So many stories, so much bonding, so much fun and so much LOVE. This group became one division this trip. They left as a bunch of bunks and came back a DIVISION. This is what the camp journey is all about. These kids have spent summer after summer here at camp and their Super summer, they bond like no other summer can provide. It happens on this trip. The endless hours on the bus in which they connect, and get to know one another in a way they haven’t before. They now have inside jokes and stories that belong to them as a group. Getting caught in a down pour in DC to literally sweating bullets on the beach in Virginia- they did this together. When they got off the buses, though exhausted from a  very full 4 days, their joy was undeniable. Every single camper, hugged us and thanked us for a trip that was their best. One camper summed it up so beautifully as he said, “Just when you thought camp couldn’t get better, it just did.” He thanked Jon and myself , hugged us both and walked off to his bunk with a smile that was so genuine, it made my heart melt. We have known these campers for years and to watch them get to this stage is joyful. They have grown up in front of our eyes and this trip was so meaningful to each one of them. Life is so great.

    Chenny out.

     

  • Halloween-A-WandaWednesday

    Our day started with a bang. Our GC’s rolled back into camp and there was just joy as they got off the buses. When camp heard that they were back, campers swarmed around Chenny Central waiting to see our Wandering GC’s come back home.They made signs and as those buses rolled through the gates, we were all jumping and cheering with pure joy. That is what makes this place so joyful. It’s where everyone knows you name. Little kids, big kids, counselors, nurses, head staff, we are ALL CONNECTED to one another here. You see it by the hugs and piggy back rides we give one another all throughout the day and when our GC’s came back this morning, they were greeted with hugs, cheers and so much love. All of us wanting to know just how great their trip was. Just like a family, when one member comes home form being away, we anxiously await their return and thats how it was this morning. I sat watching this spectacle of love, smiling from what we have going on up here. Chenny is a place where everybody knows your name.

    We are so beyond proud of our Lower camp girls who took 1st Place at the Tyler Hill Dance Competition. They worked so hard on their dance and it showed as they wowed the judges with their ability, technique, stage presence and overall effect. They were a force to be reckoned and had a blast of a day dancing all the way to 1st Place!!!!

    Ineter Boys Basketball – CAW 29 vs. Morasha 43

    Collegiate Boys Basketball – CAW 24 @ Tioga 39

    Seniors Boys Hockey Tournament @ Lokanda – Game 1 CAW 1 vs. Timberlake 4 – Game 2 CAW 1 vs. Lokanda 5

    Though we are in July, it was Halloween tonight at Camp Chen-A-Wanda and we all got in the spirit. We all got dressed in our costumes and had a ball all throughout camp as we trick or treated filling our bags full of candy. The costumes were awesome and everyone was in the Halloween spirit. There was spooky music all throughout camp and even a haunted house. It was the perfect summer halloween night. With bellies full of goodies, our campers are fast asleep, dreaming of another amazing day in paradise.

    Chenny out.

     

  • ‘s Hot at Chenny

    Can you say AMAZING DAY at Chenny!!!!! What an incredible day each and every one of has today. The temperature was hot so all lower camp campers got into their bathing suits and played water games all day long. There was a giant pool party, water relays, kickball with water balloons and the Zone was the place to be. There wasn’t a camper who didn’t have the BEST DAY today.. It was one of those days that will stick out as the summers best for our youngest campers. They just enjoyed themselves at camp as all the older kids were off on their trips, the younger kids took over and it was off the charts fun. Today reminded us how special it is to be a kid here at Chenny. A lot of music, a ton of water, some insanely creative activities and put all that together and you have some very happy campers.

    Collegiate’s left early this morning for their trip to Great Wolf Lodge and they had a blast too. They spent their day at the water park and so enjoyed their time there. The entire day was spent in the water and it was a perfect day. They came home exhausted, exhilarated and happy. You couldn’t ask for more as they got off the buses with huge smiles and sleepy faces.

    Our Seniors rolled back into camp late tonight from their 2-day excursion to Hershey Park and this group of kids LOVED it. It was a homerun as they ate chocolate, rode rides, spent hours in the water park, won huge oversized stuffed animals at the arcade and had the time of their life. It was a perfect trip for our Seniors who had a ball these past 2 days. Another successful excursion was had by our Seniors.

