Author: Elissa

Today started like any other regular amazing summer day here and camp was full of happy campers. Imagine a world where you skip from activity to activity or where you walk up the road while holding hands with your best friend or just walking arm in arm with your buddy is the norm. This is what daily life is like here. We put our guard down and let people in. I often think if there is any correlation to being unplugged all summer and our desire to connect face to face with our friends here. We become available for pure human connection. It’s natural and normal to sit in the lap of our counselor or friends at line-up.  This place and experience literally embraces your children. In a world where being disconnected from one another is our reality and sending a text is how we communicate, you can only imagine how comforting and amazing it feels to hold hands, walk arm in arm and talk to one another. Soon, we will go back to our digital forms of communicating with one another but until then we have 2 more glorious weeks of this. The value of spending our summers here are just immeasurable.

It was Chenny domination as we won 4 Wayne County Championships today!!!!

Our dancers enjoyed a morning at Camp Wayne’s annual Dance-A-Thon. We competed in Hip-Hop and Lyrical and our dancers had a ball. Congratulations to all of our dancers who lit up the stage today.

 

Girls 7^th Grade Basketball – CAW Red 33 vs. Camp Nesher 8 – CAW WINS CHAMPIONSHIP!!!

Girls 7^th Grade Basketball – CAW Gold 16 vs. Poyntelle 8

Girls 8^th Grade Softball – CAW 8 vs. Morasha 4 – CAW WINS CHAMPIONSHIP!!

Boys 5^th Grade Soccer – CAW 3 vs. Wayne 5

Boys 5^th Grade Basketball – CAW 14 vs. Starlight 37

Boys 6^th Grade Baseball – CAW 3 vs. Starlight 2 – CAW WINS CHAMPIONSHIP!!

Boys 6^th Grade Soccer – CAW 2 vs. Trails End 5

Boys 8^th Grade Boys Baseball – CAW 11 vs. Westmont 7 – CAW WINS CHAMPIOSHIP!!!

 

We had a busy day on the fields and courts and we couldn’t be prouder of the effort each team gave and the true sportsmanship they had.

Our Wanderers safely arrived in Phoenix, their last destination. They spent the day in sun, resting and relaxing and having a great day at the resort.  They have spent the last week and half experiencing one amazing west coast adventure and getting do this with their camp family was dream like. We are so looking forward to their arrival back her at camp to hear about all they have done.

Tonight’s evening activity was a great night of Minute To Win It. Each division had one camper play for them and they were vying for an Ice Cream Party for the entire division. They played Tilt-A-Cup, Hanky Panky, A Bit Dicey, Bobble Head Challenge, Johnny Apple Stack and Volcano. The kids had so much fun playing the games and the campers watching had so much fun supporting their friends who were trying to win their division an ice cream party. In the end our lower camp winner went to Middy Camper, Sarah Haber and Upper Camp went to GC Jordan Birnholz. You put on one great show tonight and you each proved to the entire camp that you each have mad skills stacking apples, balancing dice on the end of a popsicle stick while in your mouth and able to effectively take every single tissue out of a tissue box with only one hand quicker than anyone else. Gotta love this place.

Chenny Out

 

Today in Arts n’ Crafts there was a group of boys in our Lego room and they were building a giant tower together. I was watching them in awe as they worked so beautifully together. They each contributed to this giant structure. One by one they contributed their ideas on how to make it bigger and better.  There was such cooperation and creativity, as this tower became a symbol of what it’s all about here. One camper said, “We have to make the foundation good and strong so it can hold everything we build on top of it.” This Lego structure is exactly what each one of us is doing here. With a good strong foundation, you can just keep building up and it will become more fantastic with all the different unique pieces you put on it. As the period ended, they all agreed that this tower was way too amazing to take apart and they asked the Lego specialist to put it away until they come back to build more onto their tower. She agreed to hold this masterpiece in a separate room for them and the excitement they shared was magnificent. They had no idea just how spectacular their tower was. They actually were all building a foundation that was good and strong and had nothing to do with Lego. They walked out of Arts N’ Crafts closer to one another than when they entered. This is what it’s all about.

Chen-A-Wanda hosted the first annual Little Peach World Series Softball Tournament for our Freshman and Junior Girls. Camp Wayne and Tioga spent the day here as each tem played 3 games. Camp Wayne placed 1^st, CAW placed 2^nd and Camp Tioga placed 3^rd. The girls had the best day. Little Peach World Series was a homerun!!

