Dear Chen-A-Wanda Families,
For the past 20 summers, we have had the incredible honor and privilege of leading and operating Camp Chen-A-Wanda. It is not simply what we do, it is our purpose, and without question, the most meaningful work of our lives.
There has not been a single day in these past two decades when camp has not shaped how we think, how we plan, and how we live. Every decision we make comes back to one simple question: How do we continue to create a place where children feel seen, protected, valued, and inspired to become the very best version of themselves? A place that becomes part of who they are forever.
And it’s not just our campers. It’s our staff, so many of whom discover their confidence, their leadership, and their purpose right here. It’s the friendships, the traditions, the songs, the laughter, and the memories that live on for a lifetime. Chenny becomes something far greater than any one of us.
Because Camp Chen-A-Wanda is more than a camp. It is a family.
It is a family because it belongs to every camper who has stood on the athletic fields, every counselor who has changed a child’s life, every parent who entrusted us with their greatest gift, and every alumnus who still smiles when they hear the words, “Life is great at Camp Chen-A-Wanda” It belongs to all of us.
So when something this meaningful is threatened, you don’t step back. You step forward. You fight. And you fight with everything you have.
That is exactly what we did.
Over the past six weeks, we have walked through the most professionally difficult chapter of our lives. But we never gave up. This journey changed us. It strengthened our resolve, deepened our appreciation for this extraordinary community and reaffirmed something we have always known in our hearts: Camp Chen-A-Wanda is worth fighting for.
Your support and love became our fuel. And today, with hearts overflowing with gratitude and emotion, we are incredibly proud to share these words:
Camp Chen-A-Wanda is ours. We are currently under contract to purchase Camp Chen-A-Wanda with a closing date of mid to late September.
We are honored to share that, upon the closing under our contract, we will have 100% ownership of Camp Chen-A-Wanda and will proudly continue as its Owners and Directors. Protecting this extraordinary place and ensuring its future has been our greatest mission, and we are beyond grateful that the next chapter of Chenny’s story will continue with the people who have dedicated their lives to it.
As part of this exciting new chapter, we were thrilled to offer a minority ownership stake to one of Chenny’s own, Howard Berman. Howard is a true Camp Chen-A-Wanda lifer whose 31 years of unwavering commitment, leadership, and love for this place have helped shape its values, vision, traditions, and culture. There is no one more deserving to stand alongside us as we continue building the future of the camp we all love.
Together, we are proud to say that Camp Chen-A-Wanda is led by a united, deeply committed, and 100% in-house team, a team whose hearts have always belonged to Chenny and whose shared purpose is to protect its legacy while ensuring it continues to thrive for generations of campers, families, and staff to come.
Standing beside us is an extraordinary leadership team that has devoted their lives to making Camp Chen-A-Wanda the remarkable place it is today.
- Brian and Laura Leahy have dedicated more than two decades as our full-time Directors, pouring their hearts into every aspect of camp. Their unwavering passion, compassion, and commitment have shaped the experience of generations of campers and staff. Their leadership has created a culture where campers feel safe, valued, inspired, and loved, and their impact on Camp Chen-A-Wanda is truly profound and immeasurable.
- Gary Shields has devoted 37 summers to Chenny, helping preserve the character, traditions, and spirit that define our camp. His dedication ensures that every new generation of campers experiences the same timeless magic that has made Camp Chen-A-Wanda so special for decades.
- Nancy Berman, now celebrating her 26th summer, is the welcoming heart of our office. With warmth, kindness, and genuine care, she greets every camper and family, making each person feel like they belong from the moment they arrive.
- Ally Grossman grew up at Camp Chen-A-Wanda and has spent the past 30 years helping shape the extraordinary culture of Girls Side. Her wisdom, compassion, and unwavering love for Chenny have influenced generations of campers, while her guidance and support have become an invaluable resource for both new and returning families. Her devotion runs deep, and her commitment to this community is unwavering.
- Emily Gordey and Zac Krieger, our full-time leadership team members, have each spent the past decade immersed in the Chenny experience. Their energy, dedication, and passion for our mission have made them an integral part of our future, and they are deeply committed to preserving everything Camp Chen-A-Wanda stands for while helping lead it into the next generation,
This leadership team represents well over a century of combined dedication to Camp Chen-A-Wanda. Their passion, loyalty, and commitment are woven into the fabric of this place, and together we remain united in our promise to protect its traditions, strengthen its future, and continue creating life-changing summers for generations to come.
Together, we are stronger than ever. Together, we will continue to protect the traditions that make Chenny so special while ensuring its future remains as bright as its remarkable past. We will proudly continue serving the families who have placed their trust in us, while welcoming future generations who have yet to discover the magic waiting for them here.
To our entire Chenny family: Thank you. Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for standing beside us. Thank you for encouraging us when the days were hard and for reminding us why this fight mattered.
We couldn’t imagine a more meaningful time to share this exciting news than tonight, as we prepare to welcome all of you tomorrow for what will be a truly special Visiting Day. We are so grateful to celebrate this moment with the people who love Camp Chen-A-Wanda as much as we do.
The future is clear… Life is, and always will be, Great at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.