    The Supers are still on the road and spent their day at Virginia Beach. It was hot so no better way than to cool off than playing in the ocean. They relaxed and tanned, talked and jumped in the water and had a picture perfect day at the beach. It was off to Busch Gardens for some evening fun but soon after the group arrived, the rain came so it was back to the hotel for a pizza party and this group loved it. They are having so much fun and loving this excursion. What a terrific group of kids who are so enjoying this trip together.

    Our GC’s are headed home as they depart Phoenix in a  few hours. They land in the morning and will be back at camp by lunch. We miss them and can’t wait to see them back at their summer home. They just went on a trip of a lifetime and we couldn’t be happier for the experiences and adventures they had. The CIT’s had a full of exploring Ithica and its natural beauty. All our kids had an amazing day. From the Freshman to our CIT’s, it was just the best day. One that sticks out as a pretty awesome day in summer 16. How lucky are your children to get to experience summers like this. You have given them a gift that will forever be etched in how they were raised and what experiences help shape them into the people they are growing into and becoming. When they look back at their summers at Chenny, days like these will standout!

    Chenny out.

  • When it rains, it still pours fun.

    Early this morning, our Supers boarded the buses and off they went for their 4 day adventure to Virginia/D.C. and they were pumped. They all eagerly got up at the crack of dawn, grabbed some breakfast and you could see how excited they were to head off camp for an incredible trip they have ahead of them. They were giddy and the smiles said it all. This trip brings this group of kids together as one division. It bonds them unlike any trip they have been on before here at Chenny. They are ready for this 4 day experience that is all about them as a division. The sights they will see, the places they will go and even the bus rides is just them. Every year I love watching this group leave and get so excited when they return because something magical happens on this trip. They spend 4 days with ones another, without distraction or interruption. They grow together as a group and the memories they make form this journey together defines them as a unified division. They had an amazing first day as they stopped along the way at Towson Mall for some lunch and shopping followed by an afternoon that went into the night at Kings Dominion Amusement Park. They had a ball and are back in their rooms, exhausted from a full day of fun. They are loving it and it’s only day 1.. More fun to come tomorrow.

    Our Seniors left soon after on their own trip to Hershey Park. They get to spend 2 full days at the park and they too are loving this trip. It rained a bit at the park today but our campers could care less. They were with each other, eating chocolate like it was going out of style and loving every minute. We also saw that it truly doesn’t matter where you go but who you go with that matters. You could go to Disneyland by yourself and you would probably have a not so great of a time but you can be with your friends sitting in your backyard and have the time of your life. Rain or shine, these kids loved their day at the park and loved being together. They are back safe and sound in they hotel room, and they too exhausted from a long day.It’s an early rise tomorrow morning as the head back to Hershey Park.

    The GC’s trip is winding down and they are enjoying some down time in Phoenix in the pool and watermark at the resort. They have had a packed 10 days on the road and to say they loved every step of the way is an understatement. We cant wait to get our GC’s back but they have one more day to go and they deserve every second of this experience. They were so well mannered, kind and respectful along the way and we are so proud of each and every one of them.

    It was a rainy day and if I can tell you how much we all loved to downshift, it wouldn’t do it justice. When it rains up here at camp, it’s an experience. Being on your bunk, cuddled up with friends, playing jacks or cards, listening to music and chilling out is something we rarely get to do. You know this days that you never want ti get out of your pajamas, well that was today. It felt lazy and it felt good. We loved today and a little rain cooled down camp and allowed us all to downshift and have a child out afternoon.

    Our lower camp gymnasts had an incredible day at their competition at Bryn Mawr. We are so proud of our team who placed 3rd out of 13 Wayne County camps that competed today. We are so proud of our kids who worked hard and gave it everything they had. With smiles on their faces and Chenny pride in their hearts, they did their best and we couldn’t be happier for them.

    Our Collegiate Girls softball team beat Westmont today in softball with a  3 -0 victory. Lucky for the girls, they got their game in before the rain hit. We are proud of our girls who are headed to the Championship game.

    We had another incredible night of some serious Chenny talent. It was Cherokee Talent night and these kids brought the sparkle to our stage. They danced and sang and made us laugh all night long. It always makes me smile when I watch your children take center stage. Regardless if they stand alone on that stage or are with their friends, they have a confidence that is electric. There is just no fear and they feel so good about themselves. I stand in the back of Shields Hall with a smile that comes form my heart because I see your kids do things they probably would never do at home. I know many of you say, my kids would just never do what they do at camp back here at home. It is inexplainable how much I love to watch your children get up on that stage in front of their friends and perform. They just are never alone at Chenny as they get cheered along the way followed by a standing ovation. It is just respect we show our friends here and it changes who we are. They are free to be silly and dramatic, they are encouraged to be perfectly imperfect. Missed dance steps and crackling voices just don’t matter here. The end result isn’t to be picture perfect but it is truly to bring the fun and joy of just getting up on that stage. Our kids get it and I am so glad they do because every performance makes us smile. It was a great night and it’s good to be a Chenny kid!!!

