Author: Elissa

I sat in center camp today and watched your kids playing and was thinking of you, their families at home, wondering if the pictures and video truly relay how easy life is up here. There were kids swinging on swings and some were having a catch and most were in conversation with one another and all I kept think was how at ease our kids are. The music was bumping, the sun was shining and everyone was at ease. There is no traffic to get frustrated over, no daily stresses to occupy our minds and no concept of time to worry how late we are to an appointment. How nice it is to live in a state of ease and peacefulness and that is how we are living up here. It actually took my breath away as I felt incredibly grateful  that our kids get to detox from the stresses of their real world and live at ease for another 3 1/2 weeks.

Chen-A-Wanda has a perfect winning record today!

Inter Girls Basketball – CAW 21 vs. Westmont 7

Collegiate  Girls Softball – CAW 11 vs. Wayne 10

Super Girls Basketball – CAW 27 @ Lohikan 26

Freshmen/Junior Boys Baseball – CAW 5 vs. Starlight 0

Inter Boys Baseball – CAW 9 @ Wayne 1

Collegiate Boys Baseball – CAW 18 vs. Weequahic 6

Senior Boys Soccer – CAW 7 vs. Wayne 1

Chenny has so much talent that we needed another night to showcase our kids and they out did themselves tonight. They danced, told jokes, played instruments and sang and got up on that stage and felt the love. I am always blown away by the energy in Shields Hall as nights like tonight define our summer family. We love seeing each other on stage and we love cheering each other on. I tucked in some Middy girls tonight, two of which performed at this evening’s show and as we went around the bunk saying our rose & thorn of the day , the girls who performed said tonight was something they will always remember. As the giggles were in abundance as they recalled play by play of their performance, each said their rose was having the other by their side tonight and looking out at the audience and seeing the rest of their bunk cheering them on. This is what we do here and this is why we love our summer family.

Chenny out

 

There is something quite special about heading out of camp on trips with your campies. Everyone is wearing their camp shirts and we all load the buses to some amazing fun places. It unifies us as a group as we exit our gates for some fantastic adventures. Each group had a ball today as they enjoyed themselves beyond imagination.

Our youngest Freshmen campers spent their day at Claws and Paws Zoo and it was remarkable. They watched the monkeys play, they saw some great animal shows, they enjoyed the animal scavenger hunt and in one adorable Freshmen’s own words, “That was the best day ever.” They rolled back into camp right at shower hour, all with the stuffed zoo animals they bought there. The cuteness was too much too handle. After a yummy dinner, they brought their new zoo animal friends into the Chen-A-Plex as they watched Zoo Keeper.

The Juniors and Middies started their day at Leahy’s fun park where they played in the arcade, zoomed around the go-kart track, played mini-golf and had a blast of a day. Then it was off to the movies to catch this summer’s hottest blockbusters. Half of the campers saw Minions and the other half enjoyed Inside Out. They arrived back to camp just in time for dinner and then spent their night outside playing games and enjoying a perfect summer evening under the stars. An absolutely remarkable trip and a fun relaxing night back at camp. Just doesn’t get better than that.

Inters and Collegiates got wet, wild and wacky at Camel Beach today. It was a hot day and there is no better way to spend it than with your campies swirling around the giant toilet bowl!!!! They relaxed in the lazy river and had a blast in the wave pool. It was an all around perfect way to cool down and have an ideal summer day day.

Seniors and Supers spent their day at Aquatopia and it was perfect. The brand new indoor water park is the biggest of it’s kind in all of Pennsylvania. This ginormous indoor water park was the ideal spot for these campers. They relaxed at the pool after they spent hours on the rides. It was another amazing day for these campers who made memories that will last their lifetime. When they got back to camp, every single one of them said the same thing, “That was the BEST trip EVER!!!!”

Our Wanderers had a true LA day as they toured Sony Studios and saw movie magic. After the tour it was onto more Hollywood experiences with an afternoon spent at Universal Studios where they went on rides and saw attractions they only see in the movies. They are getting the real deal Los Angeles experience and we couldn’t be happier for them. They are soaking it all in and enjoying every moment.

The CIT’s spent their afternoon at Syracuse and after touring the campus, it was time to eat and shop. The day was perfect and so meaningful as one CIT said to the group as they rolled back ingot camp tonight, “We can’t ever forget days like today and in only 25 days, our time as Chen-A-Wanda campers is done.” So they made a commitment to treasure every moment and appreciate every experience they all will have for the next 25 days.

With the exception of our Wanderers, we are all back in camp, snuggled in our beds and sleeping soundly from a day well spent.  We are not wasting one moment here and living out our summer dreams.  Best news is we are only halfway through our summer and  there is so much more to do. When we say Life is Great here, we mean it!!!!

Chenny out

 

It was 3rd period and I walked into ceramics where I saw a group of Collegiate boys having the best time using the pottery wheel. They were all laughing and so excited to show me their works of art. Some were creating hand made bowls and a few made coasters but why this moment stuck out to me today is because these same boys who were having a ball with clay just got off the field from a serious soccer game they had with their division. Their faces were flushed and they still had sweat running down their cheeks and  these kids went form a fierce game of soccer where they ran up and down the field  to sitting down  in Arts & Crafts making a creation with clay. They were focused and loved showing me what they were making. This is the Chenny kid in a nut shell. Fierce athletes playing with all heart, straight to ceramics as they so delicately molded a masterpiece. When you think of a well rounded kid who can pop in and out of activities that each equally engage their mind, body and spirit, you think of a Chenny Kid. This is what we do here and this is why your kids love spending their summers at Chenny.

