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You never think that you could miss a place or the people you are with for only two months as much as myself after working at Camp Chen-A-Wanda. I started working at CAW in 2014, and my life changed for the better. My best friend had worked there the summer before, so I thought I knew what I was getting myself into, but you don’t truly understand what you’re getting into until you experience it for yourself. I was told so many stories and how when the campers leave on the last day of camp, I would hysterically cry. I remember thinking to myself, “Cry? Me? Absolutely not!” Let me tell you, on that last day, I cried like a baby.

My first summer at camp, I was a basketball specialist – I got paid to teach and play basketball all day and got to hang with my amazing Junior girls (what could be better?). The following summer in 2015, I became the Group Leader for my girls who were now Middies. In 2016, I was coming back as a Group Leader and a few days before leaving for camp, I was asked to be an Assistant Head Counselor for Mohican Camp and that’s where I still currently am! CAW is so amazing and will change your life regardless of the position you hold. The environment is just something to smile about. The bonds and relationships that you create at Chenny, whether it’s between you and your campers or with the other counselors, is amazing.

Working at camp was a blessing in disguise for me as I was studying to become a Health and PE teacher in college. At times, I was shy and didn’t want to stand out, but Chen-A-Wanda changed that about me…after only one summer! There were so many times to act silly or do something you’re totally not used too, and I am so thankful for that. Now, I’ve dressed up like Hannah Montana and got on stage as if it’s nothing to perform in the Lip Sync Battle in front of the entire camp – that’s around six hundred people! Besides being thankful for camp taking me out of my comfort zone, I am also more than thankful for the lasting friendships that I have made along the way. Even though we are only together for two months, the friends I have made have become my best friends!

For me, being a captain for Color War was a huge highlight! Having a staff Facebook group helped answer a ton of questions, but also had me anxious as many staff members have been there for multiple summers, tons of camper counselors and a lot of Junior Counselors. I was nervous throughout the summer even though I was receiving positive feedback. Coming to work at a summer camp and not being a camper counselor felt difficult even though you were doing a great job! You don’t really know or understand the environment right away and it can be intimidating as some have been at camp for almost 10 years, even if it is their first summer being a counselor. I felt like I was the new one to this place, unfamiliar with camp, and that it would be hard to fit in. With that being said, I never thought I would receive Color War Captain. I remember when it happened, being so shocked, but so humbled. It was a great feeling knowing that I did fit in, and was just as good. Ever since the first week of my first summer, I knew, Camp Chen-A-Wanda would be my home away from home…for a very long time. Bring on Summer 2018!

My name is Jason Bowman and I am one of the assistant Head Counselors at Camp Chen-a-Wanda. I am 25 years old and am currently in graduate school at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. I have had different experiences so far in my life, but nothing has compared to my time at Chenny. It is truly my home away from home that I look forward to each and every year.

I would never have thought that traveling to a sleep-away camp in the endless mountains of Pennsylvania would change my life, but I was completely mistaken. I started working at Chenny during the Summer of 2015. Before arriving at camp, I was full of mixed emotions and wondering about what I got myself into, almost backing out of the whole thing. I am particularly not an outgoing individual, to say the least, but after a little of persuasion, I took a leap and went for it. This is one of the greatest decisions that I could have ever made. That summer, I started off as a basketball specialist and a counselor for the Collegiate boys. My life changed after that summer. I was honored to take on leadership roles that summer of Olympic Captain and Color War Lieutenant, which were the longest, but best days ever.

The following Summer of 2016, I was grateful to be asked to be the Assistant Head Counselor for Cherokee Camp, which is still my current position! It is hard to put it into words how much camp really does affects you, unless you have experienced it yourself. It does not matter what position at camp you hold, even if you are a new staff or a returning staff member, you will have memories that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Looking back at the three summers I have spent at camp, I have always admired one thing. The bonds you make.  In just two months, people from all over the world, which you have never met in your entire life, become your best friends. You will meet up with these friends even after camp is over, friends that you will talk to on a daily basis. Your campers become little brothers and sisters. They look up to you, and sometimes even want to be you! On the last day of camp as the buses depart, you see campers crying, staff crying. Not a single soul that does not have tears running down their faces. These are tears of joy from an amazing summer, tears of sadness that camp is actually over. These are memories that bring you and me back to Camp Chen-A-Wanda every summer.

My name is Ally Grossman and I am one of the Girls Side Head Counselors at Chenny. I am 30 years old and a Kindergarten teacher in Jericho, NY. While this is my tenth summer as a Head Counselor, I did not start out this way….

Twenty two summers ago in June of 1997 at the age of 9, I began my Chen-A-Wanda journey. It’s hard to believe that all of our campers and even much of our staff wasn’t even born, (no not because I’m THAT old), because with every year the number people that have shaped my summer experiences grow exponentially and it’s hard to imagine a time when they weren’t there!

As a camper, Chenny was my absolute happy place. I wasn’t the best athlete, but could hold my own on a field or court if it meant winning a Color War game. I loved being a part of the Camp plays, and looked up to the older kids who held leading roles, until I held a few myself. I LIVED for Girls Sing, and was the resident songwriter of my division. My counselors (Julie, Steph, Sarah and Kim to name a few) were my heroes and in my mind and the epitome of cool. Most importantly I made the friends of a lifetime who to this day are the people I tell absolutely everything to, and laugh harder than anyone with. We went from attending bunk sleepovers and bat mitzvahs to yearly girls weekend trips to Vermont, walking down the aisle as bridesmaids at weddings, and Secret Santa gatherings that end in Camp song sing alongs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After my camper years I transitioned to being a counselor. At the time i thought that that Camp would never be the same…and I was right…but this chapter was equally as amazing. It was during these years that I continued to bond with my childhood friends, but met even more amazing friends, this time from all around the world! There’s an amazing bonded feeling that one has with co counselors. You work together for long hours to do your best to change and shape the lives of the campers and make sure they’re creating the memories they’ll take with them. It’s also an amazing coming of age when you’re making the most amazing memories yourself! I had the opportunity to take on leadership roles as Olympic and Color War Captains which were easily some of the hardest and best days of my life.

 

My campers were and continue to be my little sisters. There’s no better feeling than realizing that you’re now looked up to by your campers, in the way you looked up to your own. I watched them grow from toothless 8 year olds to amazing young women, counselors themselves and  now college graduates who are now taking on the world as young professionals. Most importantly they remain the best of friends. Their continued closeness is one of my favorite successes that I helped to pass down the importance of Camp friendship to the next generation.

As someone who has always loved children, I knew that there was really only one career path that ever made sense…to become a teacher. This would allow me to fulfill my passion for shaping the future during the year, but also gives me the flexibility to continue to come back to Camp each summer. Some have called it “living the dream” and I agree! My experience in the classroom has allowed me to learn and grow as a head counselor, and my experiences each summer come back with me to my classroom and help me to grow as a teacher. In short, I couldn’t be luckier to have not one but two dream jobs! My summer dream job consists of spending my days out doors, singing and dancing during meals, passing down traditions, leading trips and activities, guiding counselors through decision making and conflict resolution, helping kids form and foster life long friendships,  and every once and a while even having some time off to continue to foster new and lasting friendships of my own!!

The past twenty two summers my life have been shaped by literally hundreds of campers, counselors, staff and families who have come and gone, and many who still remain. Every single one of them has been an important part of my continuing journey. The one thing I can say to anyone reading this, whether you’re a new staff member, returning camper, or transitioning to a new role is that the best is yet to come, because just when you think your summer will never be the same, you’re right…it’s better!