Author: Elissa

We had a brunch morning and everyone loved the extra sleep after the last 5 days we all had. There was a chill in the air and a thick fog coming in off the lake. It was the perfect morning to stay cozy in our pajamas & hoodies and as we all entered The Lodge we filled our bellies with a delicious brunch. You can certainly feel the end is near. Lots of hugs and more tears so every meal, every moment we are trying to hold on to. Every song that was played in The Lodge struck a cord as we stood on our seats, wrapped our arms around one another and sang all in unison of how much we just don’t want to leave this place. To bear witness to this connection that we have with one another is moving beyond words can describe.

We spent the day having a lazy free play kind of day. There were movies in the Chen-A-Plex and some basketball games on Shields Court. There were some great GaGa games but mostly it was just truly enjoying spending time together today. You would see clusters of kids sitting on courts and playing jacks or cards, all laughing together and just connecting. It always amazes me to see a day spent of happy kids connecting face to face. Talking and laughing, playing and engaged to each other. We have spent the last six and half weeks without texting each other or connecting because we liked a Facebook post. We rainbow loomed together, we braided one another’s hair, we spent hours playing with our Spinablo together but most importantly we just connected.

Tonight was a big show and everyone was excited for The Chenny Globes. It is an annual awards show and the kids love it. There is a red carpet, Paparazzi and of course the Globes. Campers dress up for the show, as this is a real deal Hollywood-esque celebrity show. Tonight’s Globes goes to:

Nicest Eyes –  Sydney Bohm & Andrew Lahrheim

Best Smile – Jordana Leff & Jerry Kessler

Attached at the Hip – Kelsey Bloom & Brooke Marshall / Jason Levine & Chad Kagan

Best Hair – Alexa Becker & Eric Butler

Best Siblings – Kushners & Schnells

Most Likely to be Head Staff – Sophia Malkotsis & Jonah Baum

Camp Clown – Sarah Kaplansky & Matthew Kellner

Most Likely to be President – Mychael Schnell & Benji Herzog

Most Camp Spirit – Jenna Seitler & Matthew Gershman

Most Fashionable – Jayden Bier & Brady Weiss

Three more nights, three more amazing evening activity’s to experience. Thursday, it’s Late Night with Leahy, Friday is Banquet and Saturday is Memory Night.  Looking forward to a great last weekend at our summer home.

Chenny Out

 

 

With the last day of Color War upon us, everyone was working hard, having fun and giving it every ounce of effort they had. It meant that much to all of us. Win or loose, each team put their heart on the line and played hard. Each field and court was full of Red and Gold spirit, chants and cheers. The feeling on camp is just plain inspirational. To see groups of kids rally around one another in the true sprit of competition and do it in a way that is uplifting and encouraging is awe-inspiring. It’s the way it should be and it exists here at camp.

Tonight was a silent meal and never was The Lodge so quiet. It was oddly silent as this is the place where we dance and sing but tonight in Color War tradition, we ate silently.  The campers wanted more than anything to talk but knew that every word spoken would loose points for their team. Try and visualize The Lodge full of campers and counselors that just don’t speak. It was a sight to see.

As both teams entered into Shields Hall dressed as Jocks and Geniuses, there was a sense of elation and true Color War pride. This was it, and everyone knew it. Each team presented their plaque and banner and they were truly works of art. Masterpieces if you will. It was time for Sing and both were ready to perform the songs they worked so hard on and had so much meaning in every verse. There were tears as Red Jocks sang their Alma Mater and included beautiful lyrics that embodied the feelings they have as their summer comes to an end:

Is this reality, Is it almost time to leave

How are there only four more days for you to be here with me

Looking around at all these faces, Stop time before everything changes

From the freshman to CIT’s, Chenny is our home.

It was emotional and everyone knew that the end of Color War signifies the end of camp. What we have all gone through will be with us forever but for now is ending and the last four days as two teams are now back together as one amazing unified camp.  Gold Geniuses so poetically conveyed in their Alma Mater:

The days wind down and summer ends, Close your eyes try to pretend

Don’t wake me up ‘till we’re back here again, You’ll hear the song and hum the tune

Count the days until next June, Don’t tell me that we’re going home so soon

Standing here in Shields Hall, Asking for more time

Feels like just yesterday, We all rolled past the sign

In a Chenny tradition of musical chairs, the last Judge to grab his seat was Red and that relayed the winner of Color War 2013. There was joyous elation throughout the Red team but just for a moment until they realized that their fallen Gold comrades suffered feelings of defeat. What amazed me in Shields Hall tonight was to see the empathy and compassion of the Red team embracing their friends on the Gold team. There was that moment beyond the win, it was true friendship and respect. That is what we do here at Chen-A-Wanda. There were so many tears tonight. Some were of joy from winning this 5 day battle, some were of loosing and the heartache of defeat but regardless of why we all began to cry we all ended in tears because we know the end to summer 2013 is near.

