Day Two: Where Leaders Are Made

There is a rhythm to Color War. One that has existed for generations. Breakfast. Line-Up. Team Meetings. Morning Games. Lunch. Afternoon Games. Evening Line-Up. Evening Activity. Day after day, the schedule stays the same. But somehow, every day feels completely different. Today was another standout day of Color War, and as we moved from field to field, court to court, and event to event, the competition remained incredibly close. The cheers were louder. The friendships grew stronger. The pride in wearing red or gold seemed even deeper than it was yesterday.

But tonight, for me, it wasn’t the games that stood out the most. It was Evening Line-Up. Evening Line-Up is one of those Chenny traditions that everyone looks forward to. The entire camp gathers together as Captains, Lieutenants, and Sergeants stand before their teams and deliver the psych speeches they’ve been thinking about, dreaming about, and preparing for. Their job isn’t just to speak. Their job is to inspire. To encourage. To remind every camper that they matter.

Tonight, both the Gold GOATS and the Red RACERS took time to recognize campers who had done something extraordinary during the day’s events. One camper was applauded for making three incredible catches during a flag football game. Another was recognized, not for scoring points, but for showing remarkable sportsmanship by congratulating the opposing team after a loss. Think about that for a second. In the middle of the most competitive week of the summer, one of the biggest cheers of the night came because someone chose kindness. That says everything about what Color War is really about. Watching the expressions on those campers’ faces when their names were called was priceless. They stood a little taller. Their teammates erupted. And for this moment, they felt seen.

But what captured my attention most tonight were our Sergeants. These are our CITs. They have sat through seven Color War Line-Ups as campers. They were once those little Freshmen sitting in the front row, looking up at the leadership team with wide eyes, dreaming that one day it might be their turn. Tonight, It was. Standing shoulder to shoulder with their Captains and Lieutenants were: Red Racers, Jordana Kohen, Brandon Worth, Nate Wellikoff – Gold GOATS, Maddy Rosen, Ashton Nadel, Jordan Morris. As I watched them address their teams, I couldn’t stop thinking about the journey that brought them here. They’ve waited years for this moment. Years of watching. Years of hoping. Years of imagining what it would feel like to stand exactly where they stood tonight. Then I looked down at the front row. There sat our youngest campers. Listening. Watching. Dreaming. Looking at these Sergeants with the very same wonder these leaders once had. And just like that, the circle continues. That is what makes Color War so special. It’s so much bigger than competition. It’s about watching children grow into leaders.It’s about seeing years of hopes and dreams come full circle. It’s about giving young people moments that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. As I watched each Sergeant look out at the teammates they now lead, I saw something that took my breath away. Pride. Responsibility. Gratitude. Passion. You could feel how much this meant to them. And I couldn’t help but think about their families. What an incredible gift it is for parents to watch their children grow from that little camper sitting cross-legged in the front row into a young leader standing confidently before an entire camp, inspiring hundreds of people. Those are the moments that stay with families forever.

As dinner approached, Gary Shields stepped forward to announce the latest Color War scores. Just 36 points separated the teams. Thirty-six. The splits this year were extraordinary, and the scoreboard proves just how evenly matched these teams are. The excitement only continued into the evening as our campers traded in their jerseys for their cheering voices during Counselor Games. Basketball and soccer belonged to the staff tonight, while our campers filled the sidelines, cheering every play as loudly as if they were the ones competing.

Two days down. Three unforgettable days still to come. And if these first two days are any indication, the rest of Color War will be epic! Tomorrow is another day to be great and to do great things and its Alumni day!! We are so excited to welcome our alumni to their summer home. It just keeps getting better