Girls 9^th/10^th Grade Soccerama @ Bryn Mawr. Our girls played in 4 games in this full day tourney. CAW beat Bryn Mawr, lost two bouts to Indian Head and Trails End and tied with Camp Wayne.  They had a great day full of soccer.

 

Boys 5^th Grade Soccer – CAW 12 vs. Tioga 12

Boys 5^th Grade Tennis – CAW 0 vs. Wayne 5

Boys 10^th Grade Baseball – CAW 0 vs. Westmont 10

 

Our Campers of the Week were announced at line up and there is always such excitement as we honor these standouts.

 

Freshman – Marin Hersley & Tyler Jurist

Juniors – Sami Siegel & Will Yallowitz

Middies – Emily Kushner & Colby Frankel

Inters – Avery Paulen & Jacob Futterman

Collegiates – Sami Miller & Jack Abel

Seniors – Sydney Schechter & Tommy Quinn

Suoers – Hailey Zion & Jeremy Gaines

GC’s – Bari Adwar & Brett Wolff

Our Wanderers are still wandering as they spent their day on a jeep tour exploring Arizona and Montezuma’s Castle. They are having a trip of a lifetime as they have seen so many wonderful things the west coast offers. We are excited to hear about all their adventures when the return to camp in a few days.

Girl’s side got to enjoy a giant ice cream party tonight as they celebrated the win of Wiffle Cup. It was super sundaes with all the fixin’s . They had their sundae social in the Lodge and loved it!!! It was dodge ball, wiffle ball and kickball under the lights for boy’s side. They equally enjoyed their evening as well. There was laughter and lots of it all around camp tonight.

Tomorrow marks exactly 2 more weeks we have here in paradise and we can promise you that we are going to make every moment count.

Chenny Out

 

Imagine a day so perfect each moment seemed to stand still. The weather resembled those made in movies or manufactured to create a perfect mood. The sky was so blue and the water so warm. It was almost not real, but it was so very real because we all got to experience the magic of this day. It had a lazy day feel and that was exactly what we all needed. We had a brunch morning so the bugle didn’t wake us up until 9:45am. The extra sleep felt great and very much appreciated. There is something quite special to see the entire camp roll out of bed into The Lodge still in our pajamas.  In every sense of the word, this place truly becomes our home. There is no pretending or trying to be something we are not. It is just all of us being authentically who we are, in our pajamas heading to breakfast still having sleepy dust in our eyes and sheet marks on our cheeks. No pomp and circumstance here. It’s us being us. Even the mundane routine things we do feel better doing them up here at camp… because we are together.

Our Basketball and Baseball Academy’s continued today and our campers thoroughly enjoyed participating in them.  It was a huge turnout for both and from watching our kids practice their skills and running the drills, this summers academy’s were a big success.

Girls 7^th Grade Basketball – CAW 39 vs. Lohikan 6

Girls 7^th Grade Soccer – CAW 1 vs. Tioga 6

Girls 8^th Grade Basketball – CAW 14 vs. Lavi 41

Boys 3^rd/4^th Grade Wiffleball  – CAW 20 vs. Westmont 19

Boys 4^th Grade Baseball – CAW 5 vs. Westmont 1

Boys 5^th Grade Baseball – CAW vs. Island Lake (Won by forfeit CAW moves on to finals)

Boys 7^th Grade Softball – CAW 3 vs. Seneca Lake 4

Boys 8^th/9^th Grade LAX – CAW 2 vs. Starlight 10

 

Lights Camera Action. Our thespians have been working so hard on the big show and tonight they shined bright. Willy Wonka and the Chipwhich Factory came to life as our actors and actresses put on one amazing show. They sang and danced and amazed us with their acting. They lit up the stage with their huge smiles and bigger hearts. As they put it all out there on stage, we are constantly reminded of how connected we all are to one another as the cheers and applause stayed consistent and loud. As each song was sung or scene was acted, our audience screamed out with support to their friends who so bravely and sweetly entertained the whole camp tonight. To watch the cast who worked so hard on tonight’s show, take their final bow; we are reminded that above all what matters most is to just have fun. And that they did! We could not be more proud of what they all did on that stage tonight. Bravo!! Bravo!!! Bravo!!!!

