Author: Elissa

Playing in the Mud

It was Zeller day today and the campers had the best day ever. Freshmen thru Collegiates spent the day running the Chenny Color Mudder. We had some rain in the morning that only made the course more insanely awesome and muddier. It was perfect and the campers couldn’t want to jump in. Everyone was chomping at the bit to begin their race. They started at the front gate and the whistle blew. It was up the hill they went and off to the Chenny Zoom as they sped down the 150 slip n’ slide. From there, the campers climbed the cargo net wall into the first mud pit. They climbed up then over to land in their first mud pit. Some got right on their bellies into the mud while others walked through loving squishing through the thick mud beneath their feet. They climbed another mud mountain and scooted down into another mud obstacle. There was another cargo net but this one required campers to army crawl underneath. You couldn’t help smile with joy as they navigated this pit. The mud was everywhere. Clumps of mud in our hair and everywhere made today so much fun. There really isn’t anything more fun than rolling in mud and not getting in trouble for it. Actually being encouraged to jump in and get dirty. There was more laughter and smiles at the mud pit today it was contagious. Even the kids that were hesitant at first couldn’t stop themselves to jump in the pit. Our kids were champions of mud and everything dirt. After they completed the mud course it was back down the hill to get doused with neon colored celebration powder. It was streaks of color that made us all look like true warriors. Our Mudder ended at the lake as we all jumped in and washed out the mud dirt and everything else that was on us. We all let go and embraced this race and it felt so good. Where else can kids feel this free to play in the mud?

The CIT’s had a great day spent together and as a privilege of their program, they choose where they spend their day. It was a day full of fun food and movies. They all came back with smiles on their faces from a day well spent. It’s good to be a CIT.

Our Seniors, Supers and GC’s had their own magical day as they spent the afternoon at the roller rink. They went back in time as they put on roller skates and had the time of their lives skating around and around with their closest camp friends. Listening to music, with the lights down low, they held onto one another trying to catch their balance. The laughs and giggles were everywhere. Once they got into the rhythm, off they went. It’s one of those events that most of us parents may remember doing when we were young. I know I recall the rink I used to go to every Friday night and how those memories will forever remind me of my youth.  Well, today your kids made their own memories of skating the afternoon away. We turned back the hands of time for them and they loved every minute of it. After skating it was off for an evening at the movies. As the rolled off the buses tonight back at camp, there was no mention of what movie they saw, just a lot talk about how much fun they had skating at the rink. With all of the advancements in technology our children experience, sometimes it’s the simple things that make the biggest impression. An afternoon spent roller-skating with our friends just makes sense. Some things change and some things just stay the same.

Chenny out

 

 

 

Fun Day Monday

We all got some needed extra sleep this morning after the past 2 ½ days of Olympic fun. It was a lazy late wake-up morning and then off to The Lodge for a delicious breakfast.  We’ve been on high gear since the Olympic games started so our lazy morning was so very needed.

We got right back into camp action this afternoon with regular activities. The weather was perfect and the mood was ideal. It was great getting back to our regular schedule. We went right back into our Wayne County Tournaments.

Middy Girls Softball – CAW 8 vs. Bryn Mawr 4

Middy Girls Soccer – CAW 4 vs. Poyntelle 0

Collegiates Girls LAX – CAW 7 vs. Towanda 4

Senior/Super Girls Tennis Tournament @ Indian Head – Congratulations to Jayden Bier for winning the entire Tournament – Way to go Jess Leichter and Casey Kaplan for making it to the finals!

Freshmen/Junior Boys Baseball – CAW 13 vs. Chestnut Lake 1

Collegiate Boys Softball – Lavi 11 vs. CAW 9

Collegiate Boys Basketball – CAW 45 vs. Tioga 5

Super/ Senior Softball – Westmont 6 vs. CAW 1

GC/CIT Basketball Tournament at Tyler Hill – CAW 41 vs. Tyler Hill 25 – Trails End 36 vs. CAW 34

At evening line-up we announced our Camper’s of the Week. There is nothing quite like hearing your name being called knowing that you have done a great job this week. These campers earned it and deserve it. Congratulations to these outstanding campers!! We are so proud of you.

Freshmen                        Addison Rubovitz                                   Jack Resnick

Juniors                            Jordan Shohet                                         Jordan Stone

Middies                           Chloe Ross                                                Cole Sussman

Inters                               Anna Kaplan                                            Noah Hirshfield

Collegiates                      Jordan Ash                                               Wolf Cukier

Seniors                           Jordan Huberman                                    Sam Rochlin

Supers                           Carly Wills                                                 David Mason

GC’s                               Ashley Haber                                            Henry Weinstock

CIT’s                              Lindsay Sandler                                       Jason Rossell

 

Then it was off to an absolutely perfect night for Round Robin as each division took over a spot on camp and had the best time at their own evening activity.

All our Freshmen campers spent their night making chocolate in the canteen. Junior boys had a night playing Wiffle Ball under the lights as the Junior and Middy girls played a GaGa tourney in Shield Halls. Middy boys got busy in the Roller Hockey rink with a giant game of Dodgeball.  Inter boys enjoyed their own World Cup Soccer Tournament up on the field while Inter girls had fun playing mass BBG. Collegiate boys got wet wild and wacky on the Chenny Zoom and Collegiate girls spent their night in Arts and Crafts making friendship fish tail bracelets. It was a movie in the Chen-A-Plex for our Senior boys and girls. Super boys had a treat as they dined in the Cookhouse making Dan’s famous Pizza.  Super Girls enjoyed their spa party in their bunk tonight. The GC’s and CIT’s had a cupcake decorating party in the lodge while watching the Homerun Derby.

