171 Cup

There are some days at camp that make you stop and think, this is exactly why this place exists. Today was one of those days. The kids are officially in the groove. Six days have somehow turned into a feeling that we’ve all been here forever. Camp has a way of doing that. The routines become familiar, the friendships become real, and before you know it, this place feels like home. To be here and experience this kind of joy is another level of happiness.

We are living in a place where saying “good morning” to everyone you pass isn’t unusual, it’s simply what we do. Where walking to breakfast means hearing laughter from every direction. Where live music at Snack Call isn’t a special event, t’s just another afternoon at Chenny. There is a comfort in this community that is unlike anywhere else.

Getting to play here, live here, and simply exist here fills our cups with everything that is good. There is a freedom that exists inside these gates that is nearly impossible to replicate anywhere else. It’s why this place means so much to so many people. Camp gives us something we all long for, a true sense of belonging.

One of my favorite moments today had nothing to do with an activity, a game, or a competition.

I was sitting with a group of Senior girls who were working through some challenges in their bunk. One by one, they shared their feelings, about feeling left out, about misunderstandings, about hurt feelings that had built up over the past few days. What happened next was what is supposed to happen. They talked. They listened. They cried. They apologized. They validated one another’s feelings. There were no texts. No Snapchat messages. No group chats. No screens to hide behind. Just honest conversation. Active listening. Empathy. Vulnerability. And, ultimately, closure. By the time they stood up from those picnic tables, they walked away arm in arm, smiling, laughing, and closer than ever before. How could they not be? They had shared their hearts with one another. Outside these gates, devices often get in the way of moments like the one I witnessed today. Too many conversations happen through screens instead of face-to-face. Too many misunderstandings grow because people never truly talk. Here, they do. That is the real magic of Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

Our athletes also represented Chenny with incredible pride today as another exciting day of Wayne County competition took place.

Middy Girls Basketball: CAW 36 – Camp Wayne for Girls 6

Inter Girls Softball: CAW 9 – Camp Lavi 0

Freshman/Junior Boys Baseball: CAW 3 – Camp Wayne 4

Collegiate Boys Hockey: CAW 5 – Camp Wayne 5 (Wayne won in penalty shots.)

Super Boys Soccer: CAW 3 – Camp Wayne 9

The scores only tell part of the story. What mattered most was the heart, grit, determination, and sportsmanship our campers displayed every time they put on a Chenny jersey.

But as incredible as the day was..

Tonight belonged to the 171 Cup. The excitement around camp was unlike anything we’ve experienced this summer. Our GC and CIT Girls were taking on Camp Westmont in the inaugural 171 Cup Flag Football Game, and every single camper and staff member was invested. The entire camp was dressed in red. The chants started long before game time. The energy was contagious. It felt less like a camp game and more like one of the biggest college rivalries.

Before kickoff, we held a pep rally that absolutely blew the roof off. The cheers, the songs, the signs, and the pride created an atmosphere that every camper will remember forever. Then came the game. Both teams left everything on the field. With the score tied 6–6, the game went to overtime. Every possession mattered. Every play felt enormous. Then, with only seconds remaining… Chenny scored. The sidelines erupted. The crowd stormed the field. The 171 Cup was coming home. It was one of those moments that everyone who experienced it will remember for the rest of their lives.

After the game, the competition gave way to friendship, exactly as it should. We welcomed the Westmont campers and staff to the Lodge for a social where everyone enjoyed Jersey Mike’s sandwiches, chocolate chip cookies, and finished the night gathered around the fire making s’mores together. Watching our oldest campers celebrate, laugh, and spend the evening together was the perfect ending to an unforgettable day.

When I say this is a night they will never forget, I truly mean it. Tonight wasn’t just about winning a trophy. It was about community. It was about Chenny spirit. It was about creating traditions. It was about memories that will be talked about for decades. The first-ever 171 Cup has officially become part of Chenny history. And the story isn’t finished. The Cup continues later this summer when our boys face Westmont in basketball and soccer. If tonight was any indication, we are all in for something very special.

This was one incredible day at Camp Chen-A-Wanda. A day filled with honest conversations. Meaningful friendships. Unforgettable competition. And memories that will last a lifetime.

These are the moments that define a summer. These are the moments that define Chenny. This is why Life is Great at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.