With all our love and gratitude,
Jon & Elissa Grabow
I started my Chenny adventure back in 2014! One of my best friends, Shelby Runyan, and I started our journey together. As we drove up to camp for orientation, we both second-guessed our decision. We were about a minute away from camp and SERIOUSLY considered turning around and driving home. What were we thinking working at a summer camp all summer? What if they don’t like us? What if we hate it? BOY WERE WE WRONG. Summer 2014 ended up being one of the best summers of my life and I have never regretted my decision.
During my first summer at camp, I was a Basketball Specialist and a counselor for the GC girls. Little did I know, these girls would become some of my best friends – I still stay in contact with most of them to this day! I was given the opportunity to be a Captain for Olympics (Go Madagascar) and then a Lieutenant for Color War (Gold Zombies)! Both of these events were easily the most exhausting and most rewarding times for me at camp! The next summer, I became a Group Leader for the youngest girls on camp, the Freshmen. Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum! I went from some of the oldest girls on camp to the youngest girls on camp – I was nervous, to say the least. As much as I didn’t want to admit it at times, I ended up loving the younger age group. During my third summer, I was the Group Leader for the same girls, when they moved up a division to Juniors. Which leaves me at my current position at camp, Girls Side Assistant Head Counselor!
Camp was really a life-changing experience for me. I truly believe that I wouldn’t be half the person I am today without the experiences and friendships that I’ve gained through camp. The friendships that I have made at camp are irreplaceable. Those people are always there for me, literally whenever I need them. Whether it’s a Facetime call from my campers or group texts with my co-counselors, I always have someone there. I have hundreds of friends from all over the world and that’s something that I’m extremely thankful for. I talk about the people I’ve met at camp in my classroom all the time – my students are always so baffled that I know people from all over.
So all in all, I was able to find myself during my few years at Chen-A-Wanda. I grew into the person that I needed and wanted to be. I couldn’t be more thankful for Jon, Elissa, Brian, and Laura, (and the countless people that I’ve met over the years) for giving me the opportunity of working at Camp Chen-A-Wanda. I am forever grateful and thankful for Camp Chen-A-Wanda.
I still remember the mad panic of getting the job, then rushing the visa, and finally, after all the flights and travel, getting to camp (three days after Staff Orientation had begun). I had made it and I will never forget my first night walking into the Counselors Lounge, jet-lagged, and desperate for my bed. The instant I walked in, Michael jumped at me and drags me to a group of four people playing a game. I remember first being terrified and then quickly getting to know them, and I still see a few of them every year at camp.
When I first came to camp as a Junior boy, I was very shy and never really ventured out of my comfort zone. I was super nervous on that first day, but luckily, I had a friend from my town who was coming back for his second summer. He introduced me to everyone in my division during a game of Gaga, which turned out to be my favorite sport at camp. More importantly, those people turned out to be some of my best friends.
Growing up with everyone, we became as close as brothers. We would argue and fight, but at the end of the day, we all had each other’s backs. We had some awesome counselors along the way who became role models to all of us. As I got older, porch talks with them helped me learn a lot about life, and about what I wanted to do. I also started trying new things, whether it was new food in the dining hall or a new activity around camp.
As a culmination of many years together, our division got to be the first “Chen-A-Wanderers,” and take a 10 day trip to California. I had never been to the West Coast before, and I pretty much fell in love with it as soon as we hopped off the plane at LAX. I got to see San Diego, LA, Hollywood, the Grand Canyon, Vegas, and so many other places, all with my best friends in the world. It really was a life-changing trip, and when college applications rolled around a few years later, I knew exactly where I wanted to go. Half of the schools I applied to were in California, and I wound up at the beautiful UCLA. If it wasn’t for camp, I might be stuck at a school where it actually rains!
As a Junior Counselor the following summer, I was very intrigued to see the other side of things at camp. I was lucky enough to live in the same bunk as my older brother Scott, and I was able to create bonds with the campers almost immediately. To this day, even though I moved out of their division, I still think of them as my little brothers, and I’m beyond excited to see how they do as CITs this year.
In 2014, I started my Chenny journey when I came across the camps flyer during study hall at my school. I was a camper at a wilderness camp when I was younger, but I knew this would be totally different. After much thought, I decided to give it a go! I remember arriving at camp and being completely doubtful. The first two weeks were tough for me. I don’t consider myself a social or outgoing person that can just walk up and talk to new people, but camp helped me with that!
In 2016, I returned as Group Leader for my GC boys. This was such a great summer for me. I got to share the experience of going on the West Coast Trip with them. After this, I didn’t see them as my campers, but as my brothers. My fourth year, I came back as one of the Athletic Directors; I had a fun time in my new position at camp. I learned a ton of new things and had completely different responsibilities from my last few roles at camp. One cool thing about joining the Chenny family is that you’ll make friendships that will last for a really long time. It’s just incredible to me how we all come together from all over the world to this place in Pennsylvania and become a huge family. The best part it only takes 8 weeks to make these relationships. I’m also thankful that I was able to meet such wonderful girl like Nikki! I can’t wait for Summer ’18!