It was a great and fun day for Chenny Sports.

Freshman/Junior Girls Soccer – CAW 0 vs. Tioga 5

Middy Girls Basketball – CAW 21 vs. Westmont 20

Senior Girls Basketball – CAW 8 @ B’nai Brith 25

Inter Girls Softball – CAW 3 @ Westmont 4

Middy Boy Baseball – CAW 30  vs. Lavi 29

Collegiate Boys Tennis – CAW 5 vs. Westmont 0

Senior Boys Baseball – CAW 8 @ Westmont 3

Tonight was all about our talented kids who get up on that stage and shined so bright. Before we were entertained by the plethora of talented Chenny Kids it was our Kind Camper Awards. We are pleased to announce that this week there even more nominations with kind acts happening every day by so many campers. It is with such joy that we announce this weeks Kindest Campers: Cami Platt, Alexa Becker, Julia Blee, Liam Irizarry, Bennet Goldstein, Sarah Kaplansky, David Stulberger, Sam Erlich, Sydney Steinberg, Zoe Grabow, Max Wasserman, Zoe Gorsky, Cole Weiss, Zoey Wood, Zach Olson ad Chloe Lebovitch. This Kind kids smiled from ear to ear as I announced their names and they got their tshirts. To be recognized by your peers for your kindness makes you feel just awesome.

To feel the love in Shields Hall tonight was to be in the presence of something pretty special and moving. When our kids take that stage, no matter if they  play guitar, sing a song or do tricks with their diablo, they receive an ovation of cheers followed by hundreds of people screaming, YOU ARE A SUPER STAR. Can you imagine the feeling of getting that response when you put your talent out their in the Chen-A-Wanda universe? It’s insanely awesome and those kids who performed loved every minute of it. Confidence is built here and support thrives amongst us all. We love making out fellow campers feel the love and tonight was off the charts. We know that for those 30 campers who stood on that stage and entertained us all tonight, they felt the love. We all felt it and you couldn’t help but leave Shields Hall tonight with huge smile and a happy heart.

Chenny out.

It was right back to the fun after one amazing visiting day. There is a sense of calmness or maybe the word I’m looking for is better defined as comfort but the feeling here we are all experiencing is just the feeling of being home. This is our home for the next 4 weeks and we have all beautifully settled in and created a true safe haven here. Even after all the families pulled out of camp yesterday,  getting back into our camp routine took only moments and now its back to business for us all. The sun was out and the heat was high so today we were all loving spending the time in the lake, pool, the Zone and any other area that we could get drenched with water. What another incredible day we had. It just keeps getting better and better.

Our athletes had a fun day of games today as one camper perfectly said it all after loosing her LAX game, “We may not have won today but we sure had a fun.” Nothing could be better than hearing a young athlete speak about having a great time just playing the sport she loves regardless of the outcome. No pressure, just playing because you love to play.

Super Girls LAX – CAW 6 vs. Starlight 9

Middy Boys Soccer  CAW 11 @ Tioga 3

Inter Boys Basketball – CAW 25 @ Tioga 8

Collegiate Boys Soccer – CAW 11 @ Tioga 5

Senior Boys Tennis – CAW 3 @ Tyler Hill 2

Super Boys Baseball – CAW 12 @ Island Lake 5

GC/CIT Baseball – CAW 2 vs. Wayne 1

Tonight was Round Robin and the entire camp was being utilized. There were movies in the Chen-A-Plex, dodgeball and Gaga tournaments, there was a road rally and cooking in the Cookhouse. It was an awesome night full of summer fun. Exactly what we wanted to do on a beautiful warm summer night. We hope you enjoyed your day because we all enjoyed ours!!!!!

Chenny Out

 

We have all seen the viral videos of families running to get their campers as the whistle blows on visiting day at every sleep away summer camp. What that video didn’t show, was the intense emotion you felt as you embraced your child after being without them for the past three weeks. The joy, actually it was pure elation you had as you held them close again. It is such a privilege to watch you embrace your children and the sweetness of that moment never gets old. The tears, the smiles from the heart and the “oh my god, you’ve grown” are truly magical moments to witness. We watched your sons leap into your arms and saw your daughters hug you so tight she didn’t want to let go and your face said it all. We could actually see your heart explode with love as you reunited with your kids. You have given your children their wings and for the last three weeks we have watched them soar and we hope today you did too.

These past three weeks, they have overcome homesickness, worked out issues with friends, found their voice, discovered their independence and proved to themselves they are stronger than they ever thought. That is why you sent to them to us and we hope today you had a brief glimpse to the wonderful life they have created here at Chen-A-Wanda.

We hope you enjoyed your day and truly appreciate all of your support. Your kind warm words leave indelible marks on our hearts and keep us doing what we do best and that is care for, guide, inspire and keep your children safe. It takes a village to run our village and we have the best staff in the game. We hope you felt the love our staff gives your kids every single day . We even made sure the weather just perfect for your day with your kids. It is a joy getting up to bugles and playing with your children all day long. We have four more weeks of pure bliss here and we aren’t going to waste a moment of it. Continue enjoying the pictures and videos of what is to come because one thing is for sure we will be having a ball up here and loving every minute.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making today so very special and for being a part of our Camp Chen-A-Wanda Family.

Chenny Out