Chenny Out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was another showstopper day up here at Camp Chen-A-Wanda. The sun was out but there was a breeze that ran through camp that kept us all cool as we played outside all day long. In center camp there was a group girls that caught my eye. They were all lying on the ground with their heads in the center of a circle as they lay face up. They were all looking up towards the sky and were watching the clouds pass them by. Each girl picked a cloud and described what they thought it looked like. Just lying on the ground without a care in the world watching the clouds go by. What could possibly be sweeter than that? I can guarantee that this group of girls may not remember every little detail that happened during this summer but they will definitely never forget the time they laid in a circle, watching the clouds with their camp sisters. A sweet moment I feel privileged to have seen.

Our campers continued to enjoy the Basketball and Soccer Academy’s.  There was intense instruction in each sport and campers were on the field and courts learning to better their game. Both Academy’s were of great value to our athletes as they sharpened their skills and had a ball doing it.

Girls 5^th Grade Softball – CAW 2 vs. Westmont 13

Girls 5^th / 6^th Grade LAX – CAW 7 vs. Westmont 11

Girls 7^th Grade Softball – CAW 6 vs. Wayne 7

Boys 8^th Grade Baseball – CAW 16 vs. Starlight 8

The night was all about Wiffle Cup. Girls side was determined to bring home the win tonight but Boys side wanted the repeat.  Girls side was decked out in everything neon as boys side was showing their solidarity wearing all black. There was chants, cheers, dances and of course a crazy fun game of wiffle ball. Boys lead the way the entire game but in true Chenny form, It ain’t over till it’s over and Girls side came up from behind and pulled ahead with a 27 -22 victory over Boys side. The game was incredible and everyone was involved. You didn’t have to be on the field to feel the craziness. We were all part of the fun. So proud of our kids. We just wanna have fun and boy do we know how to do that here at Chen-A-wanda!!!! Another incredible day down but we still have more to go!!!

Chenny out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was Academy Day here at Chen-A-Wanda and our campers loved the instruction. Our Soccer Academy was held in the morning and campers were welcomed to participate and experience serious soccer training.  The afternoon was dedicated to our Baseball/Softball Academy. The Academy’s were full of campers getting very specific and intense instruction. Some campers spent their morning in the Soccer Academy only to spend their afternoon at our Baseball Academy. A full of Academy’s are a great way for your kids to better their skills and get the their next level.

Girls 8^th Grade Soccer – CAW 2 vs. Wayne 5

Boys 3^rd/4^th Grade Hockey – CAW 5 vs. Trails End 3

Boys 4th/ 5^th Grade Tennis – CAW 4 vs. Equinunk 1 (CAW moves on to the Finals!!)

Boys 5^th & 6^th Grade LAX – CAW 8 vs. Starlight 4 (CAW moves on to the Finals!!)

Boys 7^th Grade Baseball – CAW 18 vs. Island Lake 17 (CAW moves on to the Finals!!)

For our dancers it was a day spent at Tyler Hill at their annual Dance Competition. There is something that is so much fun on being at these competitions not just getting to perform a dance we have worked so hard on but seeing your friends from home is as exactly thrilling. I went the girls today and watching them run to heir friends and each would tell how their summer is going. They even cheered one another on as each took the stage. It is less of a competition and more of a reconnection with friends from other camps and of course a chance to dance. Our girls did great and more importantly they had such a great day. After spending an incredible day dancing all the girls were eager to get back home because it was HALLOWEEN at Chenny!!

There was a chill in the air and it really felt like a fall night. A perfect evening for a costume contest, a Haunted House and of course Trick or Treating!!! Our kids strutted their stuff and showed incredible creativity with amazing costumes tonight. What is more fun than Halloween in July? We danced, cheered, laughed a lot tonight. Our Head Staff picked the best of the best tonight and our costume winner were:

 

Scariest Costume – Elaina Hamuy

Best Group Costume – Girls Bunk J Holidays

Funniest Costume – Sibling Swap Weiss,Fensterstock & Chaskin

Best Celebrity Look-A-Like – Adam Caplan

Most Original – Dani Mazen, Rachel Mahler, Emily Locker, Emma Baskind & Corrine Packel

After our contest it was Trick or Treat time. Each group went station-to-station collecting candy and having a ball. There was spooky music playing all throughout camp that added to the Halloween vibe.  With the crisp summer night weather, it not only looked like Halloween but felt like it too. As one camper looked inside her brown bag full of candy, she turned to her friend and said “can camp get any better?”  And as I overheard her, I couldn’t help but reply, YES IT CAN!!!!

The days seem to be moving more quickly as we have only 2 ½ weeks left in paradise. But these last weeks are by far the best.  We are not done yet, not even close!!!!

Chenny Out