It was a homerun of a night for each division.

Chenny out.

 

Red Madagascar Wins Olympics!

After two and a half intense days of Olympic games, Red Madagascar brought home the victory. The morning was full of games and the Olympic spirit was strong. Everyone gave it all they had. No matter if it was a game of steal the bacon, kickball or basketball the intensity and desire to win was there. Each team fought a great battle to the very end.

After a full day of games and track meets, the scores were too close to call and in true Olympic spirit, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO SING. We loaded into Shields Hall tonight and each team presented their plaque and banner.  The artwork was spectacular and will forever be a part of Chen-A-Wanda Olympic history, as we proudly will display them for years to come. Each team presented a Cheer, an Alma Mater and a March for the judges.  The lyrics they wrote and sang, the meaning and the heart in which they were performed made everyone in the Shields Hall feel as if they were part of something special. All singing in unison, these words will never be forgotten and will leave an indelible mark on all of us. To be present for such a display of sportsmanship, honor and camp pride is quite humbling.

What made this summers’ Olympic games so special was to see the elation of each team member on Red Madagascar as they worked so hard over the past few days and reached their goals. Their celebration was well deserved but after the hugs and cheers every Red team member turned to their fallen comrades and congratulated those on Gold Bahamas and Blue Greece for a battle well fought.  The sportsmanship and empathy displayed in Shields Hall this evening was awe-inspiring. There were tears of joy for winning and there was heartache of defeat but in the end these three separate teams came back together as one camp family and showed respect for the games and honor for one another. That is what these games are all about. In life there will be times we win and times we loose but at camp, we truly honor the effort we have all given and the respect we have for each other and that makes all the difference.

Chenny out.

 

 

The Olympic Spirit is Alive at CAW

Our Olympic games stands out as a true picture to why Chen-A-Wanda is truly a remarkable place. Victory is not defined by wins or losses. It is defined by our effort. If you can truthfully say, ‘I did the best I could, I gave everything I had,’ then you’re a winner. Today our campers gave it everything they had. Every camper put their heart and soul into each battle and gave it their all in every competition. The battles were fierce, they were fun and in the end it was the undeniable effort that made today such a standout day. We played hard, had fun and in the end supported one another. When you walk around camp, in the midst of hearing all the chants and cheers during all the games, you also heard “great job, amazing effort, proud of you.” There is something equally valuable to encouraging those around us that actually feels better than getting the win.

Being part of a community that comes together and supports one another regardless of the outcome is what makes Chen-A-Wanda Olympics so spectacular.  Tonight was the Apache Relay and everyone from our Freshmen campers to our CIT’s, play an integral part.  Each individual makes up the team and everyone counts.  No matter if you had to hit a half court shot, leap frog from the lake to arts & crafts or ride a bike to the finish line, the team depended on you. Tonight, Gold Bahamas finished Apache by hitting that pole first as the camper rode his bike on to Camp Rd. knowing that 1st place was so close. Red Madagascar ended the relay in 2nd place only minutes behind. Blue Greece came in third place just moments behind. The excitement to finish the race was amplified by each member of the team knowing they had a part in something bigger than themselves. It is the essence of belonging to a team and the importance that we all finished this race together. The cheers were deafening as each team hit that pole and the pride that accompanied completing Apache filled us all up with a joy that is indescribable.

When all is said and done, it’s not the shots that won the championship that we will remember, but the friendships we made along the way that will stay with us forever. All of our campers are sleeping peacefully as they rest their bodies for another amazing day of Olympics. Doesn’t get much better that this!!!

Chenny Out

 

 

Camp Chen-A-Wanda Olympics 2014 is ON!!

There was a buzz all around camp today about when Olympics would break out. A rumor began and the chatter turned from when Olympics would breakout to if we were having Olympics at all this year. Questions were flying and the excitement was building. You could actually feel the energy in the air but the day just went on as business as usual.

Even amidst the Olympic craze, we were able to get a ton of games in today. We played hard and we couldn’t be more proud of the effort set forth from our awesome Chenny athletes.

Junior Girls Tennis – Weequahic 5 vs. CAW 0

Collegiate Girls Soccer – CAW 3 vs. Morasha 2

Senior Girls Soccer – CAW 7 vs. Indian Head 4

GC/CIT Girls LAX – Towanda 22 vs. CAW 11

Collegiate Boys Roller Hockey – CAW 5 vs. Island Lake 4

Super Boys Baseball – CAW 9 vs. Nesher 4

GC/CIT Boys Tennis – CAW 3 vs. Westmont 2

Well, our campers did not have to wait long as the entire camp was enjoying snack call when a very familiar song began to play throughout camp. The Olympic Fanfare sent chills up our spine and out from the The Lodge came our Head Counselors with a lit torch symbolizing Olympics is upon us. The entire camp followed them up the hill to our little league baseball field where the Olympic rings waited their arrival.  We announced the Captains and highlighted what the games are all about. We will compete, we will play hard, we will show spirit and dedication, we will play fair but most importantly we will have fun in our Olympic Games! The Olympic rings were lit and the games the games of 2014 officially began. Our camp is now split in three equal teams, Red Madagascar, Blue Greece and Gold Bahamas.

Just when we thought that camp could not possibly get any better, Olympics takes us to a whole new level. Tonight was a great night as we started our battle with Tugs of War. There has never been a Camp Chen-A-Wanda TUGS OF WAR WITH MORE SPIRIT AND INTENSITY.  It was an electric night. We are so proud to be part of these games as we watch your children thrive and be the best they can be. Best news is we get to do this again tomorrow. There is no place like CAW.

Chenny out.