    Chenny out.

  • A Jump In the Lake

    Chenny won it’s first Championship of the summer and in true CAW tradition when we we win, THE ENTIRE TEAM JUMPS IN THE LAKE TOGETHER. They stand on the dock, hold hands and jump in together. Today our Inter girls basketball team beat Wayne in the Wayne County Championship Game. They were so excited  and full of pride that when they came back to camp you could hear the horn honking which means Chenny won!! They jumped out of the van and went directly to the waterfront with only one thing on their mind, to jump into that lake with their teammates by their side. It is a thing we do here and I was watching this amazing group of girls stand so proudly on that dock, and grab one another’s hands, looked at each other and counted 1..2..3. and as a group they all jumped in together. What a moment that was and one they will never forget. They were fully dressed in their uniform and loved every minute of that celebration. They ran through camp giggling with laughter and everyone knew they had brought home the Championship!!! We could’t more proud of the teamwork they had to bring home the win.. What a great day for our Inter Girls Basketball team.

    Senior/Super Girls LAX – CAW 4 @ Westmont 9

    Super Girls Tennis – CAW 0 @ Wayne 5

    Tonight our Supers had their Road Rally which they all split up into teams and ran like crazy al throughout camp doing tasks for a giant scavenger hunt. It is a traditional event for this group before they head out to Virginia/D.C early tomorrow morning. It was such a great night for these awesome kids who have been having an incredible summer. Every single Super is so beyond excited for their trip tomorrow and got to enjoy a huge ice cream party tonight as a send off for their journey tomorrow.

    The Seniors are getting as equally excited for their trip to Hershey Park as they enjoy 2 full days at this Chocolate Heaven. They head out in the morning and can’t wait. So much fun for our navajo kids.

    GC’s spent their day at the Grand Canyon and were in awe of its beauty and vast magical hold on them. They sat together and experienced this wonder together as a camp family and that made this experience more special than they ever imagined. These kids have been so appreciative and grateful for these incredible experiences and that has made this journey so special. They have arrived at their final destination on this trip of a lifetime as they spend the next 2 days resting and relaxing at the most gorgeous resort in Phoenix. We cant wait to get them back here!!!

    The rest of camp enjoyed Minute to Win It tonight and loved every minute if it!!! They laughed as they watched their friends compete with the most hilarious tasks to be completed and timed. It was a race to the finish and all the campers were on the edge of their seats.. Another outrageous and fun Chenny night!!!! There is no place like Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

    Chenny Out

  • The Power of Making Friendship Bracelets

    There was a large group of  Junior girls in jewelry making that spent their time in Arts & Crafts making friendship bracelets for one another. They each picked another camper to make this symbol of friendship for. The table was full of colored string, happy smiling faces and a mission to create friendship bracelets for everyone at the table. It was group activity that involved and included everyone. The best part was listening to all of their conversation that was had during this group experience. They chatted and laughed and connected with one another as they spent their time creating something beautiful for a friend. As they finished each bracelet and put it on the wrist of their friend, it bonded them together as they experienced the act of giving something from their heart, something they made that had meaning behind it. I watched one camper slip it on the wrist of her friend and apologized for a few missed spaces and knots that were accidentally there to which the recipient said with so much enthusiasm, ” It’s perfect and I will never ever take it off.” The girls were as excited to make these bracelets as they were to receive them. This group of girls proudly walked out of Arts and Crafts arm in arm, hand in hand all wearing the most beautiful hand made bracelets we’ve ever seen.