We walked into Shields Hall tonight as two very separate teams, dressed head to toe in gold and red but we all walked out back together as one camp. Sad tears quickly turned into tears of joy as everyone held onto one another and walked back to their bunks and cherished the night being together. We have four more days and much more fun to be had here at Chenny. Life is really Great at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

 

Chenny out

 

Everyone matters in the Apache Relay and every camper plays a key role. No matter if you are being piggy backed around the quad track or diving to the bottom of the pool to pick up 8 spoons or are heading into the canteen for the infamous “unknown”, you count. It is a race that includes EVERYONE. There were smiles and laughter all morning long as this camp wide event took center stage. It was neck and neck until Red Jocks took the lead and pulled ahead with todays Apache win.

Girl’s side ran their hearts out at their track meet and boy’s side jumped in the pool and swam to their finish line at their swim meet this afternoon. It was a full day of active campers here with Apache and meets.

Before dinner each team holds psych speeches at line up that will inspire and motivate their teams. Tonight’s speeches stood out as what this war is all about. Both Captains and all Lieutenants along with some campers from each team walked hand in hand and stood in front of their opposing team. This row of unified team members commended their opponents for a day of awesome battles, amazing team spirit and most importantly an incredible display of honorable sportsmanship. They each highlighted a team participant that exuded a positive spirit, not when they were winning but when they were loosing. When we win it is easy but it’s when we loose, that is when our true character comes out. This is the meaning of true respect and why Color War is so spectacular and important. We will loose more than we win but it is how we loose that will ultimately define us as winners.

It was skit night tonight and it was brilliant. Each team took the stage and told their story of Jocks and Geniuses in a witty, bright, fun and entertaining way. It always amazes me to see how creative our kids are here and how much time and effort they put into making this Color War spectacular. Which is nothing less than phenomenal.  As the judges deliberated on whose skit was most compelling and deserved tonight’s points, it was a landslide with Gold Geniuses taking it all tonight.

The excitement is growing and the kids are giving everything they’ve got into this Color War. Red Jocks are currently 244 points ahead of Gold Geniuses. There is still 1,370 points up for grab tomorrow and you know that both teams will be fighting for every single point. Tomorrow is the last day of games and we end this 5-day competition tomorrow night with Sing. In the end as it always does, it all comes down to Sing.

Chenny Out

 

Boy’s side had their track meet today and girls side battled in the pool with their swim meet. The kids had so much fun as they relayed to their finish lines getting cheers, praise and encouragement for their hard work and effort. To sit back and watch the encouragement we all give one another here is life changing.

There was a Junior girl in the pool and she fell behind a race she was in.  You could see the defeat on her face as she noticed how far ahead her opponent was. With every stroke she took, her teammates chanted her name and encouraged her with cheers of, “ You can do it, we believe in you.” That little girl swam harder with every cheer she heard as her head popped out of the water. As she jumped out of the pool after her race, she told her teammates that hearing them cheer for her helped her not give up. She saw how far behind she was and wanted to stop swimming but she finished her race with the help of her friends.  It’s amazing what you can do when you have a whole team behind you. She may not have the won the race but she certainly walked away a winner.

To help further explain the feelings that we all feel during Color War, the following was written by three of our CIT boys and read to both teams before dinner tonight at line up.

“As most of you know this is our very last Color war as campers here. We have been here, along with many of my brother before some you were even born and this place is home to us. We can’t remember what it is like to not spend a summer here. We look out at all of you and we would do anything to start over again and have so many summers ahead of us. Treasure every moment because one day you will be standing where we are and looking at your very last Color War. As Color war winds down, we realize how important it is for everyone to give it their absolute all. Color War is a team effort and in order to succeed, every single camper and counselor must give 100%. We must win as a team, work as a team and most importantly enjoy Color War as a team. Try your hardest and give everything you have. Your teammates, captains and lieutenants have dedicated the last 3 days to make this the best possible Color War. For the next 2 and a half days, there is no I, there is only We and there is no I CAN’T, there is only WE CAN!!”

Chenny Out

 

The day belonged to color war games and we were all outside playing all day long. There were basketball games, softball, volleyball, BBG & soccer bouts being played all day long. Campers were pushing themselves and so committed to their teams. They laid it all on the fields and courts. You have to see an intense soccer match being played with a field full of girls wearing tutus and face paint. It is the best part of Color War that we can play hard and continue to have the most amazing time with a sense of spirit that is infectious. You can’t watch any one of these games without watching everyone on the sidelines cheer on their team with undeniable support and camp spirit. It is the essence of what these games are about. Play hard, cheer harder and have the best time of your life!!!

The night belonged to Rope Burning. We all watched with great anticipation as the fire starters got their flames roaring. Both teams started with ease as Red Jocks and Gold Geniuses got their rope burning fires started easily. As it looked like it was going to be neck and neck, Red Jocks jumped ahead with a giant fire funnel that burned their rope before Gold Geniuses. The wind played a part as Gold’s fire was burning sideways and the time expired and their rope did not burn. Water boiling was equally challenging for both teams as the clock struck one hour and neither team successfully boiled their water.

The campers cheered with excitement and the spirit was off the charts.  We all got behind our teams tonight and participated in one longstanding Chen-A-Wanda tradition. As our CIT’s got emotional knowing this was their last official rope burning, you saw the spark engage in our first time campers as they now see what they have to look forward to for many years to come.  This tradition runs deep and connects the campers that have come before us, those that are here now and Rope Burning will still be here and alive for campers who will one day call Chen-A-Wanda their summer home.

Life is so Great at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

Chenny Out