Chenny’s Got Talent!
One of the greatest gifts of camp is that every hour brings a brand-new adventure. In the span of a single morning, a camper might be flying across the lake on a tube, battling it out on the basketball court, creating a masterpiece in Arts & Crafts, and then heading over to the Chenny Shack to cook with friends. There aren’t many places in the world where kids are encouraged to discover so many different parts of themselves in one day. Chenny gives kids the freedom to explore, create, compete, imagine, and simply be kids.
Today, I wandered into Arts & Crafts and found a group of Middy boys completely immersed in Pix Brix. If you don’t know what Pix Brix are, don’t worry…your kids do! They’re tiny building pieces that can become just about anything your imagination can dream up. Every project requires creativity, patience, focus, and problem-solving. I have to admit, I discovered Pix Brix over the winter, and I became completely obsessed. I spent much of the winter and spring building all kinds of creations, so when I saw these boys proudly showing me what they had designed, I couldn’t help but smile.
But it wasn’t what they were building that captured my attention. It was how they were building. The boys were sprawled out across the floor together, each creating something completely different, yet somehow doing it as one group. The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. They were completely locked in, laser focused, carefully placing one tiny piece after another. Every now and then someone would quietly hold up their creation for the others to admire before going right back to work.
No phones. No distractions. No need to be entertained. Just a group of boys creating, imagining, concentrating, and enjoying being together. It was one of those moments that reminds you just how valuable camp really is. In a world that moves so fast, it was beautiful to watch children slow down. To see them completely engaged in something that challenged their minds, sparked their creativity, and allowed them to simply enjoy the process. They weren’t trying to finish first. They weren’t competing. They were just creating together.
I definitely encourage every family to pick up a set of Pix Brix. Fair warning though…you may become just as obsessed as I did! And if your kids are lucky, maybe you’ll even let them borrow your set when they get home.
That’s the magic of Chenny. One hour they’re tubing across the lake, the next they’re building masterpieces on the floor of Arts & Crafts. Every day is different. Every day they discover something new about themselves. And every day they remind us why camp is one of the greatest places a child can grow up.
Sports Center:
Tonight was one of those evenings that reminds us what Camp Chen-A-Wanda is truly all about. The spotlight belonged to our incredibly talented campers during the Chenny Talent Show, and what made the night so special wasn’t just the performances, it was the courage it took to step onto that stage. Think about it for a moment. Standing in front of hundreds of your friends, putting your talent on display, and allowing yourself to be vulnerable takes real bravery. Whether they were dancing, performing comedy skits, singing, impersonating Justin Bieber, dazzling us with gymnastics, or showing off incredible Diablo tricks, every single camper who walked onto that stage took a leap of faith.
And Chenny did what Chenny always does. We showed up for one another. From the very first act to the final bow, Shields Hall was filled with thunderous applause, cheers, laughter, and standing ovations. The audience wasn’t simply watching the performances, they became part of them. Every camper in the room wanted the person on stage to succeed. They clapped louder, cheered harder, and celebrated every performance as if it were their own.
That is what makes the Chenny Talent Show so much more than a talent show. It is one of the greatest displays of friendship, encouragement, and community you’ll ever witness. When one of our campers takes the stage, they aren’t standing there alone. They have an entire camp behind them, lifting them up and reminding them that they are capable of more than they ever imagined. That kind of support builds confidence that lasts far beyond one summer. It teaches our campers to take chances, believe in themselves, and celebrate the success of others just as much as their own. You could feel the love inside Shields Hall tonight. It was impossible not to smile as camper after camper walked off the stage beaming with pride, knowing they had just done something brave and were met with nothing but celebration.
What an unforgettable evening. What an incredible community. And what a beautiful reminder that at Camp Chen-A-Wanda, we are always in each other’s corner.