    It was fun day of sports.. sports…sports…

    Inter Girls Tennis – CAW 1 @ Wayne 4

    Collegiate Girls LAX – CAW 10 @ Starlight 11 (game went into overtime)

    Middy Boys Hockey – CAW took 2nd Place in the Tourney @ Wayne – CAW 2 vs. Wayne 7

    Super Boys Baseball – CAW 8 @ Starlight 2 – CAW going to Championship

    Congratulations to our outstanding Campers of the Week:

    Freshman  –          Lila Klasrfeld    & Ben Diamond

    Juniors –         Abby Isaacson & Trent Hernandez

    Middies –      Addison Goldstein & Ari Hirshfield

    Inters –        Sarah Lord & Jonah Marcus

    Collegiates –    Lexi Tave & Jared Simpson

    Seniors –      Sophia Jaffe & Colby Frankle

    Supers –    Nikki Younger  & Mike Hellerman

    CIT’s –   Carly Wills & Josh Liebman

    It was time to honor more KIND CAMPERS and these kids are spreading the kindness at camp. We just could be more proud of: Annie Isaacson, Lexi Heifler, Pepper Margulis, Rachel Farhi, Jordana Ruderman, Sarah Gershman, Melissa Borker, Bari Klein, Jordana Reissman, Zoe Grabow, Skyler Adamchak, Alex Brandoff, Ben Diamond, Ben Gruberger, Aaron Hafkin, Trent Hernandez, Justin Horowitz, Michael Kalina, and Jerry Kessler. Keep on Being Kind!!!!

    Everyone loves to watch Brad Henderson as he gets our staff into a deep trance and hypnotizes them right in front of our eyes. His mesmerizing voice gently guides our staff into a deep sleep and has them do the most hilarious things on stage. Our kids belly laughed so hard it was contagious. Watching our male staff dance like Britney Spears and bark like seals and twirl around like prima ballerinas in front of the entire camp while under total hypnosis is just hysterical. The counselors who were up there were convinced they fell asleep and have no recollection of what just happened to them. That made tonight all the more hilarious. Tonight was just another incredible night of hilarity at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

    Chenny out.

     

     

     

     

  • Fanny Friday

    You may or may not have noticed the craze for fanny packs at Chenny this summer and let me tell you that it’s really a thing. I have to admit that I started the craze this summer when I busted out an old fanny pack for convenience and ease. Carrying everything around camp that I needed was just so much easier when it was in my fanny pack so on day 1, I was rocking the pack. It caught on like wild fire on girls side and every day at least 4 or 5 new fanny’s arrive in packages you send from home. Girls side is wearing these throwback waist purses with so much pride. The fanny’s were out in full force yesterday at the baseball game but even on a regular camp day like today, girls were proudly wearing them. They are a badge of honor for girls side and it is now a movement. You can hear campers walk by one another and say, “Happy Fanny Friday”. I saw a group of “fanny” girls compare what was in their packs and this one camper had it packed to the brim full of items she deemed absolutely necessary for her day. As she explained , she had a set of jacks, because you just never know when you want to get a game going. She packed chapstick because her lips were chapped. She needed hairbands because she was on her way to get her hair french braided so that was a must. She had a stick of suntan face lotion to which I was very proud of her being responsible for her reapplying throughout the day. She had hand sanitizer hanging from the outside and the sweetest thing of all was in her pack as she carries a letter from home. I asked why she carried that around too and she told me that it made her feel like her mom and dad were right here with her all day long. She thanked me for bringing the fanny pack to Chenny this summer and with that I hugged this sweet girl and I knew that my small little act of bringing out my fanny allowed this camper to have a piece of home with her all day long, right at her fingertips.

    Our athletes had a ball all day long playing the sports they love.

    Inter Girls Basketball – CAW 24 vs. Lavi 11

    Inter Boys Basketball – CAW 27 @ Westmont 14

    Inter Boys LAX  Tournament @ Wayne – CAW played 2 games and went o for 2 in tourney

    Super Boys Soccer -CAW 14 @ Island Lake 2

    The evening was absolutely perfect. You couldn’t get more campy that what happened tonight at Chenny. All of Cherokee was in Shields Hall playing Quest. It is this insanely fun game that has a little of everything, singing dancing, acting and you cant explain it but love doing the QUEST. Mohican camp had a pool party tonight followed by s’more at the beach. It was so beautiful tonight at the lake and the sunset just took our breath away. Novajo campers LOVED their tail gate party. They were at the top of the hill, some playing frisbee, some sitting around the camp fire, some making s’mores, some just sitting eating chips and listening to music, some played wiffle ball but all together having one amazing tail gate party. Our Navajo kids have brought the positive this summer and you can see it in their faces and feel it in how happy they are. It was a perfect summer night for all our kids. We miss our GC’s and so happy they are loving it in Vegas. Today was a standout day and a remarkable night. Life is just so great at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

    Chenny out.